Planning tender ports improves waiting times!
Tender ports allow you to experience places that don't have the infrastructure to support a large ship docking. Tenders may be used to visit beautiful tropical destinations, or smaller cities in Europe.
If your trip has tender ports, a little planning can make that ship to shore experience less of a hassle of waiting keeping your vacation more relaxing.
Getting thousands of people off a ship in little boats is a monumental feat!
Boats Used
Tenders are often the ships life boats. The ship may run 2-4 or more of their lifeboats back and forth to shore. This is also a way to keep the lifeboats in good working order.
Dependent on the port, there may also be boats sub-contracted by the cruise line to tender passengers to and from the shore. These larger boats can hold more passengers than the life boats.
There may be open or exposed seating in some of these tenders, which is something to plan for if your itinerary has tender ports. Be prepared for weather.
Timing
3000 people can't get off a ship all at once. Cruise lines have strategies to organize offboarding. If you understand the prioritization schedule it helps you set expectations for the day.
If you are determined to be first off the ship to get every moment of your port date, consider booking an early excursion with the cruise line at tender ports.
Cruise ships prioritize the guests on their excursions, organizing them in groups in a waiting area to prioritize tender boarding. Just be on time to your designated space on the ship!
Another way to get off the ship quickly in a tender port is to have status.
Guests with suite acess and the highest cruise loyalty members will generally receive prioritiezed tender access. Additionally, some cruises may impose an up-charge for this privilege.
If these don't work for you, be careful about booking your tours too early, allow for some wiggle to get to shore.
Other Tips
I've personally found that if there's no rush to go ashore, just relax and wait for others to get ashore. If we are tendering at 10 am in a port, for example, I may not even try to leave the ship until 11:30.
Have breakfast, maybe a small snack, then easily walk onto tenders without waiting. Since the ship is emptying out, and hundreds may be waiting in the atriums, or restaurant with tender tickets and such, many of the outdoor areas, gyms, spas and such are very empty.
On the Tender
There is usually a helpful crew member to help you get onboard the tender. Even in the calmest of conditions there's a bit of a gap and rolling around between the ship and the tender/water taxi.
Have fun! It's a great way to see your ship from a new perspective and to take few photos.
You may also see marine life on the way to the port. Consider having small change available to tip your tender staff. Local tender operators often put on a little show or tell you a bit about the destination.
Mobility Challenged/ Tender Policies
Most ships have policies about what types of mobility devices can be used on tenders. This may also vary by cruise line. In my experience, most cruise lines have restrictions about tender usage if a passenger is unable to enter/exit the tender with limited aid.
I've also seen policies where mechanized wheel chairs/scooters are not allowed. Please check with the individual cruise line if you have tender ports and what their policies on tendering for those who may be mobility challenged.
Not following the policy endangers other tender passengers, ships tend to follow these rules farily strictly, so it's important to know what the ship allows for tender passengers.
There are lots of great itineraries without tender ports to consider if your concerned about tendering for any reasons.
I have a little fun on them, and really try to work through the expected delays to make the best out of my travel story. Let me help you figure out your Travel Story! Tender or not!
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