Platinum Priority Tender Tickets

[HighVoltage#9]

I'm booked on the BA in March. We are platinum members and just wondering how the process goes with priority tender boarding at GSC.

[www3traveler]

There should be a packet of information on your bed when arrive in your cabin with all the information you will need including a coupon that acts as your Tender Ticket.

[HighVoltage#9]

Thanks, I'm aware of the ticket being delivered to the room, I really want to know how smooth the process goes getting on the tenders. Is there a separate line,do we have to be there before a certain time, do they have a certain number of boats for priority then after that it's a free for all ?

[Budget Queen]

Thanks, I'm aware of the ticket being delivered to the room, I really want to know how smooth the process goes getting on the tenders. Is there a separate line,do we have to be there before a certain time, do they have a certain number of boats for priority then after that it's a free for all ?

 

No to most of your questions. There will be some times, when you just stay in the regular line. There is no separate tender, and no specific time.

 

Depending on what port, be aware of time needed. IF you have to be on shore shortly after the arrival time, then you still need to be ready to go early. Show staff members your ticket, and you will be directed where to go. Don't think you are the only platinum and expect to go straight to a boat. There can be hundreds of platinum's on board, and tour groups loading, ahead of you. Most important is to allow some extra time. :)

[NMLady]

. ...

There is no separate tender, and no specific time. ... Show staff members your ticket, and you will be directed where to go. Don't think you are the only platinum and expect to go straight to a boat. There can be hundreds of platinum's on board, and tour groups loading, ahead of you. Most important is to allow some extra time. :)

 

Good answer. This is true!

 

Even though we are Platinum, unless we have a private tour scheduled, we don't use our Platinum voucher but instead wait for the 'no tickets needed' announcement because with hundreds of Platinum members trying to be first, as well as ship excursions going first, it is easier for us to wait.

Edited November 21, 2015 by NMLady

[casofilia]

Even though we are Platinum, unless we have a private tour scheduled, we don't use our Platinum voucher but instead wait for the 'no tickets needed' announcement because with hundreds of Platinum members trying to be first, as well as ship excursions going first, it is easier for us to wait.

 

Concur wholeheartedly with those sentiments.

 

Mike

[HighVoltage#9]

Thank you

[rvsullivan]

OP is talking about GSC specifically. It can be a little different than the typical shore excursion.

Our experience has been the first tender at GSC is for all the specials/priorities, i.e. suites, platinum and special needs. After they are on, if there is room, always is, then others are loaded. After that stand in line and wait your turn. Usually someone will escort the "special" to the front, a butler or concierge.

Your experience may vary.

[HighVoltage#9]

OP is talking about GSC specifically. It can be a little different than the typical shore excursion.

Our experience has been the first tender at GSC is for all the specials/priorities, i.e. suites, platinum and special needs. After they are on, if there is room, always is, then others are loaded. After that stand in line and wait your turn. Usually someone will escort the "special" to the front, a butler or concierge.

Your experience may vary.

 

Thanks RV,this is what I was looking for.

[mking8288]

We've "only" been on the BA twice with a stop @GSC, for Platinum members with priority tendering, you are typically given detailed info on where to meet/assemble - usually early around 8:30 AM (officially, ship arriving at 10 AM before tendering for the masses with zone #'s ) so have an early breakfast & be ready. We're seated comfortably inside the main theater, not standing in line out in the hallways, and Haven guests were escorted in - and we began boarding quite early for boat #1 (each double decker has a capacity of 350 to 400 passengers) - it take a while to load it full, depending on sea conditions. There was room for everyone waiting inside the theater & I'm pretty sure we had folks with shorex joining before we left the mother ship for GSC, a quickie 10 minutes ride (boarding from upper deck & disembark from lower deck).

 

We even had 1 or 2 "accessible" pax boarding last on our boat #1 with crew's help. As imagined, it took a little time for everyone to get off but we're walked to our left outside the pier & took one of the first tram to the west lagoon - arriving about 9:30 or so, with our choice of loungers & clamshell, etc. The masses didn't started showing up until about 10:30 or 10:45 AM and unlike the main area, our entire section never got crowded and the covered food/bar area was about 50 steps away & the restrooms just beyond.

 

We have someone ready to board the BA this morning & I will know whether anything else changed recently - besides weather/sea conditions @ GSC, and, that's entirely beyond NCL or our control.

 

P.S. we started making our way back to the ship around 3 PM as the line at the pier get progressively longer on those "later" return, on a first-come, first-serve basis & 20+ minutes to board and another 20+ minutes to reboard the big ship.

[HighVoltage#9]

We've "only" been on the BA twice with a stop @GSC, for Platinum members with priority tendering, you are typically given detailed info on where to meet/assemble - usually early around 8:30 AM (officially, ship arriving at 10 AM before tendering for the masses with zone #'s ) so have an early breakfast & be ready. We're seated comfortably inside the main theater, not standing in line out in the hallways, and Haven guests were escorted in - and we began boarding quite early for boat #1 (each double decker has a capacity of 350 to 400 passengers) - it take a while to load it full, depending on sea conditions. There was room for everyone waiting inside the theater & I'm pretty sure we had folks with shorex joining before we left the mother ship for GSC, a quickie 10 minutes ride (boarding from upper deck & disembark from lower deck).

 

We even had 1 or 2 "accessible" pax boarding last on our boat #1 with crew's help. As imagined, it took a little time for everyone to get off but we're walked to our left outside the pier & took one of the first tram to the west lagoon - arriving about 9:30 or so, with our choice of loungers & clamshell, etc. The masses didn't started showing up until about 10:30 or 10:45 AM and unlike the main area, our entire section never got crowded and the covered food/bar area was about 50 steps away & the restrooms just beyond.

 

We have someone ready to board the BA this morning & I will know whether anything else changed recently - besides weather/sea conditions @ GSC, and, that's entirely beyond NCL or our control.

 

P.S. we started making our way back to the ship around 3 PM as the line at the pier get progressively longer on those "later" return, on a first-come, first-serve basis & 20+ minutes to board and another 20+ minutes to reboard the big ship.

 

Thank you king8288. I haven't been to GSC in years because i don't like to tender. I was booked on the escape in Feb. but canceled to go on the BA again with friends.It also helped that both of my kids are off from high school and college at the same time this year.

[shellpj]

We got off of the Jade yesterday. We did not need to stand in line for tender tickets (people started lining up almost 2 hours early). We could choose when we wanted to leave (first tender or 20th tender to shore). All we had to do was show our ship ID with "platinum" on it.

[setsail1975]

We got off BA over a week ago. Luckily enough we were able to tender to GSC on that cruise. We are Gold , but as Gold/platinum/ Haven & excursions had priority boarding . No tickets were needed . In our room upon embarkation we had a latitudes letter telling us simply to go down to the main theatre for priority boarding I forgot the specific time, but no tickets needed.....Which we did and is was very disorganized the stair wells were filled with people, people were getting frustrated . They don't check to see if your priority boarding by no means.

 

We were told to go into the Spiegal Tent as soon as we got in there , they called us right out. We waited approximately 15 mins total from arriving in line to boarding the tender ....Regardless, we were on the 1st tender out , got free pick of setting up on the loungers on the beach before the crowds rolled in. Returning to the ship was no issue at all . We stayed till the very end.

Edited November 23, 2015 by setsail1975