Is your cruise ship visiting a port of call that will require your cruise ship to tender? Tendering is when a cruise ship does not dock at a pier in a port call and passengers get shuttled on & off via a smaller boat. Typically tendering happens if a port of call does not have a pier large enough for cruise ships, the water depth is too shallow for cruise ships to get close to land, or the pier in the port has already been reserved by other cruise lines and ships. Tendering is often viewed negatively by many cruisers because it takes longer to get from ship to shore and it is not efficient as disembarking using a pier. However, tendering can be made a positive experience if everyone cooperates with each other and the ship's crew. This article will give some information about tendering and how you can help with making the process of tendering more efficient.
Before Cruising: Ask Your Cruise Line If Any Of Ports You Will Visit Required Tendering
Before you depart on your cruise email or call your cruise line to ask if any of your ship's port of calls will require the passengers to be tendered ashore. The majority of ports have piers, but you don't want to be surprised on your cruise and find out that you will tender ashore.
Guests With Disabilities:
If you learn that your ship will be tendering and you have a travel companion that has a disability or is in a wheelchair find out from your cruise line in writing if the tender can accommodate that guest. I suggest getting that information in writing to keep the representative that you got the information from accountable.
Give Yourself Plenty of Time
Your cruise ship will probably have a long line at the bottom of the ship to get off because tender boats can only hold a certain number of people and run on a every so often basis. If you are taking a shore excursion try to get off early and give yourself plenty of time so you don't miss your shore excursion. Often cruise ships will publish a "last tender runs at..." time. Try to get back onboard before that time in order to insure that you don't miss the boat. Since tenders run on an every certain amount of minutes basis plan accordingly.
Bad Weather
Sometimes bad weather can occur and tenders are not able to run. Ships will be turned away from ports if tenders are not able to run because of high winds or bad weather. If you are onshore when bad weather is about to strike try to get back onboard the ship to prevent getting left ashore because the tender service had to be suspended.
I hope this post on tendering will help you better prepare for your cruise. Do your research before cruising to prevent any surprises with tendering.
Before Cruising: Ask Your Cruise Line If Any Of Ports You Will Visit Required Tendering
Before you depart on your cruise email or call your cruise line to ask if any of your ship's port of calls will require the passengers to be tendered ashore. The majority of ports have piers, but you don't want to be surprised on your cruise and find out that you will tender ashore.
Guests With Disabilities:
If you learn that your ship will be tendering and you have a travel companion that has a disability or is in a wheelchair find out from your cruise line in writing if the tender can accommodate that guest. I suggest getting that information in writing to keep the representative that you got the information from accountable.
Give Yourself Plenty of Time
Your cruise ship will probably have a long line at the bottom of the ship to get off because tender boats can only hold a certain number of people and run on a every so often basis. If you are taking a shore excursion try to get off early and give yourself plenty of time so you don't miss your shore excursion. Often cruise ships will publish a "last tender runs at..." time. Try to get back onboard before that time in order to insure that you don't miss the boat. Since tenders run on an every certain amount of minutes basis plan accordingly.
Bad Weather
Sometimes bad weather can occur and tenders are not able to run. Ships will be turned away from ports if tenders are not able to run because of high winds or bad weather. If you are onshore when bad weather is about to strike try to get back onboard the ship to prevent getting left ashore because the tender service had to be suspended.
I hope this post on tendering will help you better prepare for your cruise. Do your research before cruising to prevent any surprises with tendering.
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