Great Stirrup Cay - Clam Shells

[Treacher1]

We pre ordered a clam shell online for Great Stirrup Cay.  Are they all in one specific area on the island or scattered?  How do you claim one?  Can you go to any that are unoccupied?  Prior 2 cruises GSC was canceled due to high winds and not safe for tenders.  Hoping we finally get some beach time there this year.  Any information is appreciated.  Thanks - smooth sailing to all!

[mking8288]

Hundreds of blue clam shells on the island (if not thousands) and they are mostly near the beach - find one with the vented sides as they are best for cross ventilations.  Find your favorite spots with the shells, pick an unoccupied one and it's yours to keep & use for the entire day - show the "attendant" nearby your receipt or proof (should be in your stateroom - if not, stop at the Shorex Deck) as that's also your tender ticket to go early.  

 

Bring suntan lotion for UV & sun protection and something colorful that you can tied or mark your clam shell in a sea of blue, they all look alike.  Good luck on the next tendering attempt, always 50:50 as you know by now, especially if the north wind is blowing ... 

[dbrown84]

32 minutes ago, Treacher1 said:

We pre ordered a clam shell online for Great Stirrup Cay.  Are they all in one specific area on the island or scattered?  How do you claim one?  Can you go to any that are unoccupied?  Prior 2 cruises GSC was canceled due to high winds and not safe for tenders.  Hoping we finally get some beach time there this year.  Any information is appreciated.  Thanks - smooth sailing to all!

Were you able to book this as an excursion?

[wil e coyote]

Most of the clamshells are off to the right as you are walking towards the beach. They are all squished together in rows, and the beach is very flat. So if you don't get one of the first few rows, you will just be looking at the back of other clamshells.

There is also a smaller block of clamshells off to the left, beyond the zipline lighthouse. We ended up in the large group to the right, but if I were to do it again, I would try to get into the clamshells to the left.

 

[Treacher1]

Yes, we booked this on the excursion section of the website or app - whichever you prefer.  Thanks for the information.

[jcollin]

20 hours ago, mking8288 said:

Hundreds of blue clam shells on the island (if not thousands) and they are mostly near the beach - find one with the vented sides as they are best for cross ventilations.  Find your favorite spots with the shells, pick an unoccupied one and it's yours to keep & use for the entire day - show the "attendant" nearby your receipt or proof (should be in your stateroom - if not, stop at the Shorex Deck) as that's also your tender ticket to go early.  

 

Bring suntan lotion for UV & sun protection and something colorful that you can tied or mark your clam shell in a sea of blue, they all look alike.  Good luck on the next tendering attempt, always 50:50 as you know by now, especially if the north wind is blowing ... 

Having booked a clam shell gets you priority tendering?

[mking8288]

1 hour ago, jcollin said:

Having booked a clam shell gets you priority tendering?

Generally speaking, the booking confirmation served as your tender ticket, not necessary priority per se but you & rest of your group don't need to get tender ticket.  Depending on the ship, not sure if it might become digital ticket, check onboard with all the welcome envelopes in your stateroom. 

 

Each tender can take up to 400 per trip, including crews & supplies on the first run to the island.  Not everyone go ashore and those in Haven usually get escorted down from the designated waiting or meeting location ... and when we use our "priority" privileges, had usually joined the first or second tender, skipping the lines on the stairs and corridors leading to the tender dock's gangway. 

 

Haven't read any issues of clam shells being sold out, even if you join the line for tenders later - might missed out prime locations and the vented ones 

[schmoopie17]

Be careful not to get one with the vented mesh panel on top. The sun comes right in there. Not good for a clam shell that is supposed to provide shade.

[BirdTravels]

2 hours ago, jcollin said:

Having booked a clam shell gets you priority tendering?

Yes. You can join the tender line at any time without pulling a tender number. 

[jcollin]

2 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Yes. You can join the tender line at any time without pulling a tender number. 

Thanks, I wish I could get in line now but I need to wait

[disneylover89]

If you rent an umbrella, can you put it wherever you want or are there designated areas for the umbrellas? Are you able to reserve an umbrella online?

[cruiseny4life]

30 minutes ago, disneylover89 said:

If you rent an umbrella, can you put it wherever you want or are there designated areas for the umbrellas? Are you able to reserve an umbrella online?

I didn't ask this question myself, however I saw a family of six trying to move umbrellas they had paid for to a location they preferred. The attendants on the beach did not allow them to do this. The umbrellas are pre-set when guests arrive, so it's not like you take an umbrella and move it to the beach. I'm not sure what the policy on this is, only what I observed when that family tried to move the umbrella. 

 

I've never seen, but also never looked, to reserve an umbrella online. I know you can do so on the ship, just not sure about online.