Private Luxury Catamaran Tour to Stingray City and Snorkel

Stingrays turn a sandbar into a meeting place. This four-hour private catamaran tour gives you a 39-foot Lagoon boat, a two-person crew, and room for up to 15 people as you explore Grand Cayman’s North Sound. I like the private boat and the freedom to choose between reef snorkeling, beach bars, and extra time at the main stops.

I also like the crew’s friendly, personal approach, including clear explanations about the stingrays and sea stars. The main drawback is price: $2,250 is a serious outlay for a small group, and you must bring your own snacks, drinks, and towels. Add the customary 20 percent gratuity, and the final cost rises quickly.

Key points to know before you book

• Three stops fit into about four hours: Plan on roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes at Stingray City, Starfish Point, and the Rum Point area.
• The boat is private: Your group has the full 39-foot catamaran, with a maximum of 15 people and no unrelated passengers.
• Stingray City is in shallow water: The sandbar is about 3 feet deep, making it easy to watch and learn about the Southern Stingrays.
• You help shape the day: At the final stop, you can snorkel near the barrier reef or visit Rum Point or Kaibo for a drink or food.
• Bring your own supplies: Bottled water, a cooler, and ice are provided, but snacks, alcohol, other drinks, and towels are not.
• The cost works best for a full group: At 15 people, the base price equals about $150 per person before gratuity.

A private catamaran built for the North Sound

The central idea here is simple: charter the boat for your own group instead of joining a larger outing. Cobalt Custom Charters uses a 39-foot Lagoon catamaran that can carry up to 15 people, and the price is charged per group, not per person.

That pricing can be excellent for a full party. At the maximum group size, $2,250 works out to $150 per person before gratuity. For 10 people, it becomes $225 each. For a couple or a small family, the same boat is much harder to justify unless privacy and flexibility matter more than keeping costs low.

I like the practical advantage of having the boat to yourself. You do not need to match the pace of strangers, and your group can spend more time at a favorite stop if conditions and timing allow. The crew describes the itinerary as flexible, but you should still think of the listed stops as a plan rather than a promise that every minute can be rearranged.

The boat comes with a captain and a guide. The company operates its own vessel, and that owner-operated setup is part of the appeal. The crew is praised for making people feel at home, offering attentive service, and keeping the mood relaxed rather than formal.

You also get bottled water, a cooler with ice, snorkel equipment, and safety equipment. That covers the basics, but the boat is BYO for snacks, soft drinks, and alcohol. Bring what you want before departure, since the supplied water is the only drink specifically included.

Stingray City in three feet of water

Stingray City is the star of the tour, and the shallow sandbar makes it accessible to most people who can take part in a normal boat and water activity. The water is about 3 feet deep, so you can stand while watching the Southern Stingrays move across the sandy bottom.

The crew presents the stingrays as friendly underwater animals and explains how they live and behave. That guidance matters here. You are not simply being dropped into the water and left to figure things out. The educational talk gives the encounter more meaning and helps you understand what you are seeing.

This is also the part of the trip most likely to feel busy in the wider Stingray City area. The private boat gives you a more personal ride, but it cannot make the popular sandbar private. If avoiding all other boats is your top goal, this may not be the right stop. If you want the classic Grand Cayman stingray encounter with your own captain and guide, it is the obvious centerpiece.

The scheduled time is about 1 hour and 20 minutes. That is long enough to get settled in the water, listen to the explanations, and spend time observing the animals without rushing through the visit.

You should follow the crew’s directions closely. Stingrays are wild animals, even in a place where they are accustomed to human contact. The appeal comes from seeing them in their natural marine setting, not from treating the encounter like a petting zoo.

Starfish Point for a slower hour

Starfish Point changes the mood. After the excitement of the stingray sandbar, this stop offers a tranquil beach setting and a chance to look for the Red Cushion Sea Star in shallow coastal water.

The setting includes an open view toward the island horizon. It is a good place to slow down, take in the scenery, and listen while the guide explains the sea stars that live in the area. I like this stop because it gives the half-day a second subject beyond the better-known stingrays.

The scheduled stay is also about 1 hour and 20 minutes. That may feel generous if you are eager to return to the boat, but it gives your group room to relax rather than race from one sight to the next. You can treat it as a quiet beach break, a learning stop, or a chance to enjoy the water at an easier pace.

Handle the sea stars with care and follow the crew’s instructions. The point of the stop is observing these animals in their home area. The experience is gentler than the stingray encounter, and families or mixed-age groups may appreciate that change of pace.

Reef snorkeling, Rum Point, or Kaibo

The final portion of the tour gives you the most choice. You can snorkel along a barrier reef described as having the highest coral density in the Cayman Islands, or you can spend time at a beach bar at Rum Point or Kaibo.

If snorkeling is your priority, this is where the tour offers its best underwater scenery beyond Stingray City. Equipment is included, including snorkels and safety gear. The company does not provide towels, so pack one from your hotel, condominium, or ship.

If your group wants a break from the water, Rum Point or Kaibo offers a postcard-style Caribbean setting with the option to buy a cold drink or food. This is especially useful for groups with mixed interests. Some people can enjoy a beach bar while others take time in the water.

The schedule allows about 1 hour and 20 minutes for this section. Because the tour is private, you can discuss the preferred choice with the crew rather than accept a fixed stop chosen for a large group. Still, weather, water conditions, and the day’s timing can affect what is practical.

Food and drinks at the beach bars are not included. You should also remember that the boat itself provides bottled water, a cooler, and ice, but not snacks or alcohol. If you want refreshments on board, bring them with you.

What the four-hour schedule feels like

The tour is advertised at about four hours, with roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes at each of the three main stops. That accounts for the full block of time, so do not expect an extended cruise around the entire island.

The pace is fairly active at first. You move from the boat to shallow water at Stingray City, then shift to a quieter beach stop, and finally choose between snorkeling and a beach restaurant. The format works well if you want several North Sound highlights in one morning or afternoon.

A morning or afternoon departure is available. The better choice depends on your day, but you should consider heat, your group’s energy, and any other plans before selecting a time. The tour ends back at the same meeting point in West Bay.

The meeting location is given as 9J4F+Q8, West Bay, Cayman Islands. Confirm the exact arrival instructions when you book, especially if you are coming from a cruise ship, hotel, or condominium. Mobile tickets are accepted, and confirmation is provided at booking.

Crew service is a major part of the value

The strongest praise for this experience focuses on the crew. The service is described as caring, friendly, and reassuring from the beginning of the trip to the end. That matters on a boat tour, where a smooth day depends on more than the scenery.

The crew also adds context at Stingray City and Starfish Point. You get explanations about the Southern Stingrays and Red Cushion Sea Stars, not just transport between photo stops. I value that extra layer because it helps you notice animal behavior and understand why these particular places matter.

The private format also lets the crew respond to your group. A party that wants a relaxed beach hour can spend more time at Rum Point or Kaibo. A group focused on snorkeling can use the final stop for the reef instead. The exact balance depends on the captain, conditions, and available time, but the basic setup is more personal than a fixed group excursion.

Do not expect a luxury yacht with every item supplied. The catamaran is described as luxurious, but you still need to bring towels and your own refreshments. UPF-rated rash guards are available for $45 each, but they are an extra cost rather than part of the tour.

Price, gratuity, and what you really receive

The base price is $2,250 per group of up to 15 people. This includes the private catamaran, captain, guide, water, cooler, ice, and snorkel and safety equipment.

The value is strongest when you can fill much of the boat. A full group gets a private vessel and a flexible half-day schedule at a rate that can compare favorably with several separate bookings. You also avoid paying per person for a larger public excursion while keeping the boat limited to your own party.

The value is weaker for small groups. Two people pay the same group rate as 15, and that makes this a premium choice. You are paying for privacy, boat space, the crew’s attention, and control over the stops.

Budget for gratuity. The customary amount is historically 20 percent of the trip price, which would be $450 on the $2,250 base fare. That puts the practical total at about $2,700 before any food, drinks, rash guards, or other purchases.

For a group celebrating a special occasion, sharing a boat with family, or wanting a private schedule, that total may feel reasonable. If your main goal is simply to reach Stingray City at the lowest price, a shared excursion will likely be more economical.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would consider this a strong match for families, groups of friends, and cruise or resort parties that can share the cost. The shallow stingray stop, calm Starfish Point visit, and choice between snorkeling and a beach bar create a useful mix.

It also suits people who dislike rigid group tours. You have a private captain and guide, a private catamaran, and an itinerary that can be shaped around your group’s interests.

The tour is less suitable for anyone seeking a very cheap water activity, a fully catered boat trip, or a guarantee of an empty Stingray City. It also may not suit a person who cannot take part in a normal boat and water activity, although the provided information says most people can participate.

You or your legal guardian must sign a liability waiver. Weather is also important. If poor conditions force cancellation, you can receive a full refund or choose another date.

What to pack for a smoother outing

Bring towels from your hotel, condominium, or ship. Towels are not included, and this is the easiest item to forget when you are thinking about snorkel gear.

Pack snacks, soft drinks, and alcohol if you want them on the boat. The cooler and ice are supplied, but the contents are your responsibility apart from bottled water.

You should also consider sun protection and a change of dry clothing. UPF-rated rash guards can be purchased for $45, but you may prefer to bring your own suitable swimwear and sun protection.

Keep your booking details on your phone. The tour uses mobile tickets, and confirmation arrives when you book. Arrive at the West Bay meeting point with enough time to avoid turning a relaxed boat trip into a rushed start.

Should you book the Cobalt Custom Charters catamaran?

Book it if you have a group large enough to share the cost and you want a private, friendly half-day on Grand Cayman’s North Sound. The best reasons are the personal crew service, the shallow-water stingray encounter, and the ability to choose reef snorkeling or a beach bar for the final stop.

Think twice if your party is small or price is your main concern. The $2,250 group charge, likely $450 gratuity, and extra cost of food and drinks make this a premium outing.

For the right group, I think the private format is the point. You get several of Grand Cayman’s signature water stops without handing your day over to a large tour schedule. Just pack towels, stock the cooler, and go in knowing that the boat is private, but Stingray City itself is a popular shared destination.

FAQ

How much does the private catamaran tour cost?

The tour costs $2,250 per group, with a maximum of 15 people. It is not priced per person.

How long is the experience?

The tour lasts approximately four hours.

What locations are included?

The planned stops are Stingray City, Starfish Point, and the Rum Point area. The final stop may include barrier reef snorkeling or time at Rum Point or Kaibo.

Is the boat private?

Yes. Only your group participates, and the maximum group size is 15 people.

What type of boat is used?

The tour uses a private 39-foot Lagoon catamaran.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkel equipment and safety equipment are provided.

Are food and drinks included?

Bottled water, a cooler, and ice are included. Snacks, alcohol, and other drinks are not included, so the boat is BYO for those items.

Are towels provided?

No. You should bring towels from your hotel, condominium, or ship.

Where does the tour start and end?

The meeting point is in West Bay, Cayman Islands, at the location identified by the Plus Code 9J4F+Q8. The tour ends back at the meeting point.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time.