twokids2 Posted December 27, 2005 #1 Share Posted December 27, 2005 :) Going on the Sun 4-1-06 and have heard that Great Stirrup Cay is a waste of time, anyone have info about the Cay? Will anyone be traveling from the NY area. Hope to find other passengers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb&Phil Posted December 27, 2005 #2 Share Posted December 27, 2005 Not sure about Great Stirrup Cay - we will see it for the first time in January. There is a roll call for your trip - I attached the link for you so you can find some fellow cruisers. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=241276 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbisson Posted December 27, 2005 #3 Share Posted December 27, 2005 We enjoyed GSC. I would advise getting early tender tickets and getting to the island early. We were on the first tender and had about 60-90 minutes before it got crowded on the beach. Then we took a walk across the island to the "lighthouse beach" (about 20 minutes each way) and then got back to the ship. -Monte Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robyn525600 Posted December 27, 2005 #4 Share Posted December 27, 2005 I love GSC - been there 3 times - its my favorite part of the cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nycruiser1975 Posted December 27, 2005 #5 Share Posted December 27, 2005 We enjoyed GSC. I would advise getting early tender tickets and getting to the island early. We were on the first tender and had about 60-90 minutes before it got crowded on the beach. Then we took a walk across the island to the "lighthouse beach" (about 20 minutes each way) and then got back to the ship. -Monte What are tenders for, and how do you get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomct Posted December 27, 2005 #6 Share Posted December 27, 2005 GSC provides for a terrific beach day, a nice buffet lunch, beach side music, snorkeling, etc. I also enjoyed a walk to the other side of the island, where I found some NCL staff swimming and snorkeling. There was also a nice "Kodak Moment" of the Dawn anchored off shore. For those not interested in the beach, it also provides a nice day to enjoy the ship's facilities while half the passengers or so go ashore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbisson Posted December 27, 2005 #7 Share Posted December 27, 2005 Some ports (including GSC) do not have dock facilities. Tenders are smaller boats that shuttle passengers from ship to shore and back (sometimes they actually use some of the ships lifeboats). About 1/2 hr before the tenders begin running, they opened the excursion desk for "early tender tickets". For about the first hour or so, to get on a tender, you needed a ticket. After that it was open tendering. hope this helps -Monte Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DroopySails Posted December 27, 2005 #8 Share Posted December 27, 2005 Tenders are the small boats that ferry you from the ship to the island (the ship will anchor instead of docking). Tender tickets are free and you get them onboard. Read your Freestyle Daily and listen to onboard announcements for details. GSC is kind of a love-hate thing--some people adore it, and some can't stand it. I'm kind of in the middle. Go and check it out...if you don't like it, you can catch a tender back to the ship at any time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DroopySails Posted December 27, 2005 #9 Share Posted December 27, 2005 Monte's response was far clearer than mine, as usual! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mbisson Posted December 27, 2005 #10 Share Posted December 27, 2005 Monte's response was far clearer than mine, as usual! I wouldn't say that. You mentioned checking the Freestyle Daily (otherwise know as your onboard bible) and I didn't -Motne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomct Posted December 27, 2005 #11 Share Posted December 27, 2005 There are also VIP tender tickets for those so classified, and are available throught the Concierge. You don't need to request them, they are delivered to your room ahead of time. VIP Tender Tickets can be used at any time, just show up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenie Posted December 27, 2005 #12 Share Posted December 27, 2005 We loved GSC. I'm only sorry that we never got around to exploring it a little. Oh well! Guess I'll have to go there again. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPete Posted December 27, 2005 #13 Share Posted December 27, 2005 I actually enjoyed the stop there. Had a BBQ, some fun and games, some of those that drank more than others tried climbing the palm trees.... They don't look as high from the ground up, as they do from the top down! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeachBumMama Posted December 28, 2005 #14 Share Posted December 28, 2005 I too like the stop. Nothing much there, a relaxation beach day, but sometimes its what you need to chill either before other island stops, or after several island hopping days. Good snorkeling along the beach too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsaadat Posted December 28, 2005 #15 Share Posted December 28, 2005 :) Going on the Sun 4-1-06 and have heard that Great Stirrup Cay is a waste of time, anyone have info about the Cay? Will anyone be traveling from the NY area. Hope to find other passengers. I dont know who told you that ??? But they are crazy. its a wonderful day in a very nice cove. Great snorkling and also a variety of othere activities, clean restrooms and a BBQ with chicken, dogs and burgers. We were there this weekend and eventhough we had a bunch of rain, it was still a great place. Enjoy, Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksukent Posted December 28, 2005 #16 Share Posted December 28, 2005 I would also add that if you don't want to go early in the excursion, the beach traffic died down considerably (many had returned to ship) in the later part of the the afternoon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swoosh2005 Posted December 28, 2005 #17 Share Posted December 28, 2005 On our 2nd cruise ever on NCL we were on a "sports cruise" with major league baseball players...at Great Stirrup Cay...I'll never forget the sight of my son playing volleyball with Yankee players and my DH sitting for hours talking baseball with retired players. I wish NCL still did that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuccicruisers Posted December 28, 2005 #18 Share Posted December 28, 2005 Both times we have been there was too rough to tender in. Hoping third time is the charm....we will be there on the 4/2 Spirit cruise. Looked nice from a mile away ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leafpeeper Posted December 28, 2005 #19 Share Posted December 28, 2005 On our 2nd cruise ever on NCL we were on a "sports cruise" with major league baseball players...at Great Stirrup Cay...I'll never forget the sight of my son playing volleyball with Yankee players and my DH sitting for hours talking baseball with retired players.I wish NCL still did that! Please don't strand me on an island with a bunch of Yankee Players!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swoosh2005 Posted December 29, 2005 #20 Share Posted December 29, 2005 Please don't strand me on an island with a bunch of Yankee Players!!! Oh they weren't all Yankees, there were all the major league teams, announcers, umpires, retired players. quite a treat for a kid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caren Posted December 29, 2005 #21 Share Posted December 29, 2005 What time do they wrap it up on GSC? I went there on the first tender last time,and think I would like to spend a couple of hours there at the end of the day next time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeachBumMama Posted December 29, 2005 #22 Share Posted December 29, 2005 I don't know if it's the same all the time, but when I was there it was around 3:00 in the afternoon I want to say. I don't know why so early, I wish they didn't leave until late. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miami Posted December 29, 2005 #23 Share Posted December 29, 2005 Sorry, I thought it was a complete waste of time. Way too crowded and very little to do. Had a crazy merchant yell at me because I put a t-shirt in the wrong place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cantwaitt Posted December 29, 2005 #24 Share Posted December 29, 2005 We LOVE GSC. One of the most relaxing days of my life. We bring our own tubes to float in. Every hour on the hour an organized group snorkels out to the "rock" where much of the fish can be found. We liked to take the first ticket-less tender, then take the absolute last tender back to the ship. It's nice and calm and quiet for the final hour on the island, and during the summer, the sun is not as strong. During the summer, be very careful not to get burned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hilltopfamily Posted December 30, 2005 #25 Share Posted December 30, 2005 What things cost "extra" while on GSC? When we were on Disney's private island, there were extra fees for tubes, rafts, & snorkeling equipment. What will I need to pay extra for when I'm at GSC? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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