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What's all this I Read about not able to get to Stirrup Cay?

caddykid12

By caddykid12,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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Rileyz

Rileyz

Posted
Posted

This last week both the Sky and Breakaway did not make their calls there. Weather seemed nice but I guess the water was too rough. I was on the Breakaway and while it seemed fine I'm no nautical expert so I can't dispute what the captain said with any authority. It was disappointing but cruise was nice regardless.

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pieshops

pieshops

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It may also look beautiful and nice and no seas at time of arrival but forecast may be for 10 foot swells within hours. So don't go by the weather when arriving. Despite conspiracy theories NCL does not want to make 3000 people angry at them intentionally

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mking8288 "Live from...." Rare

mking8288

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When it's unsafe to tender to GSC, NCL ship that originally scheduled to be there for the day (don't think we've dropped anchor, but surely came to a full stop ... attempts were made) - ship captain has no choice but to make the decision to move on with a "Fun Day At Sea". Sometimes to the cheers of those who rather be in the casino, LOL.

 

We have a batting average of .600 out of 5 (I think) scheduled GSC calls over the past 14 years - 2003, the private island was far less developed without the piers/docks now in use ... we actually had to step off the front of the tender boat, into the water - wet - for the last few steps for the sandy beach.

 

Breakaway should be calling again on Wednesday and Sky on Thursday & Sunday, if I'm reading the schedule correctly (not sure about the Epic) and then it's our turn next Tuesday - wish us luck. From the long-range forecast & possibility of thunderstorm in the general area & shower early next week ... I am not optimistic. I've cautioned those on our Roll Call to have a Plan B as we could quite possibly be heading to Nassau early to overnight - again, some don't mind.

 

When it's a "little" windy and seas moderately rough, it's a challenge and not so fun to step onto the gangway to board the tender, folks been known to get motion sickness during the ride. We had a decent ride to GSC but the ride back to the ship, not much as conditions worsen. Not a conspiracy whatsoever on NCL.

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AdGuyMG

AdGuyMG

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Is it weather related issues where the ship can't anchor properly.

 

The ship can anchor just fine. But with high 4-6 foot waves, the ramp off and onto the ship from the small 2 story tender boats alongside becomes bouncy and dangerous.

 

The answer below elaborates even more.

 

 

When it's a "little" windy and seas moderately rough, it's a challenge and not so fun to step onto the gangway to board the tender, folks been known to get motion sickness during the ride. We had a decent ride to GSC but the ride back to the ship, not much as conditions worsen. Not a conspiracy whatsoever on NCL.

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DMH15

DMH15

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It may also look beautiful and nice and no seas at time of arrival but forecast may be for 10 foot swells within hours. So don't go by the weather when arriving. Despite conspiracy theories NCL does not want to make 3000 people angry at them intentionally

 

 

We were there for one hour before the captain called us back due to swells.

 

Darn, the taco bar was due to open in just 15 minutes!!!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

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newmexicoNita

newmexicoNita

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Is it weather related issues where the ship can't anchor properly. Why do I just only read about GSC cancelled.

 

What months are the worse to visit there? Where u most likely won't call?

this is not an NCL problem only, we have cruised over 30 times and the only Private Island we have ever seen happens to be GSC. We have never gotten to the RCI private island, Hal we were about to get on the tender when they decided to bring back those who were already there and cancel the rest of the day and we had a similar experience on Costa. This is still fairly unlikely, but it is a safety call by the captain. There is no best or worst. Our Costa was in Aug, the 2 times we couldn't get to GSC, was once in Dec and once in April: RCI late Nov and Sept and HAL late NOv or first week of Dec.

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DMH15

DMH15

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So what happens if you rent a cabana and they call you back to ship in a hour or two. Do you get a refund because you only spent a few hours or are you just out of luck

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

 

On our cruise we were there 1 hour. All cabana, wave runner, clamshell, snorkling equip., etc. 100% refunded. Plus we each got about a $20 credit.

 

 

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luckyinpa

luckyinpa

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The ship can anchor just fine. But with high 4-6 foot waves, the ramp off and onto the ship from the small 2 story tender boats alongside becomes bouncy and dangerous.

 

The answer below elaborates even more.

 

you got that right. on our way back to the ship it appeared to be smooth waters. ride was smooth etc. get next to the boat and i thought it was a hurricane. they stopped people every few seconds from going over the ramp. it was really insane, should have gotten a video.

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LrgPizza

LrgPizza

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Hmm....I guess the waters are too shallow to build a docking station there for the ship like they having on other islands.

That doesn't necessarily help. DCL's Castaway Cay has a dock, and we've missed that stop 2 out of 3 cruises due to weather. Both days looked beautiful, but that doesn't always matter.

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  • 2 weeks later...
mking8288 "Live from...." Rare

mking8288

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Well, we're on the Gem and made it there last Tuesday, a great beach day on the island despite 2 brief passing shower after priority tendering. Luck was on our side.

0c6cda42fa1d5883264e6db7cf08fa7b.jpg

e19196e05fd5c028d53c34c38e1a9a3c.jpg

 

Today, the Gem skipped GSC - seas & waves looked calm earlier, but - and sailed into Nassau earlier and looks like will be doing an overnight stay.

55ac1aa658363bbb3deb77f8ff2b27b9.jpg

 

via dual-sims R1HD using Tapatalk, VPN secured.

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tumblew467

tumblew467

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Well, we're on the Gem and made it there last Tuesday, a great beach day on the island despite 2 brief passing shower after priority tendering. Luck was on our side.

 

 

 

Today, the Gem skipped GSC - seas & waves looked calm earlier, but - and sailed into Nassau earlier and looks like will be doing an overnight stay.

 

via dual-sims R1HD using Tapatalk, VPN secured.

 

Hi Mking, If they skip GSC what time do they arrive in Nassau?

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mking8288 "Live from...." Rare

mking8288

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Posted (edited)
Hi Mking, If they skip GSC what time do they arrive in Nassau?

It depends, if they attempted to stop first at GSC like what we did with the BA in past sailing. Captain tried & gave up, left but didn't dock till 7 PM - no berth opened ?? This morning, looked like they didn't stop at all & continued into Nassau, it's like 4 or 5 hours of sailing time at typical speed of 16 kt. further between both places. There's just 2 or 3 ship's scheduled to dock at Nassau this month on Tuesday and Wednesday, so it's easy enough as they can handle 5 ship's at a time.

 

Arriving in the evening, however, isn't good unless you have plans - restaurants/bars/cafe near the pier might still be open but shops are already closed. Just re-checked live cam, a beautiful sunset over the horizon with the Gem docked.

1cc2616881a0e41d846c6d963b6fb63c.jpg

 

Good luck to you & all, if I read the Roll Call correctly on making it next week. Will be following the shipcam.

 

And I am sure you read my alert about GSC now having good 3G cellular coverage, just make sure you check your own plan's international coverage. Regards. Henry@mking8288

 

via Nexus 5X on Nougat 7.1.2 using Tapatalk, VPN secured.

Edited by mking8288
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mking8288 "Live from...." Rare

mking8288

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MarineTraffic latest AIS tracking data had the Gem departed Nassau earlier this evening, destination is GSC for Wednesday ... will find out by checking live shipcam to see if in fact, they managed to anchor and run tenders to their private island.

 

I recalled a post/question while we're at sea last week, that someone mentioned there is a reversed plan to visit Nassau first before heading for GSC ... so, maybe this is one of those exception cruise itinerary due to port availability.

 

@RCI's Coca Cay, very interesting that they can built a pier for their ships to dock there, as they currently also tender. If RCI can do it, then NCL can do it - reasons against it had been all about maintaining the eco-systems and sea environment, etc. without damaging the coral reefs.

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dacsmom

dacsmom

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Posted

We missed GSC in March and just stayed overnight in Nassau. They were predicting really rough seas, and the Captain did not want to risk it. While Nassau is not a favorite port and I really wanted to go to GSC, I appreciated the Captains decision to skip it.

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