Any hour of the day that cannot be used productively — or at my own leisure — I consider an hour wasted.
Sitting in traffic for an average two-hour round trip to and from work, Monday through Friday, makes 10 hours wasted every week. Sheesh!
So, when I heard that a new form of transportation was coming to Camana Bay that would cut my daily commute in half, I was one of the first to sign up.
Cayman Ferries launched its ferry commuter service last month to help reduce the number of cars on the road and alleviate traffic. I did my part by downloading the app and purchasing a ticket on the first day.
START THE CLOCK
My trip started at 7 a.m. when I caught a ride with my friend and colleague, Shynecka Williams, from my home in Savannah to the Newlands Public Dock. On the way there, I watched as traffic started to form in the opposite direction, having flashbacks to when I was part of the long queue only three days prior.
Five minutes later, we arrived at the dock and immediately caught sight of the bright yellow watercraft gliding across the waters of the North Sound, coming to whisk us away to Camana Bay.
The moment felt magical. We were about to be “chauffeured” in luxury – at least in comparison to our regular commutes.
Cayman Ferries co-owner Daniel Petts, the ferry captain and crew greeted us with a burst of energy like the first shot of espresso in the morning. After embarking, taking in the moment and — of course — sharing it on social media, we pulled away from the dock punctually at 7:15 a.m.
The next 15 minutes were spent enjoying the cool breezes of the North Sound, marvelling at the beautiful natural environment I was surrounded by and engaging in friendly conversation with other passengers who were as grateful for this new way of getting to Camana Bay as I was.
The time simply floated by, and before I knew it, we were entering the Camana Bay Harbour. The rows of mangrove trees along the canal form a serene and narrow passage, their roots seemingly dancing alongside you as the ferry’s waves ripple through the water.
"Welcome to Camana Bay, folks — hope we were a little faster than your cars,” Petts said. The time was 7:35 a.m., which meant the 20-minute ride was five minutes faster than promised.
I was early for work, which gave me time to book my return ticket home on the Cayman Ferries app and grab breakfast and a coffee in the Town Centre. I then made the leisurely stroll to my office, feeling refreshed and invigorated instead of stressed from having driven an hour through traffic. The way I look at it, I had just saved the whole hour.
This article was originally published in the April 2022 print edition of Camana Bay Times.