We purchased our excursion through Royal Caribbean..it seems to be easier in this case. Our kids and our younger cousins went tubing on the River Bueno and loved it. We took a trip, partly by bus, into the mountains and then took a rafting trip on bamboo rafts with guides who did the paddling and ended up at a drink tasting. It was okay but a very long time spent on a bus! The cost was $69 per person, which is considered pretty reasonable for a Royal Caribbean excursion.
our daughter had rented, in advance, a cabana which included 4 beach chairs for $100 at the Royal Palms Beach Club. Food was extra. The beach there was lovely, but it was an expensive day. The hotels on Grand Cayman do not offer day passes at Christmas and we did not want to do Sting Ray city again.
Our favorite port on this trip. We went to Paradise Beach which is absolutely beautiful! It has been enlarged and redone since our last trip and they now have a large, gorgeous swimming pool, where they actually have submerged some of the lounge chairs in the water...very cool!!! Their beach is the best and for a few dollars more, you can use the water toys in the sea, which are plentiful and so much fun!! Their food is very good, the service is excellent and I highly recommend that beach...there is a very small entrance fee if you want to rent a beach chair and umbrella, and I am sure Paradise Beach is one of the best on the island.