Beach day

[JLBKL]

Sorry if this is a dumb question... We are new to cruising, and new to a hot vacation as well!! Me and my two teen kids (16 & 14) will be going March 31 on Norwegian Sky.

One of the excursion days, we want a beach day where we can swim in ocean for first time and relax and enjoy beach and water.

Do we have to pay for an excursion to do this, or can you walk off boat and pull up a piece of sand, I'm so confused on how this works!!

Sorry again for what may seem so simple but I'm on information overload and can't seem to find some answers!!

(Also any tips you want to share, please do so, my kids and I are excited and nervous!)

Thanks in advance!!

 

 

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[firstprincesscruise]

What port is your beach day?

[JLBKL]

Do you mean which day do we want to have as a beach day? The Grand Bahamas Island day, I think is the day we would like for a beach day. Thanks

 

 

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[jerseygirl111]

Weather permitting, one of your stops will be at NCL's private island..Great Stirrup Cay. This is a private island with beach, swimming, and snorkeling. Should make for a nice "beach day".

[vols_159]

Do you mean which day do we want to have as a beach day? The Grand Bahamas Island day, I think is the day we would like for a beach day. Thanks

 

 

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Take a taxi over to the beach and find your piece of sand. Taxi cost beach doesn't we found a little place on the beach to eat wife wanted to try some conch ..

 

 

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[Tiggertastic]

once you get to port, what you do is your choice. You can either make your way to a beach, find a resort and pay their price, or take a ship transfer and pay their price

 

Many ports have access to beaches where there is no charge and some ports are owned by the cruise line and are free beach stops

 

have a great time

[toberman]

Do you mean which day do we want to have as a beach day? The Grand Bahamas Island day, I think is the day we would like for a beach day. Thanks

 

 

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Here's a link to Cruise Critic's review of Great Stirrup Cay ...

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/ports/newport.cfm?ID=530

 

You won't actually be going to Grand Bahamas Island - that's Freeport, and your stop is Nassau (different island). Great Stirrup is your best bet for a beach day. Have fun.

[JLBKL]

Thank you so much for responses and particularly that link for the port info!

You mentioned I won't go to Grand Bahamas Island, but my itinerary states 3 stops:

Great Stirrup Cay

Nassau

Grand Bahama Island

Is that not correct, or am I misunderstanding the islands etc (as I said, I'm going blind here and trying to figure it all out research everything!!)

Thanks everyone!! :)

 

 

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[toberman]

You mentioned I won't go to Grand Bahamas Island, but my itinerary states 3 stops:

Great Stirrup Cay

Nassau

Grand Bahama Island

Is that not correct,

 

Sorry - you are right... I looked at the wrong date.

[JLBKL]

Thanks toberman...! And I appreciate the link, that info is exactly what I was after! Not sure why I wasn't able to find it, but glad to have it now!

 

 

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[Crusin6]

Weather permitting, one of your stops will be at NCL's private island..Great Stirrup Cay. This is a private island with beach, swimming, and snorkeling. Should make for a nice "beach day".

 

And unless you buy bar drinks or soda or get a massage or rent snorkel equipment or rent a raft it will be free as well. Hint buy 2 or 3 inflatable rafts at a discount store and keep them packaged until use. If you want to snorkel buy cheap plastic goggles and snorkel at Walmart or whatever. The rafts they rent at stirrup cay are too big and uncomfortable and the snorkel stuff is gross. Also as you have never been to a tropical place before bring sunscreen and use it liberally no matter what your skin color is.

 

A lunch buffet is included on the island as are free lounge chairs but do yourself a favor and get on the earliest tender you can make

 

They also have an inflatable slide that you can buy tix for

[JLBKL]

Hey thanks Cruisin6! Never would have thought about little rafts and goggles!! I'll have to see if I can track some down in the middle of our crazy winter here, but someone must be selling!!!

Fantastic hint, thank you!

 

 

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[Cary Cruiser]

We are leaving on the same cruise this morning.

 

We are from Florida and are used to the sun. A WORD OF WARNING.

 

WEAR PLENTY OF SUNSCREEN on the beach. It may seem breezy and nice when you are there, but you will suffer later if you do not apply plenty of sunscreen and limit your stay in the sun that day.

 

Stirrup Cay is your first port. Don't over do it. You will have opportunities to do the beach in Nassau and Freeport if you desire. Freeport (Grand Bahama Island) would also be a good place for the beach.

 

Nassau has lots of historic stuff to see and is a good place to do a walking tour. On Freeport there just isn't a whole lot to see, but does provide a good opportunity for beach going.

 

You will have a great time - BUT BE CAREFUL WITH SUN.

[meatball_nyc]

All good advice!!!!

 

JLB: not sure where you are traveling from, but if you have a Sports Authority store nearby, they sell goggles and snorkel stuff year round.

 

Have. Great time on your cruise!!

 

Being us back some sunshine!

 

 

 

 

~Robin

Norwegian Breakaway July 2014

Carnival Miracle 2010

Carnival Legend 2006

[JLBKL]

:) thanks everyone! We are from Canada and are in a deeeeep freeze (-50c, no kidding); so not at all used to the sunshine generally speaking! Will get lots of sunscreen, I probably would have put SOME on, but will definitely lather up now after reading this, thanks!!

 

 

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[meatball_nyc]

Put sunscreen on 1/2 hour before going out into the sun!!!

 

I guess I won't complain at the near zero wind chills here after reading your post of -50* !!

 

Have a good trip.

Let us know how much fun you had :)

 

 

 

~Robin

Norwegian Breakaway July 2014

Carnival Miracle 2010

Carnival Legend 2006

[JLBKL]

Haha I'll trade ya your winter for mine any day!! Any other tips you wish to share, excursion or on board? I'm such a newbie it's not even funny! Thanks!

 

 

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[luvtheships]

Haha I'll trade ya your winter for mine any day!! Any other tips you wish to share, excursion or on board? I'm such a newbie it's not even funny! Thanks!

 

 

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dont overpack

don't expect to get a lounger by the pool but you will get a lounger on an upper deck no problem

 

take 2 credit cards. one for onboard use and a different one for port use. Use cash if possible in ports for the little stuff but you can probably feel secure using cards in stores. I have with no problem

 

DO NOT use your debit card for any transaction at all. on the ship in ports in precruise hotel. NOTHING NADA

 

Use credit cards and carry extra cash but if you feel you must use your ATM card which is attached to your regular use checking account...DO NOT do this.

 

open up a separate travel checking account and just fund it with your travel cash.

 

DO NOT use ATMs on the street, be it in the USA or ports. only use bank ATMs that are secure behind doors.

 

WHY? it will become obvious as you think things thru. LOL

 

I am a very experienced world traveler and pay my bills on time, but I never feel the need to give anyone access to my checking account when I travel, which is what you are doing by using an ATM card over a credit card.

 

To answer the question..."But I want to pay cash and not have any bills when I come home" just hold the funds aside and pay our credit card bill promptly. very simple.

 

also, you will be charged a daily service charge and there is no need to tip anyone extra so don't do it unless you want to. regardless, of what you may read here, the majority of cruisers that do tip extra are doing so in the the $20 to $30 range per family, not much more.

 

room stewart gets some

dining room waiter gets some but of course you get different waiters each night so I forgo giving them anything

 

Bar drinks are expensive and 15% is automatically added on

 

buffet drinks are always available and free.

 

bingo is a ripoff and the casino is a smokestack. just an FYI

 

the entertainment is great

 

and money spent on the specialty restaurants is well worth it and do remember the upcharge you are paying IS sufficient per NCL. You need not leave extra unless you want to. I have sometimes, but only $10 at most.

 

use the cabin safe as they are secure

 

If you do not want your kids to roam free, don't let them. Many posters here will call you overprotective but I will call you conscientious as a cruise ship is a small city consisting of 2 to 4 thousand strangers.

 

some nice, some not so nice. also, an international crew that may have their own definitions of what age is adulthood.

 

I love cruising and do it often and take our kids with us, but we are never going to let our guard down that is for sure.

 

Also, use a great deal of caution in Nassau. While it is not extremely dangerous, you are new travelers and will be obvious to street criminals...i.e. pickpockets and the like.

 

also, they will insist on selling you things, do not feel bad if you don't want to buy anything....just be firm and say NO.

 

do not worry about hurting anyones feelings. Seriously, you are what matters.

[JLBKL]

Wow, thanks "luvtheships", that's some of the most honest straight up advice I've seen, and simply explained for a newcomer! Thank you very much! Great info!

 

 

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[luvtheships]

Wow, thanks "luvtheships", that's some of the most honest straight up advice I've seen, and simply explained for a newcomer! Thank you very much! Great info!

 

 

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you are very welcome. I check these boards out frequently so ask away and if I can I will answer or guide to where you can find the answer.

 

enjoy your trip.

[meatball_nyc]

Spot on advice, iluvtheships. Thank you.

 

JBL, take all the above seriously.

 

Go with the flow, be courteous, but above all, relax and enjoy your cruise!

 

:)

Happy Cruising!

 

 

Robin

Norwegian Breakaway July 2014

Carnival Miracle 2010

Carnival Legend 2006

Every Day at Sea is a Great Day

[JLBKL]

What an amazing forum this is, all is newbies are very lucky to be able to ask our silly questions here; you guys have eased a lot of fears/questions, and have me so excited! You all make it sound so easy and relaxing along with some sound warnings, and I'm sure it will be a trip of a lifetime.... Can't wait to experience it!

 

 

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[Crusin6]

Hey thanks Cruisin6! Never would have thought about little rafts and goggles!! I'll have to see if I can track some down in the middle of our crazy winter here, but someone must be selling!!!

Fantastic hint, thank you!

 

 

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Of you are flying in a day early I am sure you can find some stuff in Florida!! Lol

[JLBKL]

Haha excellent point, never even thought of that!!! Yes, coming day early and leaving day later as I was unsure of timelines getting on and off ship, so now we can take our time!

Is there things to do at the dock if we go early? Sites to see, places to grab lunch etc?

 

 

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[CruiseGirlKS]

Weather permitting, one of your stops will be at NCL's private island..Great Stirrup Cay. This is a private island with beach, swimming, and snorkeling. Should make for a nice "beach day".

 

We had a blast there last time we went there. :)