Expert: Drew Wilmoth - 5/30/2008

Question
My family and I want to plan an All Inclusive vacation.  I am looking for a beach front resort, but the focal point of our decision is the availability of FRESH readily available seafood.  We are looking for a destination that includes seafood, anytime…day or night, in the all inclusive price.  And, I am not talking about peal & eat shrimp and some mahi mahi…I am talking about Lobster, Crab, and maybe even Conch readily available and included in the package deal.  Do you know of any such resort?

Ryan


Answer
In short, no such an offer is available in the Cayman Islands.

There are very few options for all inclusive offerings in Cayman.

In Grand Cayman, there were only two resorts offering All Inclusive meal plans.  One of those is currently closed and the other is in the process of being sold and closing.  The first may reopen but the second is apparently to be redeveloped into private condos.

The resorts in Little Cayman do offer all inclusive plans out of necessity as the logistics of food service can be complicated on such a small and undeveloped island. Resorts are quite small and meals are served at set meal times.

Still, fresh locally caught seafood is limited by the Marine Law which governs catch limits and closed seasons for collection of various marine life. Lobster season is closed nine months of every year and conch season is closed for six months. There is little active crab collection done in Cayman other than seasonal collection of a certain species of land crab.  Limits on collection and possession essentially make it impractical for anyone to engaged in commercial fishing of such species.

At many restaurants you may find fresh local fish on the menu. Species such as Mahi Mahi, Wahoo, and Tuna are caught in local water on a year round basis. Most restaurants will also offer a variety of imported seafood.