Grand Cayman Tender Process

[DizMagic]

Could someone with experience tell me about the tender process for Grand Cayman. I think my partner and I plan on just walking around and seeing the Island on our own, so I understand we will have to wait till all the DCL excursion people have gone. How long do you think that wait is? And how long is the actual tender trip?

thx

 

[Itinkso]

In our experience last month, the DCL excursions met in designated locations onboard and those wanting to go ashore on their own, lined up in Animator's Palate. When disembarking began, the AP line began the process at the same time as excursion guests. We were off and in the port area very quickly.

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[TIGGER/POOH4]

Here at the Tender instructions we received last June.

 

[_Crush_]

The length of time it takes depends on when you sail. We were there on 10/23 and they had at least four tender boats ready to transport. We were in one of the first groups to tender and we didn't have a DCL excursion. We arrived at the theater and didn't even have time to sit down before we were escorted to the tender boat. Then we sat on the boat for about 5-10 minutes waiting for it to fill up.

Coming back to the ship, it was approx. 2:00 and we got on board and left within 3-4 minutes.

We would have had no problems making multiple trips back and forth if needed.

 

[kcashner]

The bottom line is "it depends." First, it depends on how many other ships are in port. Our experience on several cruises is that the DCL ships get there early. This means multiple tenders--as soon as one fills, the next one ties on and starts loading. We have often had 3 tenders serving the Magic and 4 serving the Fantasy!

OK, concierge guests get priority tender tickets. Guests with DCL excursions meet at their designated spot and are taken to a tender as a group. This does NOT mean that people without excursions wait till all the excursions are gone. With no DCL excursion, you go with your entire party and all your stuff to the designated area (usually one of the theaters). You are each given a tenter ticket as you go in the door. You are escorted to a seat in order of arrival. As space allows, you are escorted to the gangway.

If the tender is there, not full, and there is not a DCL excursions group ready to board, they will take non-excursion guests till the boat fills. If excursion groups are there, they get priority. The longest we have waited was about 10 minutes. The shortest was that I literally sat down and stood right back up again to head to the gangway.

On the way back, it is totally "first come, first served."

When other ships arrive, some of the tenders will break off from the DCL ships and move to the recent arrival. Normally, 2 tenders will continue to serve each ship.

The tendering itself takes 5 minutes. It takes way longer to load passengers onto the boat than to get the boat to the dock.

 

[ilovetexas]

Despite what the tendering information sheet above says, it only takes about five(ish) minutes to tender to Grand Cayman. You're anchored right next to the island.

 

[Tangoqueen]

Just off the Magic and I confirm about 5 minutes on the tender. On our cruise this week we had to anchor in a slightly different area as the sea was rough. A complementary bus shuttle was put on to take us the twenty minute trip to Georgetown. I was told that some of the excursions were cancelled by dcl as sea conditions were rough. We still had fun on the beach. I think Fantasy was due in the same day but they swapped their ports around because of the weather. It did make me wonder where that would leave people who had booked independent tours,

 

[ilovetexas]

Just off the Magic and I confirm about 5 minutes on the tender. On our cruise this week we had to anchor in a slightly different area as the sea was rough. A complementary bus shuttle was put on to take us the twenty minute trip to Georgetown. I was told that some of the excursions were cancelled by dcl as sea conditions were rough. We still had fun on the beach. I think Fantasy was due in the same day but they swapped their ports around because of the weather. It did make me wonder where that would leave people who had booked independent tours,

My friend ran into that problem last week on Carnival Legend. They had an independent excursion booked and missed it. It was with Moby Dick Tours and if memory serves, they don't require payment up front, anyway. If the seas were that rough, I doubt their boats would have gone out, either.

 

[kcashner]

We've booked independently with Captain Marvin several times. The first time, the Magic couldn't tender due to rough seas. You provide a credit card number when you book, but if the ship can't tender, they don't charge it. Other companies may have different policies.

Since they obviously make their living primarily from cruise guests and word of mouth is very important, it would be a poor policy to charge if an activity can't occur.

 

[Pinocchio #1 Fan]

Anyone have a picture of the tender boats?

 

[jdb in AZ]

Just off the Magic and I confirm about 5 minutes on the tender. On our cruise this week we had to anchor in a slightly different area as the sea was rough. A complementary bus shuttle was put on to take us the twenty minute trip to Georgetown. I was told that some of the excursions were cancelled by dcl as sea conditions were rough. We still had fun on the beach. I think Fantasy was due in the same day but they swapped their ports around because of the weather. It did make me wonder where that would leave people who had booked independent tours,

The Fantasy never made it to Grand Cayman this past week. The seas were too choppy for tendering, so we changed the itinerary (again) to Costa Maya.

Our stateroom attendant was cleaning our room when the captain made the announcement of the changed changes. The attendant thought it was hysterically funny -- as in side splitting laughter. Costa Maya instead of Grand Cayman. I didn't see anything the least bit funny about it.

 

[TIGGER/POOH4]

Anyone have a picture of the tender boats?

Here you go.

 

[Pinocchio #1 Fan]

That kinda looks like fun! Thanks tigger/pooh4!