Breakaway Tender to GSC

Can you book your tender time online before your cruise? If not, then when?

As soon as you board, have the app ready. You can book as soon as you can access the ship's free wifi.

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Wow....ya know, I feel bad for senior citizens. All this pre-booking of everything online etc, not to mention, should they or should they not book with an app etc...or book things on the ship has to be a royal pain in the brain for them. Tender booking? Really? I have not cruised for a few years but I don't remember having to BOOK a tender. Just stood in line for one and that was it. My vacation is starting to sound stressful.

Wow....ya know, I feel bad for senior citizens.

Why? Is there some reason that they can't book using the NCL app?

My parents are senior citizens, and they spend more time online everyday than I do.

My ex-husband is my age, and he doesn't own a computer. Still doesn't understand texting. Hates that he has to carry a cell phone for business.

I look at it as any other vacation... the more info you seek out, the better prepared you will be.

If you wait for someone to spoon-feed it to you, don't expect to get all of the information ahead of time.

If you book a tender for GSC, say the first one, and then miss it do you still have "priority" or have to wait in the line now that you've missed it?

Why? Is there some reason that they can't book using the NCL app?

My parents are senior citizens, and they spend more time online everyday than I do.

My ex-husband is my age, and he doesn't own a computer. Still doesn't understand texting. Hates that he has to carry a cell phone for business.

 

I look at it as any other vacation... the more info you seek out, the better prepared you will be.

If you wait for someone to spoon-feed it to you, don't expect to get all of the information ahead of time.

there is NO order to getting on a tender. unless you have an excursion booked you just go to the 'back of the line'

i heard this 100 times while waiting in line in december. people walked to the front of the hall, pointed to their ticket and were told back of the line. the guy didnt even look at the ticket. only exceptoin was if you had an excursion you have to make a fuss then go down front of the theater

so back of the line for you! it's how it is..very disorganized and sooo stupid they even pretend there's order by making you make reservations.

there is NO order to getting on a tender. unless you have an excursion booked you just go to the 'back of the line'

 

i heard this 100 times while waiting in line in december. people walked to the front of the hall, pointed to their ticket and were told back of the line. the guy didnt even look at the ticket. only exceptoin was if you had an excursion you have to make a fuss then go down front of the theater

 

so back of the line for you! it's how it is..very disorganized and sooo stupid they even pretend there's order by making you make reservations.

Really? So there is no sense in making a reservation? Didn't know that - thanks. The last cruise we had booked a clam shell & were told that was an excursion so would have priority boarding. Went down to board & the woman wouldn't even look at what we had, was very rude, told us to get on line. I was more upset at how rude she was so went down to guest services. If this was not considered an excursion that was fine, but I wanted an answer. The woman at guest services, a very very nice woman, told us it was considered an excursion so we should get priority. She spoke to her manager & just took us to the tender herself. I think it goes along the lines of policies changing all the time.

i made 1020 reservation and it was meaningless. its chaos. if you want on early i guess you have to line up at 9 am to get in the theater . i had no idea clams were priority. we did get assistance due to a disability but had i known clams were priority could have used that as well. good info!

also we got to the island and were told we had the 2nd to last clamshell. was that true? no clue.

i made 1020 reservation and it was meaningless. its chaos. if you want on early i guess you have to line up at 9 am to get in the theater . i had no idea clams were priority. we did get assistance due to a disability but had i known clams were priority could have used that as well. good info!

 

also we got to the island and were told we had the 2nd to last clamshell. was that true? no clue.

I was told my the salesman at the excursions desk and also by the 2nd guest services woman I spoke to, so I believe it is. I'm afraid to tell you yes definitely because things change so quick, but I am going to ask again next cruise (October). We liked having the clam shell because the sun gets too much for me sometimes, but I love GSC. One thing I would recommend if you can get it, get the one with a vent in the back, not solid plastic, they are much more comfortable. The solid ones tend to get a little hot in there with no air. But it seems they sell out quickly, don't know why they don't just replace them all with the vents lol

We are interested in booking a clamshell. It is my understanding that they cannot be booked till onboard at the excursion desk, correct? When you talk about getting the ones with vents vs. having the solid plastic, are they assigned to you or do you get to pick? Does it depend on when you get to the island? Thank you for the help!

onboard you cannot pick vent/non vent. which is why you need to get to the island early. we just got lucky i guess

we were on the 3rd beach near the small cabanas. no clue what was available on the main beach

Just one more reason to build a pier for the ship to actually dock, cut back on the ship orders and put that money to some construction

Just one more reason to build a pier for the ship to actually dock, cut back on the ship orders and put that money to some construction

the problem with building a pier for the ship to dock is they have to drudge a channel and that causes lots of effect with coral reefs, fish and other marine animals in the waters.

We are interested in booking a clamshell. It is my understanding that they cannot be booked till onboard at the excursion desk, correct? When you talk about getting the ones with vents vs. having the solid plastic, are they assigned to you or do you get to pick? Does it depend on when you get to the island? Thank you for the help!

You're right, they cannot be booked till onboard. Unfortunately you cannot pick what you get, only what beach it is on, then when you get there you can pick (from what is left). The last time we went we got off a little late (also was delayed because of problems with the tender) so the only ones left were the ones without vents. Not a total disaster, but like I said, the vented ones are much more comfortable. If you're using it more for sitting, relaxing & not in it much it's fine, if you're looking to take a nap it can get hot after a while. But like I said, not a big deal, didn't ruin the day, but I prefer the vented ones. Have a great time!

For the clamshells without the vented backside, just lift the bottom of the shell and prop it up with something, extra towels, small cooler, tote bag.... you'll get a bit of cross breeze.

For the clamshells without the vented backside, just lift the bottom of the shell and prop it up with something, extra towels, small cooler, tote bag.... you'll get a bit of cross breeze.

That's a great idea! Thank you so much for sharing this :D

As soon as you board, have the app ready. You can book as soon as you can access the ship's free wifi.

Do Haven guests need to pre-book the tender at GSC? Does it make a difference if the Haven guest has an excursion booked?

Do Haven guests need to pre-book the tender at GSC? Does it make a difference if the Haven guest has an excursion booked?

No need to book a tender in the Haven. If you have an excursion, the concierge will escort you to the tenders first thing. It your excursion is not an early one, arrange with the concierge for the time they will escort you.

No need to book a tender in the Haven. If you have an excursion, the concierge will escort you to the tenders first thing. It your excursion is not an early one, arrange with the concierge for the time they will escort you.

Thanks!

We are interested in booking a clamshell. It is my understanding that they cannot be booked till onboard at the excursion desk, correct? When you talk about getting the ones with vents vs. having the solid plastic, are they assigned to you or do you get to pick? Does it depend on when you get to the island? Thank you for the help!

Clamshells can be booked at any of the touchscreen kiosk in all public areas. So can all shore excursions. These are a lot easier than the clunky stateroom TV or the clunky iConcierge app. Couple of touches, scan your room key, and you have your booking (same goes for theater tickets, shore excursions, dinner reservations). You don't have to stand in line. On big ships, clamshells will sell out before you get to the island.

GSC offers little shade. And the sun is always brutal. High recommend a clam shell for $30.

When you get to the island, you pick the clamshell you want. The clamshell attendant will set it up for you and collect your voucher. Lifting the back of the clamshell, you can see whether it is solid canvas or with the ventilation panel. DO NOT pick a solid canvas shell thinking that it will offer you more shade. It will only cause you to be a cooked clam.

 

 

True, but the last time I was there they definitely don't have enough vented ones so if you don't get off early you may miss out. If that happens tho, do what Sauer-kraut suggested in post #16. IMO a great idea & one I will be definitely be trying. Also, no worries about getting there before everyone to get a vented clam shell ;)

I have never been to this island.....from all this discussion I take it they do not have "beach umbrellas'? Ugh! Good way to force you to spend $30 on that Clam Shell. I think we will try to find some shade by some trees if that's possible. That clam shell seems mighty stuffy to me.

I have never been to this island.....from all this discussion I take it they do not have "beach umbrellas'? Ugh! Good way to force you to spend $30 on that Clam Shell. I think we will try to find some shade by some trees if that's possible. That clam shell seems mighty stuffy to me.

Hmm that's a good question, I can't remember :o I recall at one time they had umbrellas but cannot remember if they had them the last time I was there. I'm pretty sure they did have places to sit near the bars that were under umbrellas, but not sure what, besides clam shells, were on the actual beach. I know you can get a lounge chair, then maybe find a tree to put in under?

The picnic table dining pavilions offer shade. There are a few palm trees and a few spots at the bars. But you should not plan on a lot of natural shade. NCL does need to invest in one more large tender for the island - the math on getting 3500 people to shore with around three, 300 ish passengers tenders does not compute. If the next tender(s) were longer, it might let them run shuttles in a higher sea state as well. It was sweet to see the Little Norway tenders still in service, these brought back happy memories.