Carnival Destiny and HMC?

[Elmo31]

I was wondering if you get tender tickets early in the morning or is it a mad rush to the tenders? Do platinum guests get priority tendering? If tickets are issued do platinum guests need to get tender tickets? Thank you for your help.

[pryd]

Sounds like a stek seasoning doesn't it??? LOL

 

As a platinum member, whenever you want to be tendered to HMC, you go to the guest services desk, present your platinum card, and one of the officers will escort you down to the loading area where the tenders dock, they will then make sure you are to be the first in line for the tender. The same for the reverse. It is a great perk and saves lots of waiting time for the tenders. Be prepared for the "Who does she think she is looks"....I like to wave my platinum card and say "Platinum Power Baby"

[Elmo31]

Thatst great news because I turn platinum on this cruise!! Whoop Whoop I will definately enjoy this perk in HMC. Thanks for the info :)

[SueG]

Tendering is not that painful when you are on the Destiny. I went to HMC on the Destiny and on the Glory. On the Glory I had a friend wait for almost 2 hours to get over to the island. On the Destiny, there is not a long wait. That ship holds a lot less people.

[David-n-Rita]

They don't do Platinum tendering on HMC, it isn't really necessary. I am milestone so I am familiar with using it in places like Cabo San Lucas where it is really necessary or someplace like Belize where they use very small tenders and it is a long distance. The HMC tenders are large and hold a lot of people, there are not tender tickets because it is a short distance and while they are loading one tender the second is ready to pull in. We always rent a cabana which gives you the first tender anyway. Priority is not going to get you anywhere on HMC really, and it will only frustrate you.

 

Do plan on heading back early because that is where you find huge lines as people wait to get off and they are also collecting the buffet leftovers etc to take back to the ship. You will wait a much longer time at the end of the day in the hot sun, so plan on going back to the ship at least an hour early to avoid the crowds that are much worse coming back and there is no priority return (although some people swear there is, but in practice, I've never seen it)

[Elmo31]

Thanks for the info....glad to hear it doesnt take long to tender over. Now if only my countdown clock would move a little faster :D

[lds26]

They don't do Platinum tendering on HMC, it isn't really necessary. I am milestone so I am familiar with using it in places like Cabo San Lucas where it is really necessary or someplace like Belize where they use very small tenders and it is a long distance. The HMC tenders are large and hold a lot of people, there are not tender tickets because it is a short distance and while they are loading one tender the second is ready to pull in. We always rent a cabana which gives you the first tender anyway. Priority is not going to get you anywhere on HMC really, and it will only frustrate you.

 

Do plan on heading back early because that is where you find huge lines as people wait to get off and they are also collecting the buffet leftovers etc to take back to the ship. You will wait a much longer time at the end of the day in the hot sun, so plan on going back to the ship at least an hour early to avoid the crowds that are much worse coming back and there is no priority return (although some people swear there is, but in practice, I've never seen it)

 

When we went in November on the Destiny we were required to get tender tickets. I didnt get onto the island till 11 am :mad: I didnt even realize if you had a cabana booked you would get priority that made me even madder. But oh well its awesome and I refused to come back till the LAST tender brought me!

[Elmo31]

hmmm.....I guess I will have to wait and see how they handle things. I definately want to be there before 11 am :eek:

[girlscruise2011]

hmmm.....I guess I will have to wait and see how they handle things. I definately want to be there before 11 am :eek:

 

I'm there next week and have a cabana booked. I want first tender because I don't want to waste a minute.

 

When I get back I'll let you know how they handled it for us.

[elcuchio24]

We usually just wait to see the first tender come over and walk down, have never waited and have been on the first or second tender of the day, which are almost empty. Don't wait for the cattle call of 'all clear'.

[bbohbbneedacruise]

They don't do Platinum tendering on HMC, it isn't really necessary. I am milestone so I am familiar with using it in places like Cabo San Lucas where it is really necessary or someplace like Belize where they use very small tenders and it is a long distance. The HMC tenders are large and hold a lot of people, there are not tender tickets because it is a short distance and while they are loading one tender the second is ready to pull in. We always rent a cabana which gives you the first tender anyway. Priority is not going to get you anywhere on HMC really, and it will only frustrate you.

 

Do plan on heading back early because that is where you find huge lines as people wait to get off and they are also collecting the buffet leftovers etc to take back to the ship. You will wait a much longer time at the end of the day in the hot sun, so plan on going back to the ship at least an hour early to avoid the crowds that are much worse coming back and there is no priority return (although some people swear there is, but in practice, I've never seen it)

 

That is correct there is NO priority tender for returns.

https://www.goccl.com/irman/bookccl/sections/Platinum_guests.html

Priority Tender Boarding

Only available for the Platinum guest and up to 5 friends at ports that require tendering; guests not on a shore excursion should proceed to Guest Services to be escorted to the appropriate gangway for the next available tender.

Note: Only available ship to shore (not shore to ship)

[RMM34667]

They don't do Platinum tendering on HMC, it isn't really necessary. I am milestone so I am familiar with using it in places like Cabo San Lucas where it is really necessary or someplace like Belize where they use very small tenders and it is a long distance. The HMC tenders are large and hold a lot of people, there are not tender tickets because it is a short distance and while they are loading one tender the second is ready to pull in. We always rent a cabana which gives you the first tender anyway. Priority is not going to get you anywhere on HMC really, and it will only frustrate you.

 

Do plan on heading back early because that is where you find huge lines as people wait to get off and they are also collecting the buffet leftovers etc to take back to the ship. You will wait a much longer time at the end of the day in the hot sun, so plan on going back to the ship at least an hour early to avoid the crowds that are much worse coming back and there is no priority return (although some people swear there is, but in practice, I've never seen it)

 

I was on the same Nov. cruise as LDS. The tendering process at HMC was a mess. We did get our priority tender tickets however they were useless as hundreds of people packed the hallways and we waited well over 30 minutes. Now it's really not that bad for most able bodied people that are happily looking forward to a great day ashore, but I had my 85 year old dad who was about to pass out. If we had known how bad the process was I would have taken him down in the wheelchair. Next time I would wait till after the initial rush to get ashore, even if I did have a cabana. I like the way Princess does it at their island. Everyone goes to the theater and gets their tender tickets. You wait there in comfort as they call the groups and escort you down to the tenders.

[NKsDogWalker]

I went horseback riding on HMC in the first group last year. I was told that I needed to board the first tender so I would have plenty of time to get to the ride. When I made my way down to the tender deck I wasn't even asked my name or to see a "ticket". I ended up being on the boat with the wheelchairs and limited mobility people. I kind of felt bad... but I honestly had no clue until I got down there. Oops. :( I assume if you book another kind of excusion early in the morning that you would also get your "pick" of early tenders.

[Elmo31]

girlscruise2011....great cant wait for a recent update

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Thatst great news because I turn platinum on this cruise!! Whoop Whoop I will definately enjoy this perk in HMC. Thanks for the info :)

 

enjoy the looks and remarks as they usher you to the front.;)

 

Bill

[Elmo31]

I worked hard at becoming platinum.....real hard LOL :D so will walk tall and proud to the front of the line!!! :rolleyes:

[lola61]

I was at HMC on the Destiny in Feb and I am platinum, and we did have priority tendering TO and FROM HMC, just show your card and we were escorted to the front of the line going back to the ship. Have had this experience the three times we have been there:D

[rick&james]

I was at HMC on the Destiny in Feb and I am platinum, and we did have priority tendering TO and FROM HMC, just show your card and we were escorted to the front of the line going back to the ship. Have had this experience the three times we have been there:D

 

 

That's Awesome...Will remember this when we get there Thursday :D

[girlscruise2011]

girlscruise2011....great cant wait for a recent update

 

Well I'm home and wanted to update everyone on the Tender process to HMC on the Destiny. Its a mess :eek:

 

I had a cabana so had "priority" tendering and so didn't 300 other people. When I asked at Guest Services the day before how it worked, I was told to go to Floor 0. The ticket said to go to Floor 1. I went by the ticket and went down at 9:30am since the 1st tender was scheduled at 10am there was very long line of people waiting. It was so bad, they were asking anyone with excursions booked after 10:30am to leave and come back. Needless to say, no one left :(. An older couple in front of me had an excursion at 10:30am. I'm sure they were late. I hope they pushed back the excursion to wait for the late arriving guests. At one point, they were telling other guests to stop going to the lounge to get tender tickets since it was already full.

 

The first tender didn't leave until after 10am and there was only 2 available since the 3rd one was having some trouble.

 

I was finally on the 3rd tender over and it was quick to get over to the island but they really should have a better system. They should have guests with early excursions meet at a different location then make sure they get on the first tender.

 

It was very chaotic but once I sat in my cabana, it was all worth it :D

[rick&james]

glad u had fun we went to the Platinum Desk and was escorted past all the people onto the first Tender..

[imluvncruzn]

We were in HMC on Thursday, 5/16/12 via the Destiny. We went to the Customer Service Desk and without even asking, a male CCL representative saw our platinum cards and asked if we were ready to be escorted down. He led us past a sea of people lined up in the corridors; directly down to floor zero. Very easy! Upon return we waited til about 4pm and when we got there the line for the tender was very long and stretched beyond the "Rum Runner Bar". I wasn't sure about priority tendering on the return to the ship so I went and asked one of the CCL officers at the front of the line if I got priority tendering back and he told me I did and told me to stand in line with the people in wheelchairs and/or families with young children. It was fantastic and definitely one of my favorite platinum perks!

[girlscruise2011]

glad u had fun we went to the Platinum Desk and was escorted past all the people onto the first Tender..

 

Well La Ti Da ;). Now I'm really sorry we didn't meet up for a drink :(

 

Wish I was Platinum to avoid the chaos. They definately need a better system especially when it comes to the people with excursions. I find it hard to believe that all those people in front of me had excursions and nobody was checking tickets.

 

I'm doing Belize and Grand Caymans in November on the Liberty and I hope that they have a better system. I have non Carnival excursions booked and now I'm nervous about missing them.