What happens if the Breakaway misses Great Stirrup Cay

[Chesneygirl]

Is it an automatic sea day or will they spend additional time in Nassau?

Edited March 16, 2014 by Chesneygirl

[bakerintn]

Typically, no way of telling until that day or the night before. Its up to the captain. However, a ship that size would rack up high port charges, so my guess is that they would stay at sea.

 

In my two chances to go to GSC, one was a sea day and the other was an unscheduled stop at Key West.

Edited March 16, 2014 by bakerintn

[sacooper34]

If they decide to port somewhere other then gsc who pays for the port charges? Ncl I hope..

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[sebas030]

Last november we skipped GSC ( it was the 4th week in a row ) and we had 2 days in Nassau :) . It's not that Nassau is that great but we got to do and see more then we would have...

 

Of course port charges are paid by Ncl ( about 90 000$ ).

 

In my opinion, if GSC is skipped....this itinerary is boring :( , did it twice and will jot do it again.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

[goofy4mickey]

Gem last August was a sea day:(

[newmexicoNita]

Is it an automatic sea day or will they spend additional time in Nassau?

 

normally it is just another sea day. It happens a lot. We have been on so many cruises that have missed their private islands, I can't even count them anymore. Well, I guess that is an exaggeration, but we have missed a few. We missed private island on RCI, HAL and once on NCL, plus almost missed one years ago on Costa.

[Bars7816]

Same here in Nov, but loved spending the night in Nassau. The weather was perfect.:)

[luv2gamble]

Hi all, ran into this thread and I was wondering why would they skip it, are you talking about weather conditions? Been to their private island 3x and I never missed it. I actually luv that island. Every time I have been there, the weather was great, water was calm and we had a great time. I hope it dont get skipped. I was looking around because I heard Breakaway was having engine problems and thought this thread might have answers to that. If it is due to weather, do they ever skip it and just flat around or do they always go to a diff port? Thanks all

[mugtech]

It gets skipped because the high winds and/or seas make it too dangerous to land. Happened to me on RCI in October few years back, just another sea day. Island was great this past October, but the next 4 after our cruise could not get off the BA. Ya pays your money and ya takes your chances.

[Ewoodspark]

I would not worry too much if you do not get to Great Stirrup Cay. It is a fancy name for a bit of beach and not much else

[Kerflop]

I have seen the island twice while on the Sky, never to have sat foot on shore. We had sea days both time. And once, the captain gave away some Rum drinks (can't remember the name) free for a few hours. Good times!!!! :p

[Chesneygirl]

Thanks for all the replies! :)

Hopefully we won't have to skip GSC on our sailing next month.

[poster]

I was just recently on Norwegian gem and they missed great stirrup cay because of a mechanical problem. The cruise line said they also miss the private islands because of bad weather due to there not being fixed port facilities. You have to be brought in by tender and they can't do that with rough seas. So I would say don't expect a private island stop over although they advertise that as part of your trip. Norwegian did give us a $50.00 per person non-refundable credit to use on the ship or for an excursion at Nassau. We did stay at Nassau for an extra sixteen hours but most of it was from 8:00PM to 8:00AM when people were sleeping. I guess Norwegian paid Nassau for the port fees.

[CasinoCruzGirl]

3 times I had GSC scheduled on my cruises ALL 3 times skipped it. All 3 times docked in Nassau early the day before scheduled around 3 pm. I'm a jinx I have figured out lol

[queenschick9b]

3 times I had GSC scheduled on my cruises ALL 3 times skipped it. All 3 times docked in Nassau early the day before scheduled around 3 pm. I'm a jinx I have figured out lol

 

 

Happened on Breakaway on Christmas cruise. We had same except got in at 5 as there were no spots at pier before that.

[brisco549]

Hi, please realize that GSC is a private island leased to NCL. The Island is leased from the Gov. of the Bahamas. Everyone in their port fees has paid a charge. I believe around $20 / pp. So if they miss GSC, there should be some compensation.

[mking8288]

We've a .600 average in making it to GSC over the last 12 years (5 sailings) and couldn't tender b/c of rough seas/wind & waves, making it unsafe - in 2014 on BA, captain tried & drop anchor off the island but gave up & made it a sea day ... doing a figure 8 loop ultra slowly before we sailed into Nassau around 7 PM.

 

Reasons being that during peak cruise season for Nassau, sometimes, you just cannot pull right in & find a berth, more so for the mega ships ... until someone else set sail, which is usually 4 to 5 PM local/port time; then, it's open for early arrival afterward. Excursions booked for GSC are automatically refunded and yes, refunds/adjustments for port fees/charges credited back into the onboard account as well.

 

Both times when we missed GSC, by the time you hit the main shopping streets 2 blocks away, they are closed & gone for the day, except for the bars & restaurants ... not much to do, unless you need to pickup bottled water or soda, etc. or find a WiFi hotspot, etc. Of course, Atlantis with the casino is open & cheerfully accept all donations, small & large, in U.S. denominations. :D

Edited May 12, 2016 by mking8288

[Letsgo 2]

I would not worry too much if you do not get to Great Stirrup Cay. It is a fancy name for a bit of beach and not much else

 

Oh, when was the last time you were there? GSC is so much more then that.

Jet Skies, Parasailing, Boat tours, Snorkeling tours, etc etc .

One of our favorites stops, and we have been 3 for 3 made it each time and hoping again this month

Marion

[Letsgo 2]

Hi, please realize that GSC is a private island leased to NCL. The Island is leased from the Gov. of the Bahamas. Everyone in their port fees has paid a charge. I believe around $20 / pp. So if they miss GSC, there should be some compensation.

 

No, NCL bought the Island in 1977 from the Belcher Oil Company, the pay no Port Charges there because they own it.Thats why there is no refund on Port Charges, because you dont pay any.

They will however refund any excursions you may missed if they cant make it to their Island

Marion

[Marine Mom]

Was just on the April 3rd sailing on the Breakaway and we missed GSC due to rocky weather. We headed to Nassau and arrived there around 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday and did not leave Nassau until 6:00 p.m. on Thursday evening. I think it happens alot with the Breakaway as she is so big and if Mother Nature doesn't cooperate it is dangerous to tender back from the Island. Trying again in August on the Gem this time....keeping my fingers crossed!!!

[brisco549]

No, NCL bought the Island in 1977 from the Belcher Oil Company, the pay no Port Charges there because they own it.Thats why there is no refund on Port Charges, because you dont pay any.

They will however refund any excursions you may missed if they cant make it to their Island

Marion

Marion, Whether NCL owns the GSC or not, there is a port fee and tax for this stop paid to the Gov. of the Bahamas. My DW & I where on a NCL cruise this past Jan. that could not make this stop and our OBC was credited $23/pp for missing this port. All the cruise lines have agreements with the Government for these islands.

[dexddd]

Marion, Whether NCL owns the GSC or not, there is a port fee and tax for this stop paid to the Gov. of the Bahamas. My DW & I where on a NCL cruise this past Jan. that could not make this stop and our OBC was credited $23/pp for missing this port. All the cruise lines have agreements with the Government for these islands.

 

We missed it in 2014 on the BA and we didn't get any credit. I have a scan of our on-board charges that I just checked and no credit.

[vince_g]

Twice I've been on cruises that skipped GSC, and we went ended up diverting to Nassau both times. Depends if the ship can secure a slip for the evening.