Grand Cayman is Named as One of the World’s Top Cruise Destinations, Based on Consumer Reviews

Cruise Critic awards the highest-rated cruise destinations in 18 cruise regions across the globe in its annual Cruisers’ Choice Destination Awards

 Cruise Critic^®, the world’s leading cruise reviews site and online cruise community, has announced the winners of its third annual Cruisers’ Choice Destination Awards, naming the world’s most popular cruise destinations, based entirely on consumer ratings submitted with reviews on Cruise Critic. New in 2018, the awards also highlight the best cruise lines to visit each region.

Grand Cayman has just been recognized as one of the best cruise destinations in the Top-Rated Western Caribbean & Riviera Maya Cruise Destination Awards!

“The port was great and very pretty… The sea was stunning and seeing the Stingrays and feeding them was amazing.” – Cruise Critic Member EssG

Destinations awarded in this year’s awards received the highest ratings among cruisers who cruised to the destination in the past year and shared their experiences on Cruise Critic.

“Our data regularly shows that whether you’re a first-time cruiser or you’ve sailed dozens of times, destination is a top consideration when shopping for a cruise,” explains Colleen McDaniel, Senior Executive Editor of Cruise Critic. “While tropical destinations will always be popular among cruisers, what’s really exciting to see is the rise in esteem of destinations more known for their immersive and experiential offerings.”

“By awarding top destinations and now the best lines that visit them, we’re even better able to connect travelers with standout experiences available in the incredible places they’re looking to explore.”

For full details on this year’s winners, visit the 2018 Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Destination Awards.

Cruise Critic boasts the world’s largest online cruise community, with more than 350,000 cruise reviews, covering approximately 500 cruise ships and over 300 worldwide ports.

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About Cruise Critic

Cruise Critic® is an online cruise guide, offering a comprehensive resource for cruise travelers, from first-time cruisers to avid cruise enthusiasts. The site features more than 350,000 cruise reviews and hosts the world’s largest online cruise community where travelers share experiences and opinions with fellow cruisers. Cruise Critic was the first consumer cruise site on the Internet, launched in October 1995 by The Independent Traveler, Inc., a subsidiary of TripAdvisor, Inc.

About TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site*, enables travelers to unleash the full potential of every trip. With over 600 million reviews and opinions covering the world’s largest selection of travel listings worldwide – covering approximately 7.5 million accommodations, airlines, attractions, and restaurants — TripAdvisor provides travelers with the wisdom of the crowds to help them decide where to stay, how to fly, what to do and where to eat. TripAdvisor also compares prices from more than 200 hotel booking sites so travelers can find the lowest price on the hotel that’s right for them. TripAdvisor-branded sites are available in 49 markets, and are home to the world’s largest travel community of 455 million average monthly unique visitors**, all looking to get the most out of every trip. TripAdvisor: Know better. Book better. Go better.

The subsidiaries and affiliates of TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ:TRIP) own and operate a portfolio of websites under 20 other travel media brands: www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.citymaps.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.thefork.com (including www.lafourchette.com, www.eltenedor.com, www.iens.nl and www.dimmi.com.au), www.gateguru.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.housetrip.com, www.jetsetter.com, www.niumba.com, www.onetime.com, www.oyster.com, www.seatguru.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.tingo.com, www.vacationhomerentals.com and www.viator.com.

* Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, worldwide, October 2017

** Source: TripAdvisor log files, average monthly unique visitors, Q3 2017

The Cabinet has issued instructions regarding direct funding of Non-profit Organisations. The memo can be read here.

In response to recent articles in the press concerning the Office of the Auditor General’s Report relating to potential abuses and/or fraud at the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands (“the Report”), the Board of the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands (“the Board”) has issued this Press Release.

The documents referred to in the Press Release can be viewed here: https://www.caymanport.com/document-library/

After many years of concept, planning and design PACI is excited to achieve another milestone in the redevelopment of the Berkley Bush Cargo Distribution Centre – Container Yard Construction as their Rubber Tire Gantry (RTG) are being erected.  This phase of the expansion supports Cayman Port’s aim of expanding it’s finite space through vertical growth whilst improving on safety and efficiency.

The most recent article on this can be viewed on CaymanCompass.com

On behalf of Port Authority of the Cayman Islands (PACI), we wish everyone a pleasant Christmas and prosperous New Year.

January 2nd, 2018 PACI will be turning over a large section of our container yard to McAlpine to begin the required construction for the Rubber Tire Gantry (RTG) operational area. PACI will not have access to this space till May 2018 when the RTGs are commissioned into service. The yard construction project includes:

• Raising the elevation of the yard;
• Improved drainage;
• Concrete area for container storage;
• Concrete runways for the RTGs to travel on;
• Dedicated paved truck lane and;
• Paving of the entire area for a safe and efficient operations.

During this period, PACI will have to modify our operational methods to accommodate storage of empty and full units. The following are the key actions that we will implement:

• Empty storage quotas will be enforced. Therefore, shipping lines are encouraged to take out empties on all vessels as PACI will not have empty storage overflow areas;
• Full unit storage stacks will expand from 2 wide/3 high to 4 wide/4 high – this will increase the delivery time to “dig” out the needed unit;
• Units may remain at the dock for an extra day depending on space availability at our container yard;
• Increased movement of empty units to the dock days before the vessel ops is scheduled;
• There is no impact on full refrigerated units.

PACI is excited for the arrival of the 38 containers containing the 2 RTG units. In March 2018, the assembling of the machinery will begin and PACI is sure everyone will be amazed witnessing this historic time of growth for us and the Cayman Islands, alike.

January 2018 will bring on testing of the Yard Management system with a partial “Go-Live” in March 2018 and the full “Go-Live” taking place May 2018 with the commissioning of the RTGs. This system will change PACI operational methods adding the following:

• Trucker Gate In/Gate Out pre-booking/scheduling for all returns and collection of units;
• Pre-booking for all export loaded units;
• Shipping line, trucking company and customer website portals;
• Shipping lines booking all units to be loaded on a vessel along with stow plan creation and submission;
• Exact location tracking for each unit in the container yard;
• Dedicated traffic flow for trucks in the container yard;
• Dedicated assigned address locations for collecting/returning of units to the container yard;
• All PACI machinery will have tablets with full operational information provided live and;
• Many more features and enhancements to our services.

After many years of concept, planning and design PACI is excited about bringing this project to fruition as we enter the building and implementation phase. Your support and patients during this phase is much appreciated as we work to further improve the safety and efficiency of our container yard operations, whilst reaching for our goal of being the “Elite Port of Excellence”.

As the project progresses we vow to keep you informed through PACI social media sites, as well as, our website.

Cayman Port would like to advise their valued customers of their weekday extended holiday hours.

Beginning Tuesday 12th December 2017 until Friday 22nd December, 2017 Cayman Port’s Billing Office will be open from 8:30am to 5:30pm with the Warehouse serving customers from 8:00am to 6:00pm each weekday. Night operations for the Container Yard remain as normal.

The Port will maintain its regular published hours for Saturdays 16th, 23rd and 30th December 2017 from 8:30am to 12noon.

PACI remains dedicated to serving the community and appreciates your business. Further shipping inquiries can be made via telephone to 949-2055.

Weather Advisory – Cargo Vessels Schedule

Port Conditions Return to Normal

Time: 0000 ~ Date: Tuesday, 12 December 2017

The Deputy Director – Chief Logistics Officer has determined that the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands (PACI) will reopen to vessel traffic, berthing and operations in accordance with CPIB 12/2017-5.

Prohibited Operations:                None at this time.

Authorized Operations:               Vessel Traffic.
Berthing to resume at 0000 (12:00am) at discretion of vessel captain.
Cargo Operations to resume at 0000 (12:00am).

Anticipated Future Actions:        PACI may return to normal operations and seasonal watch preparedness in accordance with CPIB 12/2017-5.

This CPIB applies to George Town Port.  Any changes, will be announced by way of the usual publications.

CPIB announcements will be posted on PACI website at www.caymanport.com/press-releases.

The PACI can be reached via telephone at (345) 949-2055 or Channel 16 VHF FM Marine Radio.

Willem Jacobs

Deputy Director – Chief Logistics Officer

Weather Advisory – Vessel Traffic

Port Closure – Vessel Traffic

Time: 19:00 ~ Date: Saturday, 9 December 2017

The Deputy Director – Chief Logistics Officer has determined that the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands (PACI) is closed to vessel traffic, berthing and operations due to sea conditions at the port in accordance with CPIB 12/2017-4.

Prohibited Operations:                Berthing, Vessel Traffic and Dock Operations

Authorized Operations:               Cargo Distribution Center – Container yard – Normal Operations.

Anticipated Future Actions:        Continue monitoring conditions next update Monday, December 11, 2017

This CPIB applies to all Cayman Islands Ports.  Any changes, will be announced by way of the usual publications.

CPIB announcements will be posted on PACI website at www.caymanport.com/press-releases.

The PACI can be reached via telephone at (345) 949-2055 or Channel 16 VHF FM Marine Radio.

Willem Jacobs

Deputy Director – Chief Logistics Officer

The Port Authority of the Cayman Islands have the following office furniture and equipment, which is in good condition for sale:

•  47 Office Chairs at $25.00 each
•  5 Filing cabinets at $75.00 each
•  4 Office Desks at $100.00 each
•  1 Small Office Safe at $ 25.00 each

Interested parties (open to the public) can view items on Wednesday November 29th, 2017 @ 10:00am at the Port Warehouse on Portland Road. Please contact Jonas Bush @ 914-3701 or Keisha Yates @ 914-3722 if further details are required.
The items will be sold on a first come first serve basis and will be sold as is. Only Cash will be accepted and all purchases are final upon sale with no returns accepted.

Weather Advisory, Cargo Vessels Schedule

Port Conditions Return to Normal

Time: 17:00 ~ Date: Monday, 30^th October 2017

The Acting Port Director has determined that the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands (PACI) is safe for downgrading their port conditions to seasonal watch preparedness in accordance with CPIB 10/2017-3.

Prohibited Operations:                   None at this time

Authorized Operations:                 Berthing to resume at 17:00 (05:00pm) and Cargo Operations to resume at 18:00 (06:00pm) with Vessel Traffic

Anticipated Future Actions:          PACI may return to normal operations and seasonal watch preparedness in accordance with CPIB 10/2017-3.

This CPIB applies to all Cayman Islands Ports.  Any changes, will be announced by way of the usual publications.

CPIB announcements will be posted on PACI website at www.caymanport.com/press-releases.

The PACI can be reached via telephone at (345) 949-2055 or Channel 16 VHF FM Marine Radio.