Coronavirus Update
Friday, May 15
Cayman Islands Have Been Aggressive in Fighting COVID-19
As you all probably know, the Cayman Islands has taken aggressive steps to slow the spread and eradicate the COVID-19 virus from the Islands. These efforts have included the closure of the international borders on March 22. The Cayman Government has implemented some of the most stringent restrictions and deployed one of the most exhaustive testing programs in the world. Fortunately, there are now no active cases in Little Cayman or Cayman Brac (with the majority of residents having been tested) and many of the restrictions have been eased. On Grand Cayman, there have been strict testing and contact tracing procedures resulting in relatively few active cases.
Clearly Cayman Resorts Plan on Reopening on September 5
Given the ongoing pandemic in the United States and around the world, the Cayman Government has extended the international border closure until September 1. With this significant extension, we have high confidence that this newly announced date for reopening is reliable. As such, we have excitedly scheduled our reopening for international guests on Saturday, September 5.
We’ve Continued Supporting out Staff – Most of Whom Stayed on the Islands
Most of our team have chosen to stay in the Islands. To support our team while we wait to reopen, we are providing full health coverage, meals and housing as needed. Our teams have risen to the challenge of these trying times to care for each other. When a three-day 24 hour curfew was put in effect in late March, our kitchen teams had only 4 hours to prepare and package 3-days’ worth of meals for the entire staff. They rose to the occasion and everyone was served. Stories like this, and so many more where we see people helping people, are the silver lining to this crisis.
Opening Soon – Online Reef Divers Sea Store – Also to Benefit Our Staff
We will be launching an online store later in May where you can purchase Reef Divers and resort logoed apparel as well as underwater photography art work from our talented Clearly Cayman team. All profits from the store will go directly to support our on-island employees during this difficult time. We hope that you enjoy this new way to purchase your Clearly Cayman colors and support those members of our team that are in need or have special circumstances.
Using This Time to Make Resort Improvements
One of our core values is continuous improvement. We strive to be better each day – even when we are not able to serve our guests. We are going to take advantage of this closure to make practical improvements to the resorts to further enhance your experience when you can return.
Our third-generation owners, the Tibbetts’ family, are fully dedicated to supporting our team members and enthusiastically champion our ethos of continuous improvement. For them, this is far more than a business. They see themselves as stewards of the natural resources that the Cayman Islands and their island heritage. This legacy in the Islands dates to some of the first settlors in the 18th century. It’s with this history, perspective and mission that our family business has guided our efforts to ensure each team member is provided for and new investments are made in our resorts.
We’re Working to Ensure Your Safety When We Reopen
We long for things to return to normal and scheduling our reopening for September 5 is the first step in this process. Your safety has always been our most important duty. We are enhancing our cleaning and sanitation protocols to ensure that your vacation is safe from arrival to departure. Soon, you will once again be able to create lasting memories, reunite with dive buddies and connect with new friends that share our passion for scuba diving.
Friday, May 8
The Cayman Islands’ Government just announced the extension of their international flight ban until September 1, 2020, as result of COVID-19. While the need to remain temporarily closed is disappointing to us and to the many divers with planned trips to one of our resorts this summer, we are optimistic that we will be able to welcome you back this fall when the airports reopen.
The Cayman Islands Government reacted quickly in early March to get visitors back home quickly and safely to control and prevent the spread of COVID-19 among those that live and work here. The government instituted curfews and other laws that have been extremely effective in achieving their goals.
So now begins the slow process toward normalization. On Monday, May 4, local curfews and business restrictions were relaxed as part of a phased plan resulting in the full reopening of the local economy with the ultimate goal of restarting tourism later this year.
Clearly Cayman Guests Affected by the Flight Ban Extension
Our reservations office located in Saint Petersburg, Florida, will be contacting all guests and group travel partners with reservations impacted by the extended closure period. We are waiving the change fees and are offering all guests the opportunity to rebook their vacation without penalty at the same guaranteed rate for any available date up two years from their original travel date. Guests will not be charged any additional amounts for changing their reservations to a future period.
Although the curfews have been partly or completely lifted on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman as result arresting the spread of COVID-19, their airports still remain closed to international and non-essential travel.
We know that everyone is as anxious as we are to go diving again. We miss you and are certain our marine life does as well. Be reassured that we will be ready as early as possible to welcome you back to your island home.
Clearly Cayman Guests Traveling September 1 and Later
For those guests with reservations outside the impacted period, please know that we continue to monitor the situation. Again, we are optimistic that tourism will resume later this year and will provide ongoing updates as they are available in the weeks and months ahead.
Stay Connected
If you are signed up for our emails, you will receive updates as we get them If you’d like to sign up, visit ClearlyCayman.com/subscribe. You can also stay connected with us on our websites, on our resort Facebook pages: Little Cayman Beach Resort, Cayman Brac Beach Resort, or Cobalt Coast Resort. And don’t miss the fun and opportunities to win by becoming a member of our Best Cayman Diving Facebook group.
Please also feel free to contact us with questions or to book your next dive trip when this is all over. You can reach reservations at 800-327-3835 or mailto:reservations@clearlycayman.com.
Our team looks forward to welcoming you back to our beautiful islands where you can once again enjoy the underwater wonders that have made the Cayman Islands a diver’s paradise.
Monday, April 13
The Cayman Islands government announced today the continued closure of all airports and suspension of international flights through May 31, 2020. This extension is part of the ongoing effort to ensure that Island residents remain safe from the Coronavirus (COVID-19). There have been a relatively small number of diagnosed cases, largely attributable to quick action to close nonessential businesses and enacting strict curfew orders for residents that restrict activities to grocery/pharmacy shopping, banking and fuel purchases to specific days based on last name. The government has taken further steps to impose fines for residents that violate the curfew orders and who are not observing the social distancing requirements.
Clearly Cayman Response
“As much as we and everyone who loves diving in the Cayman Islands are disappointed in the extended delay, we all recognize the importance of preserving and protecting the health of our guests, our staff and Cayman residents. So just be assured that we continue looking forward and preparing for the announcement of the ‘all clear’ so that we can immediately welcome guests back to Reef Divers, Little Cayman Beach Resort, Cayman Brac Beach Resort, and Cobalt Coast Resort on Grand Cayman,” stated Bradley Barnett, president of the Clearly Cayman Dive Resort family of businesses.
For Guests Scheduled to Visit During This Extended Period
For guests with reservations during the extended airport closure, we will be contacting you to reschedule your travel. We are experiencing a large volume of inquiries so please be patient as we contact everyone impacted by this extension. If you have further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our US reservations office at reservations@clearlycayman.com or 800-327-3835.
We are waiving all change fees and are offering guests the opportunity to rebook their vacation without penalty for any available date up two years from their original travel date. Guests will not be charged any additional amounts for changing their reservations to a future period.
For Guests Scheduled With Future Visits Beyond the Closure Period
For those guests with reservations outside of the impacted period, please know that we are closely monitoring the situation in the United States and in the Cayman Islands and will remain closed if conditions cannot ensure the safety of you and our valued team members. If your travel plans are impacted by future closures, please know that we will protect your reservation by waiving change fees and allowing you to select alternate travel dates in any available periods for up to two years from your original travel date as well.
Be Safe and Stay Connected with Us
In the meantime, we hope you stay healthy and encourage you to follow the guidelines of the CDC and your local authorities. We will continue to post regular updates to our websites and all our Facebook pages to keep you informed.
If you want to reminiscence about your last dive trip or dream about your next visit, you can check out our Facebook page Best Cayman Diving where we will continue to share diving information and experiences, celebrate all that’s great about diving in the Cayman Islands, and even give away some prizes.
Thursday, March 18
Most guests have already left our resorts and are headed home or have arrived. The final guest will be departing from Cayman Brac Beach Resort tomorrow. Our staff has been amazing helping through this situation and we can’t wait until it has passed, they all return, and we can reopen for diving visitors. Our guests have also been wonderful in understanding and we wish them all safety and health until we see them again.
Monday, March 16
Statement from Michael D. Tibbetts, Chairman of the Board, and Bradley Barnett, President
Given the extraordinary spread of COVID-19 across the planet, today (Monday, March 16), the Cayman Islands government announced that all international flights to and from the Islands will be suspended on Sunday, March 22, for 3 weeks, although they have left open options to extend as the conditions in the future may warrant. As a result, we have no other option than to temporarily close our resorts, Little Cayman Beach Resort, Cayman Brac Beach Resort and Cobalt Coast Resort, beginning on Thursday, March 19, 2020. We will be working with our current guests to facilitate their evacuation prior to the Sunday deadline and to allow our team members to make their departure plans as needed.
We commend the Cayman Islands government on their aggressive steps to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. We are hopeful that their early, aggressive action will shorten the shutdown period and allow us to get back to providing you, our guests, with the best dive hospitality in the Caribbean.
Our reservations office Reef Fantaseas, located in Saint Petersburg, Florida, is in the process of contacting all guests and group travel partners with upcoming reservations during the impacted period. We are waiving the change fees and are offering all guests the opportunity to rebook their vacation without penalty at the same guaranteed rate for any available date up two years from their original travel date. Guests will not be charged any additional amounts for changing their reservations to a future period.
For those guests with reservations outside of the impacted period, please know that we are closely monitoring the situation in the United States and in the Cayman Islands. We will provide ongoing updates as they are available in the weeks ahead. If your travel plans are impacted by future closures, please know that we will protect your reservation by waiving change fees and allowing you to select alternate travel dates in any available periods for up to two years from your original travel date as well.
This remains a dynamic and highly fluid situation that continues to deeply impact families across the globe. Our priority throughout this crisis remains the safety of our guests and team members and we will take whatever steps are required to accomplish this goal. At the same time, we are committed to welcoming guests as soon as the Caymans reopen to international flights and we are given the “all clear” from Government officials.
As this situation continues to develop, we will provide you with further updates and policy changes based upon the recommendations of governmental agencies, health organizations and other experts. If you have further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call our US reservations office at 800-327-3835.
Our team looks forward to welcoming you to our beautiful islands where you can once again enjoy the underwater wonders that have made the Cayman Islands a diver’s paradise.
