Excursion Question?

[Jen in MA]

I have a morning excursion planned for our St. Thomas day. I called DCL and found out that the ship will be tendering that day. After the excursion, will we be brought back to the ship and then we'll have to tender to shore or will the excursion drop us off in town? Thanks!

 

[Jen in MA]

Just BUMPING this up... Please, someone out there must have some experience with tendering in St. Thomas

 

[musicgirl]

I would imagine that you would be taken back to the port first. I don't think the excursions are set up to go directly to the ship. Plus, they may have passengers from other ships along even if the excursion is through DCL.

Maybe someone else has actually had to do this.

 

[CTFamilyCruisers]

I think we are on the same cruise (4/16/05 Magic, right?). I checked several websites and couldn't get info on St Thomas docking/tendering. Where did you find out about tendering? I have read some posts that it is a total pain. I, too, wonder about returning to the ship. We booked the 5 Star St John Beach and Snorkel trip. I wonder if we will be able to get ashore easily to do some shopping...

 

[DrCavin]

If you booked the excursion thru dcl, then they will pickup/drop of where the tender drops you off. I would also think that the excursion company will do the same even if you booked direct. They certainly deal with this often...

Here is a web-site that shows the docking schedule...
http://www.vinow.com/general_usvi/cruiseship/

 

[Jen in MA]

We booked the Capt Nautica St John Snorkeling Adventure. When I called DCL Special Services to book it, I also asked about whether we were docking or tendering. She said we were scheduled to tender.

 

[Tylerandalliesmom]

That stinks! Does anyone know if they tender in (sp?) Havensport or Charlotte Amalie. How much does that cut in to the day? Do you have to plan to be back earlier to make the tender to get back on the ship since you have to be on by 4:30?

 

[Susie51]

The good thing about doing a shore excursion through DCL when tendering, you won't have to wait in line for a tender to get off the ship. Your tour group will have priority. When you get back, there will be along line to wait for the tender. In September, we had a two hour wait in Bar Harbor! One of the tenders broke down and we didn't get the closest anchoring spot so it made tendering longer. The ship, of course, was delayed in leaving.

Several years ago, while in St. Thomas, the Norway due to deep draft had to anchor way out in the bay, but several other ships were closer. That day all of them were tendering in to Charlotte Am.

One time time, I had to tender in Ketchican and it was very fast. No long lines. The other time we docked right in town.

I'm sure there are lots of tender horror stories. That is one of the reasons we love Disney. No tendering at Castaway Cay!

I hope yours will be a good experience.