Great Stirrup Cay: question re the beach

[Pianoman6582]

When we were at GSC in February last year they had mesh umbrellas scattered between the lounges. Are they still available or do you have to rent a clamshell?

 

How much is parasailing and is it something I should book ahead of time??

 

 

Yeah, the umbrellas are gone... I have no explanation as to why they would do away with the umbrellas except for the brawls I'd imagine it saves. My Lee and I were there on the Gem in Mar of this year. They had the umbrellas. I got to the island and ran past a number of people walking towards the chairs. I threw my towels on the chair directly beneath the umbrella in question and a lady I had just passed, breathily and dramatically exclamed, "That's where I was going to put MY stuff, I guess not...." Well, I'm sorry. You should've been running too, or gotten to the island ahead of me... that's what first come first served means right? Not the most charitable attitude I'll grant you, but that's the size of it in the cold cruel world.

 

And that's precisely why the umbrellas are gone.

 

If you want a clamshell, you should reserve it in advance at the shorex desk....

 

If you want to go parasailing you should reserve that at the shorex desk. Go early or come "packin'" a concierge. A good concierge should be able to get you a shift on the bridge.... Well maybe not at the helm, but... :D It's about 85-90 bucks a head, and you get about 20 minutes in the air. Once you figure out that the harness they strap you into has you and won't drop you, you don't even notice that you're about 150 feet in the air.... You can sit back and relax. I'll post some of the pics I took while I was in the air tomorrow when I'm on the office computer....

 

Anyone else?

And I thank you!

JWK: Countin' Down....

[dbcnwa]

...I'll post some of the pics I took while I was in the air tomorrow when I'm on the office computer....

 

Anyone else?

And I thank you!

JWK: Countin' Down....

 

We booked the parasailing excursion for our cruise next week. Judging by your comment you probably got some good shots strapped in the harness. Did you have any problems in keeping your camera dry on the parasailing boat or while parasailing? Do the operators care if you keep a camera around your neck while you're airborne?

 

One more question: If you book a clamshell, is it a safe place to leave your camera behind when you go snorkeling, or are there any locker/storage facilities on the island? Thanks in advance!

[Pianoman6582]

We booked the parasailing excursion for our cruise next week. Judging by your comment you probably got some good shots strapped in the harness. Did you have any problems in keeping your camera dry on the parasailing boat or while parasailing? Do the operators care if you keep a camera around your neck while you're airborne?

 

One more question: If you book a clamshell, is it a safe place to leave your camera behind when you go snorkeling, or are there any locker/storage facilities on the island? Thanks in advance!

 

They are cool if you want to keep your camera around your neck. You can even ask them not to let you into the water...they will dunk you if you so desire.... I had my regular, non-waterproof camera on a wrist strap around my wrist, so I could let go of the camera and hold on tight if I freaked out.

 

I didn't freak out, but I think it was nice not having the camera around my neck.

 

I forgot to post the pictures today. I'll do it tomorrow.... Sorry anyone who was waiting on baited breath for my magnificent photos....

 

With respect to the clamshell, My Lee and I never bothered, preferring to do the "drop everything and swim" approach. However, my camera was nestled in a beach bag and my cash and ship card was around my neck in a water proof plastic doo-hickey... (That's a technical term) And alas, no, there are no lockers on the island. Hell, I'm not sure there's running water on that island....

 

And I tHAnk you:

JWK: Meet me on the Cay!:cool:

[coberg]

Does anyone know what is offered on the ship that day? We are going on this cruise to celebrate my mother-in-law's 8th birthday and treating my 25 year old son ( daughter could not go) bother -in law and her to this cruise. it is not a vacation. we will vacation ourselves later that year and if i have fun , it is a bonus. My son will love the island, but my mother-in-law and brother-in-law avoid sun. we offered to rent her a clam shell but she thinks that might be claustrophobic. She does like to collect shells so if there are shells on the beach there, maybe we can come down, collect some shells and then head back to the ship, if they have activities on board that day,

[Pianoman6582]

Does anyone know what is offered on the ship that day? We are going on this cruise to celebrate my mother-in-law's 8th birthday and treating my 25 year old son ( daughter could not go) bother -in law?:p (perhaps a little Freudian slip there?) and her to this cruise. it is not a vacation. we will vacation ourselves later that year and if i have fun , it is a bonus. My son will love the island, but my mother-in-law and brother-in-law avoid sun. we offered to rent her a clam shell but she thinks that might be claustrophobic. She does like to collect shells so if there are shells on the beach there, maybe we can come down, collect some shells and then head back to the ship, if they have activities on board that day,

 

The clamshells are fairly large, big enough to hold two chairs, and big enough to sit up in comfortably. I think unless their claustrophobia is severe, they should be fine.... As seen here:

 

There are no really nice shells to speak of. They really don't want you collecting stuff off their island anyway. If you figure 2000 people taking one shell off that island every time, times the number of ships that pull in there a week, that's probably WHY there are no shells there, but that's definitely why they don't want you collecting shells.....

 

The ship is anchored and technically within the Bahamas protectorate (that's why they have to get local clearance to send people to their own island), but because they are at a private island, the casino stays open. There's a pool-side casino too (two black jack tables). The spa will generally offer specials that day too. Not sure if the Galleria is open that day...probably. The last time we stayed onboard they did have some activities for those that stayed.... Hope this is helpful.....

 

and I thank You:

JWK: Did somebody say POOL-SIDE BLACKJACK?! WAHOOOO!:D

[Pianoman6582]

I forgot to post the pictures today. I'll do it tomorrow.... Sorry anyone who was waiting on baited breath for my magnificent photos....

 

And I tHAnk you:

JWK: Meet me on the Cay!:cool:

 

So after a long wait, here they are....

 

Hope you like them....

 

And I thank you:

JWK: Meet me ABOVE the Cay!:cool:

[Vyhanek]

You could also probably bring a fold up chair. The kind that fold up into a case with a cover that you would bring to the soccer field or something. You could check it as if it were luggage and just store it in your closet on the ship until needed. This way you could set her up anywhere in the shade that would be convenient.

[dbcnwa]

So after a long wait, here they are....

 

Hope you like them....

 

And I thank you:

JWK: Meet me ABOVE the Cay!:cool:

 

Thanks for sharing those and for the info on your earlier post. I'm really looking forward to it now. Hope the weather cooperates so we can get in!

[Lena B]

We were at GSC before the big renovation, but I think that the best $30 I ever spent on a cruise was for that giant raft...well that plus a few of the painkillers made for one of my favorite cruising days ever.

 

2 couples could fit on the raft, but mostly the chicks made the hubbies just push us around on the thing. What a fine day we had!

[C Cruise Dude]

We haven't been to Great Stirrup Cay before, and are wondering whether the part of the beach where you walk into the water is smooth sand, or rocky (or covered with sharp shell fragments) to the extent you'd want to have water shoes.

 

Thanks in advance for any info!

 

I was there in August and where I and my friend entered the beach it was rocky and uneven. She nearly slipped walking into the water. I had a camera in my hand would not risk slipping and falling with the camera. I had Crocs but did not wear them into the beach. Once you were out a little it was smoother. That was the only complaint that I had was NCL needs to smooth that out. I loved Great Stirrup Cay, best cruise experience I have had so far. :D

[onetime88]

Do you know if you can snorkel on your own with your own equipment or do you have to do the excursion that the ship offers? Thanks!

[Got Tequila?]

Do you know if you can snorkel on your own with your own equipment or do you have to do the excursion that the ship offers? Thanks!

 

You can snorkel on your own, with your own equipment.......they do require you wear snorkel vests. If you don't have one you can rent just the vest on the island.

[honeymooner882009]

I was just there last week!! You don't need water shoes, the rocks and sand are very flat & soft. We didn't get off the ship until almost 1:00 (we were one of the last people), and had no problem finding a chair.

Snorkeling is a MUST (bring your own stuff and save yourself the $30 rental fee!!).

Burgers, dogs, pizza & several salads were set up buffet style. Burgers were burnt, but the rest was good.

Was very fun & relaxing (even though we got soaked on the tender going back to the ship because it started raining. No one wanted to go up top, so the tender didn't move until a bunch of us sacrificed ourselves to go up to the open top of the boat and get pummeled with rain & thrown around by waves. The crew just sat back and watched us figure it all out. would've been nice if they mentioned that was the reason we weren't moving...). Had a great time!! can't wait to go back!

[momoftwinteens]

I forgot to mention on thing in my last post. Bring rolls or bread with you from the ship when you go snorkeling. The fish will come from everywhere!!! It's absolutely amazing!!! See pictures below from my cruise on the Sky last August.

 

[cje19]

We were in GSC last week. I strongly recommend watershoes. I also have to admit we walked around the island and found a beach all to ourselves. And although we didn't have them, we wish we would have taken them. The rocks we encountered weren't bad in the water, but the water was so clear we were able to see a sea urchin hiding between rocks before we would have stepped on it. Although we wanted to explore that area more, we didn't want to risk it and went back to the main beach area where we didn't need the water shoes.

We had a wonderful beach day (and we're not beach people). and I agree that you need to get your tender tickets early. They start giving them out at 9 at the photo store, but arrive early, by struck of luck we saw 8 people standing in line and asked what the line was for. We were on the second tender over thanks to that. VIP's get the first tender. We grabbed the first hammock we saw and relaxed for an hour watching the others arrive. Got some great photos too. Also, you don't need everyone in your group to get in line, there were some people getting tickets for all the people they needed. One person picked up 8 tickets. I suggest going to your meet and greet and once there seeing if people can set up groups to have a few people pick up the tender tickets for all those interested.

Ok, that is my ramble.

Enjoy GSC. I loved being there and miss being on the cruise. I had never felt so special before. Plus once you get home. "washy washy" takes on a whole new meaning.

[cje19]

honeymooner882009, we were wondering why the tender was taking so long. Scott and I just stayed in the water. It was warmer in there then waiting in the cold rain in line.

[HUNKY]

Has NCL opened the cabanas for rental yet?

 

Just read that HAL's Half Moon Cay has air conditioned ones...ah! That would be awesome!

[DeeDee1234]

I was there 07/19. A few cabanas were visible but they were still undergoing construction. The area should be very nice once all the renovations are complete.

[HUNKY]

I'm hoping at least ONE cabana is ready by Friday, October 28th, 2011...

 

I'm going to ask the cabana butler to keep the Captain Morgan Pina Coladas flowing!!!