Does anyone know when ships will be returning to Grand Cayman or when the gov't in Grand Cayman will permit visitors to return to the island? Is there a website I can go to find out this information?
Suzi

Suzi, it's going to be at least until the end of October that Grand Cayman will be allowing tourist flights back in the country. For details on the country's situation, you can check www.caymanislands.ky for information. As far as when cruise lines will return, that is up to the individual cruise line. In any case, November will probably be the earliest.

Thanks Karen. I am looking to go on a cruise the first of the year and one of the sailings I was considering goes to Grand Cayman, so hopefully all will be back to normal by then.
Suzi

You're certainly not the only one who hopes it is - the people of Grand Cayman are, I'm sure, crossing the days off the calendar until tourists can come to their island once again. I would guess that they will have things pretty much back to normal by the time you plan to go.

I have friends who travel to Grand Cayman regularly and they have been told that the island is hopeful to resume visits by mid-November, but the reality is that things may not be back to normal until after the first of the year. They go there every year for the Christmas holiday and have been told to "sit tight" for now.
Shelley

Shelley,
Have your friends been given any more information about getting back on the island? I have checked the website Karen suggested, but it doesn't seem like there is any new information there.
Suzi

I am so glad my sources were correct and the post I made regarding Carnival resuming their stops in Grand Cayman was accurate. Here are some of the official details:

Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises are the first to announce they are heading back to Grand Cayman. That island, which underwent serious damage at the hands of Hurricane Ivan in September, has been off-limits to travelers until the infrastructure could be rebuilt.

According to a Carnival spokesman, beginning October 30, cruises that originally included Grand Cayman on their itineraries will return; this includes ships such as Inspiration, Imagination, Carnival Triumph and Carnival Conquest. Beyond that, all ships will visit Grand Cayman as originally scheduled.

Princess will resume calls there with Coral Princess making the first visit on November 6. Other cruise lines have not yet reported a change in their itineraries.

Only some of the attractions will be open in time for cruise calls, however. These include Pirate's Caves and the village of Hell. Restaurants, for the most part, have generally reopened. Island tours and horseback rides are ready to go. Most dive operators are back in business.

The Butterfly Farm, most golf courses and some shops remain closed. If you are a passenger on one of the ships returning to Grand Cayman in the first few weeks of November you will need to be flexible in your plans.

After posting this information, I received information from the Grand Cayman Port Authority that outlines the cruise ship schedule for the first two weeks of November. Apparently Carnival and Princess will not be the only cruise lines to begin their port calls here. Check out the details under the other GC thread (Cayman Islands Update) in this forum.
Nancy

That is great news. I am sure that the tourist infrastructure in GC is looking forward to seeing some revenue after all this time.

Tom

Suzi,
This information is redunadant at this point since Nancy gave us an update on the situation in GC, but to answer your question: Yes, my friends were given a go ahead to return to the island for the holidays. Apparently many of the hotels are not yet in operation, but the property they have will be habitable for Christmas.
Shelley

Thanks for taking the time to respond Shelley - even if it was redundant. It just means that is one more source that verifies I may be visiting GC as planned.
Suzi