How does "Tendering" on a cruise ship usually go?

Question

Is it an easy process? I am taking Princess Cruises down to the western carribean. and I have to "tender" to 3 of the ports we aregoing to. I think that it might be a hassle? Any one familiar with it? Or princess cruise line Star princess?? Thanks

I am not asking b/c I am "stressing" about it, i only want to know B/c I have never experienced it, and I have shore excursions to get to for 3 of the four ports we are going to. I dont have time to hang around on the ship and wait for the lines to slow down.

Answer 1

Tendering isn't fun, but the cruise lines have the process down well.

Typically the process works like this, you get a ticket the morning of arrival in a tender port. Tickets are handed out first come, first serve. If you want an early tender you need to get in line about 30 minutes prior to when they start giving out tickets.

If you have a shore excursion you will have priority over others. You won't have to wait in line to get tender tickets, you will get them delivered to your cabin the night before.

Either way, do not head down to the tender loading area before your ticket is called. You will not be allowed to board the tender and you will end up causing congestion in the tender loading areas.

If you don't have an excursion and aren't looking to squeeze every last second out of your port call then you can take your time getting your tender tickets. Catch breakfast then head over to the place where tickets are being handed out. You won't be on the first tenders to depart the ship, but you'll probably be able to catch a tender an hour to an hour and a half after the ship has arrived in port.

Returning to the ship is a snap. Just head to the tender pier and catch the first available tender.

Typically tenders depart every 20 to 15 minutes.

Answer 2

Tendering! Awesome Question! I wish I was your travel agent. I am a CLIA Accredited Cruise Counselleror. (they spell it that way on purpose). Tendering sucks! It is so much easier to just walk off the ship onto a dock. On Princess you need the "black Elite card". That will give you the "front of the line passes".

Tendering is the process of de-barking a ship, when the port is shallow. You must take a "ferry type boat" Usually the four largest of the 'lifeboats' you see blocking discounted outside cabins view, to the port of the day. Cruise ships are massive and engineering marvels now a days that are too big to bring its passengers all the way to the dock. So they anchor (or sometimes drift) a ways out from the actual port and "tender" the passengers in. A tender usually holds 75 to 100 passengers. If your ship carries 2600 passengers. how long would it take to get all of the passengers off using 4 boats, plus allowing for loading and unloading at each end? 40 minutes (average). Do the math.

Passengers who book tours through the cruise line, will get priority on the tender. So if you are going to Jamaica and have an 11:00 a.m. climb at Dunn's River Falls, you will get a "special pass" to make sure you make your excursion on time. That is a perk of tour being pre booking with the cruise line.

If you are not excited about debarking at a particular port that is tendered; being on the ship while in port can be an experience in itself. I describe it as "it's like being in school on Saturday". You can have almost any deck chair you want. You can be first in line for the buffet. Or sleep undisturbed by the pool. (Now that is vacation). And always have a drink waiting. HEVEN!!!!

Princess also gives priority to their high level suites. I am not sure what category you are booked in, but Suites tend to receive "passes". If you are in such a category, and have access to the concierge, ask for them.

You will have a wonderful cruise, even if you are tendering in. They will announce times in the morning or have the listed in the cruise bulletin the night before, when you can pick up tickets to stand in line. It is just a process. If you are not in a hurry, sleep in, have breakfast delivered to your room, shower and walk off the ship at noon. The first two hours the ship is in port are the busiest. As well as the last.

Bon Voyage!!!!
Eileen

Answer 3

Tendering is necessary because some cruise ship port stops don't have a pier for the larger cruise ships to dock at. Some places, like Grand Cayman, refuse to build a pier and thus tendering is required. When tendering is required some ships use their own lifeboats to carry passengers ashore and some also use local ferry ships. When we stopped in Grand Cayman the last time both were used. Tendering can delay getting off the ship because you have to get a ticket (free) with a time or color for your departure. It can be a slow process, especially if the ship does not use enough tendering boats. It can also be rocky for the 100 or so yards that you ride the tender ashore. Yes its somewhat of a hassle but there is no way around it if the port stop does not have a pier for docking. If you are going on a ship sponsored tour, you will be assigned to a tender and go ashore with your group. It may delay you geting off the ship, but its no BIG hassle.

Answer 4

Without all the fuss and words; it's as simple as getting onto a small boat along side the ship (at one of the openings just like when you get on and off at a port) and the boat then takes you into the port which the ship couldn't to because of the depth of the water. It's not a hassle at all. You'll find once you do it, the only worry you will have will be what desert to eat after your meal because the tendering into a port turned out to be worry free and not hassle at all.

Answer 5

I took the same ship and itinerary 2 years ago. Fabulous. Tendering wasn't a hassle. You step onto the little boats and off you go. It's easy. If you walk with some assistance, i.e. cane or walker, it could be a little tricky stepping from the ship onto a less stationary small boat (tenders or lifeboats). I've only had a problem once when it was rough in Cozumel/Playa del Carmen. If it that rough the cruiseline will normally make an announcement about the disembarkations.

Answer 6

It's no big deal. The cruise ships have it all sorted out for you. Sometimes there is a bit of a wait to get 'tendered' to shore but if you have an excursion booked you will get priority. Just make sure you get the last one back to the ship or they will leave without you.

Answer 7

tendering really is no big deal inless your in a hurry to get off the boat! If u can hold off and wait to leave the ship an hr or two after u got to the island then the lines will be much shorter and u normally will not have to wait long and if ur lucky u can just walk right on to a boat. dont stress over it you can make it fun and normally its a nice smooth ride and you get to the island in less then 10mins

Answer 8

I just thought it was interesting reading the answers posted here because we had to be tendered in Grand Cayman last year, and we didn't get any color cards ? (on Carnival).. it was just first come first serve waiting down for the boats, and it's wasn't a big deal at all.. Our tenders were small.. only holding around 20-30 people? and we didn't have far to go...

Maybe it's different for different ports?

Answer 9

We had a bad experince with it but that was weather related so its unfair to say it always sucks. We waited almost 2 hours for or time slot, they were that far behind. And the line to get back on the boat was awful. When I book now i try to avoid tendering becasue of the time it takes. But dont let it spoil your vacation, just get a "lattitude attitude" and go with the flow....enjoy

Answer 10

It depends on how rough the seas are when you are tendering. It can be tricky if the tender is pitching in the waves. However, there are people to help you on and off. I have a replaced hip and I was able to do it.