Does NCL let people on their excursion tender off first?

[mocrimlaw]

We are on the Jade on August 9th to the Norwegian fjords. Only one day is a tender, but I wondered if NCL makes people on private tours wait for the tenders until after the shore excursion people get off? If so, does it take quite a while? It would affect whether we would have time to take a private tour there (Geiranger), I think.

[casofilia]

In general

 

Those in Suites etc will get first go

Then those who are Gold Platinum

Then those on NCL tours

Finally general cruisers.

 

The timing depends on the numbers in the first three groups.

[KeithJenner]

It really depends on the port. The one time I tendered from the Jade (in the Med), NCL tours tendered totally separately from the other side of the ship to us, so there was no delay in us getting off.

 

You really need to hear from someone who has done that specific port, although even then procedures can change.

 

The key thing, unless you are Gold or Platinum, or in a Suite, will be to make sure that you get an early time for your tender. You will probably have to reserve your place the day before, and missing out on an early time will delay you more that NCL tours would.

[fabnfortysomething]

Priority tender tickets are available for gold and above and consists of a paper ticket you show to the staff

 

Tender tickets are available from first thing in the morning and do the quicker you get in line the lower number you will have

 

However in geiranger you are so close to the shore you feel you could jump over the rail and swim!

 

So the tender boats take a couple of minutes from ship to shore and very little delays

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[nchr]

The longer Excursions will start in Hellesylt, so there are a lot of Guests out I guess. So, not so long lines in Geiranger.

[luckyinpa]

to GSC last week it was crazy. really didnt matter what time you had. just try to fight your way into the theater. they did announce if you have excursion come forward but i didnt see any way to get in quicker unless you just cut in line.

 

in line many people showed their ticket to someone saying i was for XX time and they just kept saying go to the back of the line.

[WestCoastCruiser123]

On getaway last year we had a private tour. We got to theater early and the staff had assembled the ncl excursion ppl for the tenders on one side of the theater. They asked us to go to the other side and we were the only ones. Since we were only 3 ppl, they just put us in that tender that was loading. Just go early and they will try and squeeze you on.

 

I should add that this was in grand Cayman so the process might be different in other ports.

Edited December 23, 2016 by WestCoastCruiser123

[BirdTravels]

to GSC last week it was crazy. really didnt matter what time you had. just try to fight your way into the theater. they did announce if you have excursion come forward but i didnt see any way to get in quicker unless you just cut in line.

 

in line many people showed their ticket to someone saying i was for XX time and they just kept saying go to the back of the line.

 

Yes. Whether it is a time stamped ticket or a gold/platinum priority ticket, it only give you the right to join the line. Not jump the line. Once you join the line, you may have to wait several tenders before you actually get on board one. The only people who get to jump the line are suites guests escorted by concierge staff.

[Loonbeam]

Also note that if you are a smaller party (1 or 2) you often can get off a lot faster because they use you to fill up the tenders.

 

Not NCL but we were tendering on Princess and they were calling for 2s, we got put in front of about 100 people total in the excursions and waiting lines who had 3 or more.

[bobsfamily]

Does anyone know if you have a cabana on GSC if you get priority boarding for tendering to GSC? Last year we had a cabana on Half Moon Cay and had priority tendering over.

[BirdTravels]

Does anyone know if you have a cabana on GSC if you get priority boarding for tendering to GSC? Last year we had a cabana on Half Moon Cay and had priority tendering over.

 

On GSC, anyone with an excursion ticket get priority boarding. $500 cabana or $15 snorkel.

[bobsfamily]

On GSC, anyone with an excursion ticket get priority boarding. $500 cabana or $15 snorkel.

Thanks! The small cabana for out trip was "only" 279.... but I get water!

[mocrimlaw]

Thank you all for the help. I read on CC that sometimes Princess (I think) uses a floating pier instead of a tender in Geiranger - the rent it for the entire year. Does anyone know is NCL ever uses something like that?