Getting off & on at ports

[O&WMOM]

Can you get off and on the ship all day when in port?

If so, does this also apply when you have to tender?

Thanks!

 

[tvguy]

Yes, you could spent all day getting on and off the ship.

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Yes, you can come and go as you please although it takes longer at ports where you have to tender.

 

[Danemom]

"ports where you have to tender."

What does that mean?

I'm just starting to research the cruises and I haven't run across the term. (Just when I think I'm starting to get it... )

 

[mrsltg]

Hi Danemom-

Tendering means that the ship cannot dock but instead drops anchor somewhere near the port. Another, smaller boat, comes and gets you and bring you to shore.

Erin

 

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Ports where tenders are used instead of docking are Grand Cayman on the Western Caribbean itinerary, and St. Thomas (only occasionally) on the Eastern Caribbean itinerary.

 

[Danemom]

Thanks, I had no idea what it meant. I guess they don't do that in Nassau since I'd not seen the term and I'm only considering a 4 day right now.

I was thinking maybe it was for places that didn't take US $ - you know, a "legal tender" kind of thing! Boy, I have a lot to learn!
Thanks again.

 

[ma2patrick]

AY YI YI, tendering!

We went on a cruise that stopped at Catalina last year. That is a port that tenders (is that how you term it?)

I was to meet my DH after he had a massage on the island and bring our DS (5) with me. I finally found my husband and he realized that he didn't have his ID with him to get back on to the ship. I had to hop a boat back to the ship, run up to the stateroom, rummage through his stuff to find his ID, run back down, grab another boat and track my DH and DS down. We still had time to grab an excursion to glass bottom boat.

I was a little tender from all that tendering, so I would recommend trying to only do it once.

Glad my 4-day Wonder docks at the ports, otherwise I would have to staple his ID to his hindside this time!

OY

 

[MarkRG]

Tendering wasn't all that bad, we did it at Grand Cayman as they don't have a cruise dock.

I would say that you might as well staple the KTTW card to the backside of anyone who's forgetful, you can't get off the ship or back on without it at any port on DCL. They are very strict about it.

Now the idea of a smaller ship for tendering at GC was something roughly the side of the WDW Friendships, albeit a lot more sparcely appointed. It is certainly not a horrible experience.

 

[TheWog]

We tendered in St. Thomas. Great part about that was it would drop you right at Main Street and not Havensight (except for our morning excursion).

 

[mmouse37]

We also had to tender at St. Thomas this past Feb (1st time tendering in St. Thomas out of 5 Eastern DCL cruises).

Here is a link to a pic we took of the tender alongside the Magic. There was also a lower level for seating as well.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/118565870/118566062Hdrhso

MJ