Tendering question....

[plutojudy]

Do you just step into the boat from the ship or is there a platform? Guess what I want to know is how you get in and out of the tender boat. This will be our fourth Disney cruise, but we have never tendered. We will be tendering(?) to Grand Cayman.

 

[floridaminnie]

There is a "bridge" that connects between the ship and the tendering boat. This "bridge" sways back and forth with the waves. It was very interesting when we tendered back to the ship during a storm. That was an experience that I soon will not forget!

 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

What kinds of boats does DCL use as tenders? Do they use they yellow boats on the side of the ship, or do they use other boats?

 

[floridaminnie]

They used white boats that had 2 deck levels. You had to climb down stairs to get to the first deck.

 

[plutojudy]

Sounds trickier than I thought. How do people with small children handle tendering especially with strollers and baby needs?
Are these Disney's boats or do they come from shore?

 

[AnnMorin]

It really is not difficult and there are DCL crew members as well as the tender crew to help you in and out. The tenders are a local company in GC. Very nice folks. Disney does a great job of it too with a tented area to wait in for your tender (didn't notice that with the other lines) and complementary juice and ice water while you wait.

 

[mmouse37]

It really is not bad at all. Here is a pic of tendering in Grand Cayman from our 8/3/02 cruise.

What you cannot see in the pic is the bridge or platform that goes from the ship to the tender boat. If you look very closesly under the date on the bottom corner of the pic you can see the lower level of the boat with people sitting down there.

They are fairly large boats that hold at least 100 people. There are always crew there to help you on and off.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/47984596/48721807XZDJuu

MJ

 

[sjm]

In Grand Cayman everyone tenders, there is no dock there for cruise ships.

When we were in St Thomas in jan, we had to tender. There was staff there helping elderly people, those with babies and strollers and anyone else who needed help. You do not need to be afraid of tendering.

sue

 

[rae519]

MJ
Thanks for the picture with the tender at Grand Cayman Island. I have been thinking "rowboat" size as ridiculous as that sounds!!!!

If the waves are choppy, I'm staying onboard!!

Rae

 

[mmouse37]

The Magic had to tender people in today in St. Thomas....saw the ship in the harbor today on the Webcam.

MJ

 

[rae519]

NO WAY?!!!!!!

What was the matter? Too many boats docked or weather?

Rae

 

[sjm]

I would assume it is just their turn! It was six weeks ago that I was there and we had to tender.

Hope the tendering went more smoothly this time.

sue

 

[mmouse37]

According to the cruise ship schedule for St. Thomas, the next time the Magic is there on 3/26 she will be at the dock, not anchored in the harbor.

Rae...there were 5 ships in port today and three were docked and two were anchored in the harbor....as the other poster said...it was just probably their turn to anchor.

MJ

 

[mmouse37]

I just found another of our pics that show the very nice canopies that DCL provides while you are waiting for one of the tenders back to the ship. They also provide fruit punch and ice water. No other cruise line does this for their guests that I know of!!!

http://community.webshots.com/photo/47984596/48721980ShkACq

MJ

 

[Laurajean1014]

The tenders are not hard to get into or find a seat. They are wide enough for a wheelchair to roll onto and very stable (for sea that is).

Don't worry about the tenders. They are a piece of cake.

 

[sjm]

Originally posted by mmouse37
I just found another of our pics that show the very nice canopies that DCL provides while you are waiting for one of the tenders back to the ship. They also provide fruit punch and ice water.

They had the same canopies in St Thomas and also had free cold drinks available.

The only other comment I have is not to trust the schedule that tells you if you will dock or tender. For the 1/25 sailing, I saw three different schedules, that said we would dock and guess what, we had to tender.

sue

 

[mmouse37]

Even the schedule had a statement on it that said the schedule is only tentative and is subject to change...like everything in life!!!

MJ

 

[rae519]

Which can make for some great times ifyou can "go with the flow" - that's how our 9/28 Magic-al Mystery Cruise went since Hurricane Lili prevented us from going Western - we went to Castaway Cay twice, St. Thomas and Puerto Rico!!! Mucho fun!

Rae

 

[mmouse37]

Hey Rae....I would not mind that itinerary at all!!!! I actually would love a mystery cruise...I might be disappointed if it was my first DCL cruise...by now that I have cruised a few times I think it would be pretty neat to be surprised each day!!!


MJ

 

[rae519]

It probably wouldn't be something everyone would want (especially those who are going firsttime) but WHAT IF?~!

What if Disney advertised it as a Mystery Cruise to different ports? Say Jamaica, Puerto Rico, etc.....and you were told the night before!!!

I think I'd be on that cruise!! It would definitely help me cure myself of being a compulsive planner!!!

Rae