costarica1 Posted March 22, 2018 #1 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Hi! I am going on a cruise with NCL for the first time this summer. I have been on a different (much smaller) cruise line in the past, so I am only familiar with how they work. We are trying to plan our days while on the trip and would like to understand how long it takes to get off the boat and what that process looks like. If it says the boat will port at 7am, what time do they allow passengers to get off? How long does this typically take (is it done by room location)? In the past we have had to get onto smaller boats from the cruise that would take us to land. Is this something you do on NCL? One last question: if it says the boat will leave at 7pm, what time do we need to get back onto the boat? Thanks so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Son of a son of a ... Posted March 22, 2018 #2 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Hi - What is the ship, port, and date? Thx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xriva Posted March 22, 2018 #3 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Tendering is port-dependent, not cruise line-dependent. If a ship can’t safely dock, then tenders (“small boats”) are used. In the Caribbean, it’s usually because the island is protected by a reef which larger ships cannot cross. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newmexicoNita Posted March 22, 2018 #4 Share Posted March 22, 2018 If you are tendering it takes much longer and yes, you will be tendering at assigned times based on several things. If you are not tendering there are no special arrangements, you just get off at your leisure. The ship will usually be cleared for debarkation about an hour after arriving. You do not have to worry too much, vendors and tour operators know about when the sip will be cleared and work with you. You should be back on board about an hour prior to sailing. Make sure, if booking privates tours you allow for unplanned slow downs. We have always, after on scary experience only booked private tours if we have a few hours at the end to get back on the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanger727 Posted March 22, 2018 #5 Share Posted March 22, 2018 If the boat can dock in port you can get off close to the time listed. They have to clear the boat with immigration and get the gangway set up and then will announce when passengers can start leaving. On my last cruise we had 5 ports and in 4 we were able to get off at or before the ‘docked’ time. One had a 45 min delay so quite a line built up and it took longer. You have to be back by ‘all aboard’, which is usually 30 minutes prior to the time listed to leave. Tender ports take longer on both ends, but a majority of ports are docked. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BirdTravels Posted March 22, 2018 #6 Share Posted March 22, 2018 Here’s a list of NCL tender ports where you will need to take a small boat to shore. In a lot of places, it depends if the ship has a “parking place” at a dock available (ports with *). The following are tender ports: Alaska, Canada, U.S. Pacific Coast & New England Astoria, Oregon* Bar Harbor, Maine Catalina Island, California Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island* Gaspésie, Quebec Icy Strait Point, Alaska* Juneau, Alaska* Ketchikan, Alaska* Newport, Rhode Island Rockland, Maine Saguenay, Canada* Sitka, Alaska* Sydney, Nova Scotia* Caribbean, Mexico & Panama Canal Belize City, Belize Basseterre, St. Kitts* Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Cozumel, Mexico* George Town, Grand Cayman Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas Gustavia, St. Barts Harvest Caye, Belize* Key West, Florida* Manzanillo, Mexico Ocho Rios, Jamaica* Puerto Vallarta, Mexico* Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras* Roseau, Dominica* Samana, Dominican Republic San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands* Tortola, British Virgin Islands* Hawaii Kona, Hawaii Lahaina, Hawaii South America Alter Do Chao, Brazil Buzios, Brazil Ilha Grande, Brazil Ilhabella, Brazil Porto Belo, Brazil Puerto Chacabuco, Chile Puerto Montt, Chile Punta Del Este, Uruguay Stanley, Falkland Islands Europe Bergen, Norway* Cannes, France Cork (Cobh), Ireland* Dubrovnik, Croatia* Edinburgh (Newhaven), Scotland Falmouth, England* Flam, Norway* Geiranger, Norway* Guernsey, Channel Islands, UK Hellesylt, Norway Helsingborg, Sweden Inverness (Invergordon), Scotland Istanbul, Turkey* Kotor, Montenegro* Leknes, Lofoten Islands, Norway Monte Carlo, Monaco Mykonos, Greece Lerwick, Shetland Islands Monte Carlo, Monaco* Mykonos, Greece* Naples, Italy* Olden, Norway* Santorini, Greece Split, Croatia* St. Malo, France Stockholm (Nynashamn), Sweden* Asia Bali (Benoa), Indonesia* Ha Long Bay, Vietnam Ko Samui, Thailand Komodo Island, Indonesia Phuket, Thailand* Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific Airlie Beach, Australia Akaroa, New Zealand Alotau, Papua New Guinea Bora Bora, French Polynesia Bay of Islands, New Zealand Fakarava, French Polynesia Eden, Australia Geelong, Australia Gisborne, New Zealand* Huahine, French Polynesia Ile des Pins, New Caledonia Kangaroo Island, Australia Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia Rangiroa, French Polynesia Sydney, Australia* Whitsunday Islands, Australia * Indicates a port where ship can dock or anchor, varies by call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mistizoom Posted March 22, 2018 #7 Share Posted March 22, 2018 The time you must be back on board at ports is usually but not always 30 minutes before ship departure. At most tender ports last tender back to the ship is usually 60 minutes before ship departure, except on Great Stirrup Cay it is 30 minutes before ship departure. Read your Freestyle Daily each night and watch for the signs when you depart the ship each day to be sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChocolateLover919 Posted May 28, 2018 #8 Share Posted May 28, 2018 If you are tendering it takes much longer and yes, you will be tendering at assigned times based on several things. If you are not tendering there are no special arrangements, you just get off at your leisure. The ship will usually be cleared for debarkation about an hour after arriving. You do not have to worry too much, vendors and tour operators know about when the sip will be cleared and work with you. You should be back on board about an hour prior to sailing. Make sure, if booking privates tours you allow for unplanned slow downs. We have always, after on scary experience only booked private tours if we have a few hours at the end to get back on the ship. In the past, we've mostly booked land tours thru NCL but I'm interested in doing private tours for our cruises in March 2019. I would appreciate helpful hints on finding reputable private tours since I've looked at several sources. We have 3 overnights and our 2 previous overnights in the middle east we booked thru NCL and not sure what to do about these overnights and day trips. Thanks so much. Rita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kochleffel Posted May 28, 2018 #9 Share Posted May 28, 2018 One thing I'll add is that, even if the ship docks, there can be a long line to walk off, especially on a large ship. This depends partly on whether it's possible to use more than one gangway - on Epic in the Mediterranean recently the number varied from one to three, depending on the configuration of the dock. Because everyone's key card will be swiped on leaving and returning to the ship, it's not as simple as everyone walking off or on as fast as they can. The longest I waited to walk off was 30 minutes and I suspect that I was getting in line during the peak time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare fabnfortysomething Posted May 28, 2018 #10 Share Posted May 28, 2018 In the past, we've mostly booked land tours thru NCL but I'm interested in doing private tours for our cruises in March 2019. I would appreciate helpful hints on finding reputable private tours since I've looked at several sources. We have 3 overnights and our 2 previous overnights in the middle east we booked thru NCL and not sure what to do about these overnights and day trips. Thanks so much. Rita wht are your ports? if you look at ports of call forums you will be able to look at specific areas where private tour operators are frequently discussed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChocolateLover919 Posted May 28, 2018 #11 Share Posted May 28, 2018 Thank you for responding. By chance I found some recommendations for some of the ports in Vietnam but not sure I was looking in the correct spot to view all the ports. Also, CC website seems to have drop down options on some pages but not others. If there is a link to the ports, please let me know. We will be traveling March 2019 but I want to secure tours soon. There are the The NCL cruise ports: Singapore, Ko Samui, Sihaoukville, Ho Chi Minh City, Chan May, Hanoi, Hong Kong. We are following up the next day with Holland America cruise with ports: Hong Kong, Shanghai, Qingdao, Tianjin/Beijing, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Yokohama & then on our own a few days in Kyoto. Thank you for your guidance. Rita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare fabnfortysomething Posted May 28, 2018 #12 Share Posted May 28, 2018 Thank you for responding. By chance I found some recommendations for some of the ports in Vietnam but not sure I was looking in the correct spot to view all the ports. Also, CC website seems to have drop down options on some pages but not others. If there is a link to the ports, please let me know. We will be traveling March 2019 but I want to secure tours soon. There are the The NCL cruise ports: Singapore, Ko Samui, Sihaoukville, Ho Chi Minh City, Chan May, Hanoi, Hong Kong. We are following up the next day with Holland America cruise with ports: Hong Kong, Shanghai, Qingdao, Tianjin/Beijing, Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Yokohama & then on our own a few days in Kyoto. Thank you for your guidance. Rita https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=70 this should be link to Asia ports of call-hope your research pays off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyL2 Posted May 28, 2018 #13 Share Posted May 28, 2018 Here’s a list of NCL tender ports where you will need to take a small boat to shore. In a lot of places, it depends if the ship has a “parking place” at a dock available (ports with *). ] As always your posts are always helpful....thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChocolateLover919 Posted May 28, 2018 #14 Share Posted May 28, 2018 Thanks for your prompt response. This link did take me to where I found some private tour options previously and happy to know I'm in the right spot. Greatly appreciated. Rita Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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