Morritts Tortuga Club and Resort

Morritt’s, as well as its on-site restaurant, David’s Deep Blue, are highly advertised in the airport, at customs, and throughout the island, and when I arrived I found the mega-resort that I was expecting. Morritt’s is a time-share property and feels this way. There is a large information center where timeshare presentations are given all day. Owners are given certain privileges and perks, such as discounts on water sports, food and beverage, car rentals, and boutiques, as well as free Internet. However, guests do not seem to be pressured to take part in the presentations.

The lobby is large with plenty of seating and a long counter. There is a business center as well as a jewelry store (Grand Jewelers) off of the lobby. David’s Deep Blue restaurant is located in the back.

The grounds are nothing spectacular; there is a lot of concrete and parking lot without much greenery. A few palm trees dot the property. The buildings are a neutral coral color and all look like each other. Although the resort is huge, the buildings are arranged in a central manner so it doesn’t feel like you’re spending all day walking.

With three pools, a large beach, and a huge variety of activities and amenities, Morritt’s caters to almost all vacationers. Guests comprise a mix of families with kids, couples, and groups of friends. It can sometimes have the feel of a cruise ship, between the plethora of activities, resort "hosts," and the massive property. There is not a lot of privacy to be found in the common spaces on the resort, except at the quiet pool.

All of the pools and the beach are clean, nicely landscaped, and embody the feel of a proper tropical vacation. The three pools each have a different vibe -- the rambunctious Grand Pool has two swim-up bars and gorgeous ocean views; the Premiere Pool has a lot of chairs for sunbathing and is nicely landscaped; while the Park Pool is quiet and peaceful. The beach is often populated but is spacious, with enough chairs and umbrellas to accommodate guests.

Morritt’s Tortuga Club & Resort is located on the East End of Grand Cayman, a quiet, remote area. It is a 45-minute drive from the airport and a car is recommended on the East End. Although the driving is on the left side of the street, the quality of the roads are good and the island is small and easy to navigate.

Dining options are limited out here. Morritt’s has two on-site restaurants, Mimi’s Dock Bar and David’s Deep Blue. There is an Italian restaurant across the street and a Subway at The Reef Resort next door. There are small local restaurants a short drive away, and Rum Point, a 25-minute drive, also has restaurants.

Across the street is a shopping center (owned by Morritt’s) with a Foster’s Express grocery store, wine shop, and the Italian restaurant.

The East End is known for its excellent snorkeling and diving. Morritt’s has two reefs on either side of the property and Red Sail Sports, located on-site, runs dive trips to various wall sites such as Anchor Point, Babylon, Turtle Pass, and Northern Lights.

The resort is also close to the Blue Iguana Nature Reserve, a popular attraction on the island.

There are 204 units on the property (all suites) and room types vary from one-bedroom poolside suites to three-bedroom oceanfront townhouses. At the time of this review, the properties were in various stages of remodeling. The remodeled units were stylish and modern, while the older units were dated and the quality of the furnishings poor.

Morritt’s separates itself into three properties on the same resort, consisting of Morritt’s Tortuga Club, Morritt’s Grand Resort, and Morritt’s Residences. The One-Bedroom Suite in the Tortuga Club property had not yet been remodeled. The decor was cheesy, with gaudy tropical fabrics and cheap wood tables. The bathroom was tight with a small vanity. The bed, at least, was comfortable (though the garish bedspread was of a motel-like quality). The living room in the suite was spacious and came with an open kitchen with a full-sized fridge, a stove, and microwave, as well as cups, plates, utensils, pots and pans, and cooking tools. The living room had a glass table with seating for four, as well as a rock-hard couch that felt plastic-like and poorly made. A smallish balcony (could fit two lounge chairs) overlooked the water and offered a beautiful view.

The two- and three-bedroom remodeled townhouses were markedly different. Decorated with a tasteful Caribbean vibe, they were contemporary and stylish. Open fully equipped kitchens had stainless steel appliances and led to a living room filled with modern furnishings, including dark wood and neutral or tastefully patterned fabrics, and minimal artwork. In the bedrooms, attractive bedspreads had a brown and blue palm leaf pattern, and bright orange and green accents (in the pillows and the walls) were tropical but not overdone. The bathrooms were updated nicely with accent lighting and larger vanities. The master bath had a jetted tub. Each of the townhouses had a balcony that offered beautiful views of the beach.

Each unit has its own electric meter and the hotel charges guests for the electricity they use during their stay. This is not mentioned on the website or during booking/confirmation, and is an unpleasant surprise upon check-in. The resort tells guests to estimate about $50 to $60 USD for the week for a one-bedroom suite and $80 to $90 for a two-bedroom. This charge is certainly unusual (it is not the norm on the island) and The Reef Resort next door has no such charge. There is also a room tax (10% for a rental) that is not included in the booking price.

There are some guest complaints about cleanliness, particularly in rooms with carpets.

The Reef Resort next door offers suites similar to the unrenovated rooms here, for slightly cheaper.

Morritt’s Tortuga Club & Resort is a massive property with lots going for many types of travelers.

The resort offers numerous activities every day, both paid and unpaid. Barbecue dinners on the beach with live music, all-you-can-eat breakfasts, and Happy Hour at Mimi’s Dock Bar are among the paid events. Other example activities include Name That Tune! at the Premiere Pool, beach volleyball, karaoke night, bingo, and line dancing.

Morritt’s also offers supervised activities for children ages four to 12 on the resort during U.S. school holidays (summer, spring break, etc.). Fees are charged by a full day, half day, or evening. Activities include ice cream socials, tennis, theater, marshmallow roasts, crafts, hiking, and biking.

There is a business center off of the lobby with four computers and a printer that is free to use. There is also an information area where guests can get information on excursions, island activities, and time-share ownership. There are two different fees for Wi-Fi –- one for basic Internet and another for high-speed. The Reef Resort next door also charges for Wi-Fi but offers free Wi-Fi in its lobby.

Morritt’s has an ample-sized fitness center, although the equipment and the space is worn. The fitness center has cardio machines including stationary bikes, treadmills, and ellipticals, as well as strength machines and free weights. The fitness center has a nice view, overlooking the Grand Pool and the ocean.

The resort has an on-site dive shop, Tortuga Divers by Red Sail Sports, located on the beach. Red Sail is a well-known water sports provider on the island. The dive shop sells dive and snorkel equipment, as well as other retail products such as clothing and sunblock. They have an air-conditioned classroom for training. Tortuga Divers offers diving excursions (wall dives and shallow dives), dive packages, and equipment rental. They also have sailing and other water activities, including kayaking, waverunners, and snorkeling.

The beaches on the East End aren’t as nice as Seven Mile Beach, on the west side of the island. The water is clear and blue, and the sand is white, but the shore is rocky and has coral and sea grass. Since the property is so large, Morritt’s has a spacious beachfront with plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas. The snorkeling and diving on the East End is fantastic and Morritt’s runs excursions directly off their shore.

Morritt’s has three pools on the property, each with its own vibe. The Grand Pool is a picturesque infinity pool that overlooks the ocean. It has two swim-up bars as well as a hot tub and a small children’s pool. The Premiere Pool, located in a central area of the resort, is broken up into multiple winding sections. Attractively landscaped, it has a small island in the middle with a palm tree as well as a kids' pool and hot tub on the side. The area surrounding the pool has plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas for sunbathing as well as a ping-pong table. Food and beverage is served at the pool until dusk. The Park Pool is the quiet pool. It’s less populated than the other two pools, and has a relaxing atmosphere. It is located on the edge of the property.

Morritt’s also hosts weddings, which can be organized in as little as a day. It offers various packages, starting with basic services (use of a minister, a Cayman marriage license, and bottle of sparkling wine), and ranging to a larger celebration including a wedding cake and photographer. The resort also has a la carte weddings services including music, flowers, decor, a Caribbean steel band, and catering.

La Mer is Morritt’s busy on-site spa, located near the entrance. They are a full-service facility, offering facials, massages, waxing, threading, hair and nail services, and even wedding hair and make-up.

Morritt’s has two on-site restaurants. David’s Deep Blue, an upscale seafood restaurant, is located in the back of the lobby. Brightly decorated with blue walls and colorful accents, diners can sit inside or outside on the patio facing the water. Mimi’s Dock Bar, located on Morritt’s oceanfront dock, serves casual bar food in an open, airy atmosphere and is open late.