New booking policy for Clearly Cayman Beach Resorts
- Thread starter RCB1882
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I thought that clearly cayman owned and operated the Club, they provide the bookings, packages and diving - but maybe it is just a business agreement.
I have amended my statement above to say "...operates (and owns?) ..." since that is unclear, thanks!
Doctorfish
Contributor
All the resorts offer valet service.
Pirates Point, 2 dives per day and boat not on site.
Southern Cross, 3 dives per day, boats on site. Significantly more expensive than PP and LCBR.
Pirates Point, 2 dives per day and boat not on site.
Southern Cross, 3 dives per day, boats on site. Significantly more expensive than PP and LCBR.
caydiver
Contributor
Valet service, unlimited bottom time and such perks are fairly common across the board except for some of the bigger ops that have more guests to deal with and therefore need to spend more time preparing gear between am and pm dives and driving guests around. I know here in GC you don’t need to stay on property at the dive resorts to dive with them. Is that different? Many ops have multi dive discount packages even if you are not staying on a property they have an affiliation with. I definitely get if you are with a dive club/group that block books for everyone all staying together but for individuals a condo or house offers many perks over being limited in an AI situation. Even if you have to pay for shore diving, just being able to pick and choose your own food and drink options might make up the difference. Do they limit themselves to stay over guests only? For families where not everyone dives staying at dive centric lodging would seem a bit limiting anyway. This might be a nice way for folks to have a chance to explore other options.
Doctorfish
Contributor
I think LCBR only takes their own stay over guests diving. Don't know the situation with Southern Cross but probably the same. Not too many condo or house options on LC near the dive resorts, but there are a few.
What is attractive at AI places like SC and LCBR is just that, they are all inclusive on an island where there are few options for independent meals or acomodation and limited transportation.
LCBR provides good food, boats, accommodation at a reasonable price point. Sad to see they are limiting to Saturday Arr Dep, but it is a business and I get where they are coming from. If their occupancy and/or bottom line decreases as a result of this decision they will undoubtedly reverse it.
What is attractive at AI places like SC and LCBR is just that, they are all inclusive on an island where there are few options for independent meals or acomodation and limited transportation.
LCBR provides good food, boats, accommodation at a reasonable price point. Sad to see they are limiting to Saturday Arr Dep, but it is a business and I get where they are coming from. If their occupancy and/or bottom line decreases as a result of this decision they will undoubtedly reverse it.
I don't know about LCBR but on Brac I've been on Reef Diver boats with local property owners that sign up to dive with Reef Divers. I think that most folks go with Brac Scuba Shack because they want to dive with a smaller group if they not staying at the resort, but RD will accommodate outsiders if they have the space.
I've also read of divers on CB and LC occasionally renting tanks from some of the dive ops (including RD) to go shore diving and you don't have to be a stay over guest.
Damselfish
Contributor
We're a fan of actual dive resorts with the diving well integrated, so that usually appeals to us over independent rental options. And we love to take advantage of a great restaurant scene when it's available (since home is a bit of a restaurant desert.) But on an island with little in restaurant choices (or food markets) decent AI food is a draw.
I seem to recall LCBR would take outside people on a space available basis, dunno for sure though. I'd think Conch Club Divers would be a better bet/choice though, if staying elsewhere.
I seem to recall LCBR would take outside people on a space available basis, dunno for sure though. I'd think Conch Club Divers would be a better bet/choice though, if staying elsewhere.
AdivingBel
Diver
I've dived with non-resort divers on the boat at LCBR. I don't remember all of their specifics, but I know at least one was a local property owner. Not sure if the others were locals or non-resort tourists buying spots on the boat. This was also in August which happens to be my favorite time to go. 
Good news!
I've received a very nice response from the Clearly Cayman resorts to my questions about the changes to the booking policies. I guessed correctly (for once!) and it is due to the new arrangements that they are negotiating with Cayman Airways to improve flight services to the Sister Islands and make it easier for guests to arrive and depart, including guests that previously had to overnight while in transit.
Furthermore they have listened to customer feedback and decided to be less stringent regarding the 7-night, Sat to Sat booking policy! You will be able to book longer (and probably also shorter?) stays but they will ask that either your arrival or departure day will be on a Saturday, and for now they plan to keep an open mind and see how it works out.
See below for the information I received:
“Our #1 guest complaint is flight problems – missed connections, luggage didn’t make flight, etc. We have come up with a solution in conjunction with Cayman Airways that we hope to announce within the next month or so. It involves increased air lift at the times divers need to get to/from Cayman Brac and Little Cayman while avoiding the crowded Immigration and Customs lines in Grand Cayman. But for this to work, the majority of guests need to arrive and depart on Saturdays – which in reality most do already. This new option will make Little Cayman and Cayman Brac more easily accessible to divers across most of the US without requiring additional overnight stays enroute.
Additionally, based upon the feedback that I have received from guests like you, we have reevaluated our policy regarding 7-night stays. Understanding that the travel time of some guests to the Cayman Islands is longer than others, or they may be able to get away for longer vacations, we have decided to enable divers to make reservations for stays of 10 nights or longer. We will want those guests to either arrive or depart on a Saturday so that they have the best experience, but for now we are going to remain “open” to the arrival and departure day to see what best satisfies everyone’s needs. Obviously, this will also be subject to availability across the multi-week stay.
Change is never easy, but we believe the benefits resulting from the new flight options outweigh the inconvenience to guests who prefer not to travel on Saturdays. Once full details can be made public, we believe that most will agree.”
I've received a very nice response from the Clearly Cayman resorts to my questions about the changes to the booking policies. I guessed correctly (for once!) and it is due to the new arrangements that they are negotiating with Cayman Airways to improve flight services to the Sister Islands and make it easier for guests to arrive and depart, including guests that previously had to overnight while in transit.
Furthermore they have listened to customer feedback and decided to be less stringent regarding the 7-night, Sat to Sat booking policy! You will be able to book longer (and probably also shorter?) stays but they will ask that either your arrival or departure day will be on a Saturday, and for now they plan to keep an open mind and see how it works out.
See below for the information I received:
“Our #1 guest complaint is flight problems – missed connections, luggage didn’t make flight, etc. We have come up with a solution in conjunction with Cayman Airways that we hope to announce within the next month or so. It involves increased air lift at the times divers need to get to/from Cayman Brac and Little Cayman while avoiding the crowded Immigration and Customs lines in Grand Cayman. But for this to work, the majority of guests need to arrive and depart on Saturdays – which in reality most do already. This new option will make Little Cayman and Cayman Brac more easily accessible to divers across most of the US without requiring additional overnight stays enroute.
Additionally, based upon the feedback that I have received from guests like you, we have reevaluated our policy regarding 7-night stays. Understanding that the travel time of some guests to the Cayman Islands is longer than others, or they may be able to get away for longer vacations, we have decided to enable divers to make reservations for stays of 10 nights or longer. We will want those guests to either arrive or depart on a Saturday so that they have the best experience, but for now we are going to remain “open” to the arrival and departure day to see what best satisfies everyone’s needs. Obviously, this will also be subject to availability across the multi-week stay.
Change is never easy, but we believe the benefits resulting from the new flight options outweigh the inconvenience to guests who prefer not to travel on Saturdays. Once full details can be made public, we believe that most will agree.”
Alucard
Contributor
So the few days hop over to dive the sister islands still isn't going to be an option unless it's booked within 90 days if I read that correctly. Shame.
In this boom time right now, I see several condo rentals on Grand Cayman also going to Sat-Sat, in an effort to further squeeze a little more paid occupancy out of the situation. I, personally, won't follow that on my rental because the idea of people being able to come and dive for a long weekend is one that I want to be able to continue to offer. If we get a couple of days free in high season, then that is just an opportunity for our maintenance folks to come in and do preventative maintenance on things.
I also understand the logistics of getting to and from the island. The consequences are a shame, though.
In this boom time right now, I see several condo rentals on Grand Cayman also going to Sat-Sat, in an effort to further squeeze a little more paid occupancy out of the situation. I, personally, won't follow that on my rental because the idea of people being able to come and dive for a long weekend is one that I want to be able to continue to offer. If we get a couple of days free in high season, then that is just an opportunity for our maintenance folks to come in and do preventative maintenance on things.
I also understand the logistics of getting to and from the island. The consequences are a shame, though.
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