Tendering time @ Grand Cayman

[Dreamtrip*]

We are cruising on the Magic on April 24th.
I am looking to book an excursion independently. When I contacted the company, they informed me that they would pick me up @ 8:30 from the port. Our itinerary says that we "arrive" at Grand Cayman @ 7:30. This company has fabulous reviews and they gave me the time after I gave them my cruise info, so the company must think it's do-able. My question is this...is booking an excursion with an 8:30 pick-up time even realistic? From what I have read, people wait in line for a while to get a boat to the port. I just don't want to be stressed out OR have to be waiting on line to be the first off the boat at 6:30 am. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[CScott095]

We did not race to get off the boat when we went last May, but I had heard there was a line to get off. Now we had a few complications with the weather causing the tender boats to cancel trips until it was safe again, so that could have contributed to the wait. That being said, it's approximately 10 minutes across and the boats can carry a fair number of people (these are not small boats that only house 5-6). I would assume the company understands the complexities of getting from the ship to the port.
Enjoy!

 

[dreadpiraterose]

It took us about an hour and a half to get off the Fantasy and to the shore when we went to Grand Cayman in February. I think an hour is a little tight, personally.

 

[jcarwash]

If the weather cooperates you should be fine. Last year I had a DCL excursion from the Magic for Grand Cayman that assembled in the D Lounge at 7:45am. Even with that assembly setup where they check you in, you get towels, etc., we were on the tender at just after 8:00 and over at the dock well before 8:30. Even if you're going independently, I'm sure your operator is setting a pickup based on what typically happens.

On my previous cruise on the Fantasy, weather canceled the entire port call to Grand Cayman. They tried to tender but ultimately bailed.

 

[cheermom2four]

On my previous cruise on the Fantasy, weather canceled the entire port call to Grand Cayman. They tried to tender but ultimately bailed.

What month was that in or should I say, what month(s) are typical for not being able to tender in GC? I go first week in September and it sounds like thats the worst time to go :-(

 

[Prose]

In our experience those who book independent excursions are given a place to meet up on board, and people with DCL excursions are taken to the tenders first....

 

[hnthomps]

We were on the Fantasy recently, so the time of day was a little different, but the timing probably equivalent. They announced that we would anchor around 1015, and that the "tender process" for those without morning DCL excursions would begin at 10:30. We ended up getting in line around 10:15 outside the walt disney theater (we had nothing else to do!). They let us into the theater promptly at 10:30. A few minutes later they announced that the first tender boat was ready. They said they'd take the first 200 people, which included us, and everyone should stay in their seats as it would be only a couple minutes before the next one.
We were off the boat and through the port gates before 11am.

ETA - you can't get in line to tender unless you have everyone from your party and everything you need right then. No leaving the line once you are in it - an inexorable march to shore!

 

[jcarwash]

What month was that in or should I say, what month(s) are typical for not being able to tender in GC? I go first week in September and it sounds like thats the worst time to go :-(

It was a February cruise where we had the port cancellation.

 

[JMHDisney]

I think on the Magic you would be fine. Far fewer people to transport in than on the Fantasy. When we went on the Magic, we headed down to the tender area fairly early (it wasn't right when they started but early enough that we had breakfast in GC so it must have been fairly soon after start as the kids eat early!). There was barely any wait at all. We went into the theatre and they almost immediately let us out. There was a wait going down the stairs onto the boats but not long at all (I think that was more a function of the time it took people to board the tender). I was surprised because I had heard all these horror stories of people waiting for hours but I think that is the exception rather than the rule particularly on the smaller ships.

I would plan to go when tendering starts and expect to wait in line for a while as the Disney excursions head out but at least then you will be at the front of the line for everyone else. And tell your tour company that is your plan and that you expect to be off by 8:30.

 

[Dreamtrip*]

Thanks to everyone for their input! I will e-mail the excursion person just to cover myself, but I think we'll be okay!

 

[MamaBear58]

It really depends upon the weather. We had high winds...in fact all ocean excursions were cancelled. We waited over an hour in a lounge for our dolphin excursion...then they sent the tender boats not even a 1/3 full, which really would have pissed me off if I was a non-excursion person waiting to tender. Then we all got dumped on the dock with tour guides who were now backed up. It was a mess.

 

[Drew Sailbum]

What month was that in or should I say, what month(s) are typical for not being able to tender in GC? I go first week in September and it sounds like thats the worst time to go :-(

September tends to be some of the calmest seas.... unless there is a tropical storm in which case your cruise ship won;t be coming anywhere near Cayman.