M
mc13murray
Guest
What is this process
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P
PeabodyNVL
Guest
You go to a lounge (on the Grand, it's the Explorer's Lounge) and receive a ticket. Then you sit down and wait for your group off numbers to be called. They lead you down to the tenders. It's very orderly and by having you wait in a lounge where you can sit, not overly tiring. I've never had to wait a few minutes for a tender.
If you are on a ship's excursion, they may have you meet at the Princess Theater and you will be taken to tenders from there in your excursion group.
If you are on a ship's excursion, they may have you meet at the Princess Theater and you will be taken to tenders from there in your excursion group.
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Natalia
Guest
If you are not going on a ship excursion, you still need to get a number for the tenders. They will tell you the process onboard for each particular port, probably in the Patter (ship newsletter that they deliver to your cabin each night). I dont know how accurate this is, but Ive read that ships excursions get priority in tendering. Many say if they are doing independent tours, they get stuck tendering off the ship much later. Its been a few years since Ive sailed with Princess (2002) but I dont remember that being the case back then. We were able to get off fairly early and we did not book our excursions through the ship. However, it seems maybe that has changed. Point being, if you are planning any independent excursions, dont schedule them first thing in the morning. Go with a little later time, just to make sure you dont miss it.
They use the ships lifeboats to tender you into port. You will board them down on one of the lower decks, at the waterline. The tenders pull right up, the door is open to a little platform, and you walk right on. These are covered, enclosed boats. Depending on which port, sometimes its a 10 minute ride (Grand Cayman), and sometimes its a bit longer (Belize... not sure how long that one is, I havent done it yet). The tenders will run all day while in port, and they will tell you what time the last one is coming back. Dont miss the tender!! Or you'll be stuck in port... not good :worried Actually there will probably be a line of passengers waiting for those last few tenders, and they will run until they get everyone back on board, just make sure you are to the tender area when you are supposed to be.
Post Edited (03-24-04 12:40)
They use the ships lifeboats to tender you into port. You will board them down on one of the lower decks, at the waterline. The tenders pull right up, the door is open to a little platform, and you walk right on. These are covered, enclosed boats. Depending on which port, sometimes its a 10 minute ride (Grand Cayman), and sometimes its a bit longer (Belize... not sure how long that one is, I havent done it yet). The tenders will run all day while in port, and they will tell you what time the last one is coming back. Dont miss the tender!! Or you'll be stuck in port... not good :worried Actually there will probably be a line of passengers waiting for those last few tenders, and they will run until they get everyone back on board, just make sure you are to the tender area when you are supposed to be.
Post Edited (03-24-04 12:40)
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PeabodyNVL
Guest
Sometimes, depending on the port, the tenders will be tenders of that location, not the ships lifeboats. It depends on the regulations of that given port.
B
bfpierce2004
Guest
Tendering is a necissary evil! It can take a really long time if you dont do it right....the trick is to be one of the first people in line at the beginning of the day if you want to get off anytime soon. the boats are cramped....it isnt something to look foreward too but you have to do it if you want to see the port....
S
sailboat
Guest
Well if I have a choice I prefer not to tender. But at some ports there's no way around it. So here is the good:
Read and follow the instructions give in the Ship Newsletter and on the in-cabin TV. Show up early for your tender tickets, have everyone in your party with you and ready to go.
Be patient and soon er than you know it , you will be ashore.
You'll get the "best" experience when the ship can use it's own boats.
If you are not on an excursion you can be more leisurely about going ashore.
At some ports (Belize) they use high-speed boats. Wheeee!
If you don't go ashore, the ship is really nice when almost everyone gets off!
The bad:
The ship has no control in ports that insist (for various reasons) that the port tenders be used. (For example in the Bahmas, we had to use the couintry's tenders even though we were going to the ship's private island) Those tenders held tons of people and they pack em in, so loading and offloading was a bit tedious and some folks find the rocking while waiting for a full load to be hard to handle. (If you are one, sit near the side).
The ship has no control over the weatther, so big swells will cancel tendering and there's no way around it. If you absolutely HAVE to visit a site (like Tulum) find out if tendering is necessary and be prepared to have your tour cancelled for imclement weather.
The ugly:
Inevitably som pax don't get, don't listen too, don't follow instructions and that sometimes results in disgruntled folks who feel it is their duty to let everyone else know how put upon they have been. It happens, but fortunately, for me, not often.
Read and follow the instructions give in the Ship Newsletter and on the in-cabin TV. Show up early for your tender tickets, have everyone in your party with you and ready to go.
Be patient and soon er than you know it , you will be ashore.
You'll get the "best" experience when the ship can use it's own boats.
If you are not on an excursion you can be more leisurely about going ashore.
At some ports (Belize) they use high-speed boats. Wheeee!
If you don't go ashore, the ship is really nice when almost everyone gets off!
The bad:
The ship has no control in ports that insist (for various reasons) that the port tenders be used. (For example in the Bahmas, we had to use the couintry's tenders even though we were going to the ship's private island) Those tenders held tons of people and they pack em in, so loading and offloading was a bit tedious and some folks find the rocking while waiting for a full load to be hard to handle. (If you are one, sit near the side).
The ship has no control over the weatther, so big swells will cancel tendering and there's no way around it. If you absolutely HAVE to visit a site (like Tulum) find out if tendering is necessary and be prepared to have your tour cancelled for imclement weather.
The ugly:
Inevitably som pax don't get, don't listen too, don't follow instructions and that sometimes results in disgruntled folks who feel it is their duty to let everyone else know how put upon they have been. It happens, but fortunately, for me, not often.
