The Cayman Islands are a premium destination in the Caribbean, and vacationers will want to do a bit of shopping for themselves, as well as take some Cayman Islands souvenirs home to their friends and family. Shopping in the Cayman Islands mostly takes place on the main island of Grand Cayman, especially in the capital city of Georgetown, and at a couple of shops on the smaller island of Cayman Brac.
Shopping
Just like most Caribbean islands, there are several items that can be bought in the Cayman Islands at good prices, but you will find that prices for most things are more expensive than you might be accustomed to. The Caymans have a high cost of living and a large percentage of the population is wealthy; it is an international banking center, after all. Most visitors have to change their US dollars for Cayman dollars, which are normally around 20% higher, so on average you will actually get to use about.78 per US dollar spent. The best places for tourists to shop are in duty-free stores, but we will discuss those later.
George Town, Grand Cayman, have to anchor offshore and ferry their passengers ashore by shuttle boats (tenders). Passengers disembark in Georgetown, right in the center of the Grand Cayman shopping district. Georgetown is the capital of the Cayman Islands and offers the very best Duty free and souvenir shopping with a vast selection of items to choose from. Many duty free stores are also now located within walking distance of the cruise terminal for your shopping pleasure. Several restaurants and cafes are also nearby, so there is no need to worry if you need a bite before returning to the cruise ship. As you walk around Georgetown taking in the sights and shops, please be sensitive towards our motorists as you cross the streets in search of duty free shopping deals. Occasionally, the Royal Cayman Islands Police have officers on patrol in the Georgetown harbor to direct traffic and also for the benefit of frequent cruise ship visitors who venture to look the wrong way. Next to the northern cruise terminal in Georgetown is a telecommunication center with internet access and pay phones if you want to let your family know that you’re arrived, as well as the Georgetown Post Office where you can send postcards back home.
Many visitors to the Caymans come by cruise ship, most of which dock in Georgetown. The duty free zone is located around the cruise ship terminal, as are many restaurants, taxi and other transportation kiosks, the Post Office (to send postcards to the ones back home), and places to make international calls and use the internet. Most of the shopping is located on Church Street near the terminal, as well as in the Galleria. If you did not come to the Caymans on a cruise, it might be best to hold off your shopping until the ships have ferried their passengers back to the liner, as the area around the terminal can become very congested.
The best deals to be had in the Caymans are jewelry, especially pieces crafted locally from a distinctive stone known as Caymanite. Caymanite is a beautiful semi-precious dolomite stone that is made into pendants, rings, bracelets, etc., as well as sculptures and small pieces of artwork. It is distinctive with its creamy background and bands of tan, beige, grey and white. Since it is only found in the Caymans, it is a particularly wonderful thing to take home as Cayman Islands souvenirs. Other jewelry made of gold, silver, and precious stones are also available at around a 30% discount over other tourist destinations in the area or even back home. However, be careful to comparison shop, because even though all the jewelers purchase their inventory from the same suppliers, prices can vary widely. It is advised to keep to Duty Free shops or reputable jewelers. Sometimes a bargain-basement price indicates that the pieces in question are of questionable quality.
Other beautiful items that can be purchased at good prices in the Caymans are china, crystal, perfumes, tobacco products, liquors, leather goods, cosmetics and watches. Rolexes are especially inexpensive, sometimes as much as 20% off the normal price in US retail outlets. Grand Cayman is also the site of several luxury brand stores, such as Gucci, Versace, Tiffany, Cartier, and more.
Duty Free Shops
As mentioned previously, Duty Free shops are where to find many of the best shopping bargains in the Caymans. Duty Free shops are able to offer knock-down prices on luxurious items because do not apply the local taxes from their point of origin. Many big-name luxury product manufacturers set aside a certain amount of their inventory to be sold duty free. So, a Rolex watch, which is manufactured in Switzerland, is actually cheaper in the Caymans than in its country of origin, because in the Caymans you will not pay the Swiss taxes. Duty Free shops are only found in “International Zones,” frequently in airports or, in the case of the Cayman Islands, in the areas around the cruise ship docking terminal.
One problem with shopping in the Caymans is that some shops advertise as “duty free” or “cruise line preferred”, inferring that they have cheaper prices—but they are not actually duty free shops. If you are able to carry your merchandise out of the store yourself or are not in a designated international zone, the shop is using a deceptive advertising tactic. This is not illegal, however, so it is up to the buyer to exercise discretion. Save you duty free shopping for when you are leaving the Caymans, as most of these purchases must be stored in the baggage area of the plane and not carried on, especially liquids such as liquors, due to security reasons.
Souvenirs
The best Cayman Islands souvenirs are those that are manufactured locally, or “touristy” purchases. Aside from Caymanite pieces, there are several attractive and distinctive Cayman Islands souvenirs. Beautiful baskets, hats, bags, tea cozies and other items are woven from local palm fronds make excellent gifts. The Caymans are known for their lovely seascape paintings by homegrown artists, and they can be quite inexpensive if purchased off the main thoroughfare instead of at a high-priced gallery. Cayman food and drink products are also great souvenirs: pepper jellies, jams, sea salt, hot sauce, and, of course, rum.
Rum is a huge export and a source of local pride for the Cayman Islands. Several notable brands are distilled in this small country, such as Tortuga, Big Black Dick, and Seven Fathoms. Tortuga is the most well-known label. Tourists can visit their distillery, sample their wares, and take home bottles on discount. Rum is also the key ingredient in probably the most well-known and best-priced Cayman Islands souvenirs: rum cakes.
Most Caribbean nations have their own recipes for rum cake; the tradition supposedly began during the 1600s when sailors would soak their daily bread ration in their daily ration of rum. Rum is made from sugarcane, which was a major export from many Caribbean nations, and the Caymans were no exception. Cayman rum cakes are light and flavorful and make excellent presents for everyone back home. Tortuga Rum Cakes are the best sellers, and visitors can even make large orders to have shipped back home, instead of trying to lug them onto a commercial flight.
Other Cayman Islands souvenirs are hats, keychains, shot glasses, Cayman postcards and greeting cards, hand-painted glass items, beaded jewelry, t-shirts, locally-manufactured creams and lotions, sewn handcrafts, and books and music by Cayman Islanders. Some popular stops for Cayman Islands souvenirs are The Glassblowing Studio and Pure Art Gallery and Gifts, both on South Church Street in Georgetown, as well as The Wreck View Gift Shop, Artifacts Ltd., the Kennedy Gallery, Bodden Town Art Shop, and The Book Nook.
Shopping in the Cayman Islands can be expensive, but savvy shoppers can find good bargains if they exercise some patience and shop around. This beautiful Caribbean nation has so much to offer its visitors that you may have a hard time finding room for everything on your itinerary!