Oli's Trolley Tour Question - Bar Harbor

We are cruising NCL out of NYC in September, and I made a reservation with Oli's Trolley for the 2 1/2 hour tour. Our time choices were 10:00am or 2:00pm on the date we will be there. I chose the 10:00 tour since our ship departs at 5, so the 2pm will not work (too close for comfort). Our ship docks at 8:00 (tender port). We've not cruised with NCL for awhile so I'm unsure about their tender procedures. Now I'm wondering if we will be able to get off the ship by 9; Oli's recommendation is that you leave an hour before your tour to have enough time to tender, walk to their location to pick up the boarding passes, and get to the departure location. I've heard horror stories from friends who were on a Princess Canada/New England cruise and the long wait to tender. Anyone have any input on Norwegian's process? Thanks for any help!

Can't comment about NCL, but we were there last week on HAL and were off the boat by 8:30. Were able to walk around town before catching the 10:00 tour.

I am also considering doing the Long tour with Oli Trolley. I was wondering if we did the 10:00am tour would we be able to stay longer at Acadia Park and Ride the Island Explorer Bus back to town. We would like to do a little hiking.

You would have to ask the driver. For the most part, Oli's Trolley is not a hop on hop off trolley. They have specific spots they stop in, you get 10 minutes, and on you go.

We were on the 10 am tour. As the previous poster indicated this was not a HOHO type tour. It made three 15 minutes stops.

IFor those who have take the 2 1/2 hour tour. My question is how accurate are these times. Does the trolley leave ontime and return exactly 2 1/2 hours later?

If people do not return from their 15 minute stop, do they wait for them. I get so annoyed at passengers who always dilly dally and hold us up.

I am glad you asked this question because I, too, have booked the 10:00 a.m. Oli's Trolley tour in Bar Harbor later this month (we may be on the same cruise) and have been worrying about it a little. I haven't sailed on NCL before and not sure if there will be enough time to tender and get to the tour at 10:00. I sure hope so!

IFor those who have take the 2 1/2 hour tour. My question is how accurate are these times. Does the trolley leave ontime and return exactly 2 1/2 hours later?

 

If people do not return from their 15 minute stop, do they wait for them. I get so annoyed at passengers who always dilly dally and hold us up.

We are booked on RCL in mid-October. I too would like to know the timeliness of Oli's 10:00 a.m. tour. Does it return promptly at 12:30 p.m. because we have booked a 1:00 p.m. tour of LuLu's Lobster Boat, which is in the same location as Oli's.

Something else to consider is the customs inspection that will happen in Bar Harbor - there is already a thread on that here.

They say that you should not schedule a tour prior to 10:00.

I have tendered once on NCL - we had an NCL tour so we were assigned a tender that would allow us to take the tour - the tender ticket was in the packet with the tour ticket.

Tender tickets are available the evening prior to the tendering port.

I believe the priority on tender tickets start with NCL tours and work backwards based on the ticket numbers. Suite guests are given priority tendering and are usually escorted through the crew areas to the front of the line.

We will be going through this next fall - in a suite on the Dawn:D

We are booked on RCL in mid-October. I too would like to know the timeliness of Oli's 10:00 a.m. tour. Does it return promptly at 12:30 p.m. because we have booked a 1:00 p.m. tour of LuLu's Lobster Boat, which is in the same location as Oli's.

They try to adhere to the time, but you just never know. The last time we did an Ollie's Trolley to Acadia, the bus broke down on the way back. We had to wait for another bus to come and get us and it took 45 minutes for the new bus to get to us and another 15 to transfer passengers and for the drivers to talk about whatever.

IFor those who have take the 2 1/2 hour tour. My question is how accurate are these times. Does the trolley leave ontime and return exactly 2 1/2 hours later?

 

If people do not return from their 15 minute stop, do they wait for them. I get so annoyed at passengers who always dilly dally and hold us up.

I just got back from a New England/Canada cruise on RCI. We had a stop in Bar Harbor. We docked at 7am and had a 11:00 Olley's Trolley tour. RCI had an "early bird special" if you leave the ship from 7:30-9:30 no ticket was needed. We just got in line early as I was anxious to get over and being in a long line. Due to the cruise excursions getting a tender first, we got the 2nd tender out and made it to Bar Harbor about 8:30.

The trolley left on time and the times are pretty accurate. We got back at 1:30. The guide is pretty strick and asked for everyone be back in 15 minutes. Everyone was pretty good at getting back on time- even though it was probably 20 minutes by the time we left. I doubt they would leave someone behind if they were late.

Have fun! I loved the tour. While I wondered about only having 15 minutes at each stop, it was enough time for pictures and enjoying the view!