"PRIORITY" Tendering - Who Trumps Who?

[BEAV]

Our next sailing will be in a suite, which I know always comes with priority tender tickets - a nice perk.

 

We're investigating booking a private tour which departs fairly soon after tendering will begin. So although we'll have priority tender tickets, do those on Celebrity-sponsored shore excursions leaving around the same time trump our tender tickets? Specifically, we're scheduled to drop anchor at 7:00am with our private tour departing at 9:00am. However, we have to factor in a 5-10 minute shuttle ride from the ship's tender dock to where our private tour departs from.

 

So are we second fiddle to people on =X= tours, equal or superior? ;)

[Jborosara]

Second fiddle

 

 

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[susietb]

Those passengers booked on Celebrity Shore Excursions usually leave on dedicated tenders in another area.

 

You will get priority tendering in front of all those with tender ticket numbers that are given out

[elena7seas]

Our next sailing will be in a suite, which I know always comes with priority tender tickets - a nice perk.

 

We're investigating booking a private tour which departs fairly soon after tendering will begin. So although we'll have priority tender tickets, do those on Celebrity-sponsored shore excursions leaving around the same time trump our tender tickets? Specifically, we're scheduled to drop anchor at 7:00am with our private tour departing at 9:00am. However, we have to factor in a 5-10 minute shuttle ride from the ship's tender dock to where our private tour departs from.

 

So are we second fiddle to people on =X= tours, equal or superior? ;)

 

In all my cruises, Celebrity shore excursions tendering priority trumps everything else.

 

Also, on our last few cruises, for all other classes of priority tender pass holders, you had to go to a separate lounge to wait with others who had priority tender passes (for whatever reason). When you arrived there, you were given another numbered ticket, which determined the order in which you would be taken down to the tender line-up. On the Century in July, we waited another 75 minutes in the lounge before we were taken to the gangway. There were quite a few people who held priority passes who were entering the gangway lineup without waiting in the appointed lounge, as well as people without any priority tickets whatsoever, who were entering the gangway lineup from the elevators. Celebrity was trying to stay on top of the situation, but it was difficult, and tempers were getting a little hot. We waited about 15 minutes in this jostling, cramped, grumpy gangway lineup to get off the ship.

 

I'm not clear from the new Captain's Club guidelines if they have pulled back the priority passes from some levels, but some of the documentation seems to suggest that has happened. It may have been necessary.

 

It will be interesting to hear what the experience is now in tender ports.

[baldercash]

Just finished a 35 day transpacific Honolulu to Singapore with lots of tenders some that were almost 20+ minutes to shore.

First X did a good job of dissuading passengers that were just going a shore to wander not to do so until later in the day. They announced if you don't have something planned you will be bored after an hour or so in the port ie: Cairns & Darwin, Suva.

 

2nd- X tended to have the tenders ready earlier then the posted times.

 

3rd- x had lots of tenders in main ports of interest they would have large private ferries hired to assist.

 

4th- Often the ship tour times did not require they leave on the 1st tenders.

 

As Elite we used the priority tender pass at every tender port.

At Arlie Beach there were only about 8 passengers using it the most we saw at any port. At this port we did a private CC tour with 23 people 4 of us used Priority tender all members of the tour were on the 1st tender.

The Loyalty person would call down and confirm the number for boarding and lead us down and we would blend into the boarding line.

 

Celebrity Millennium did an amazing job on the tenders I assume in response to last years reports about this cruise.

[4774Papa]

Our next sailing will be in a suite, which I know always comes with priority tender tickets - a nice perk.

 

We're investigating booking a private tour which departs fairly soon after tendering will begin. So although we'll have priority tender tickets, do those on Celebrity-sponsored shore excursions leaving around the same time trump our tender tickets? Specifically, we're scheduled to drop anchor at 7:00am with our private tour departing at 9:00am. However, we have to factor in a 5-10 minute shuttle ride from the ship's tender dock to where our private tour departs from.

 

So are we second fiddle to people on =X= tours, equal or superior? ;)

Our experience has been that your priority tender ticket means that you are set to leave the ship whenever you present yourself, key card and tender ticket to exit the ship. If you get there before the Celebrity tours, you will get on the tender boat.

[TommyD3]

Keep in mind that a VERY large number of people have the priority tender tickets. Everyone in a suite, Aqua class and Concierge cabin get priority tickets in addition to all the Elites (and higher now).

On Millennium class ships there are two decks of Aqua class and Concierge cabins. That is a large percentage of the ship (at least 25%).

On the Century two of the three balcony decks are Concierge cabins.

[TMLAalum]

Last cruise was our 1st experience using priority tender tickets. For our 1st tender port we wanted to leave ASAP and had no problem being admitted to the front of the queue simply by showing those tickets to ship personnel who were at the stairway leading to the gangway.

 

We weren't in a rush for the next tender port, but followed the same procedure and were the first to board the next available tender.

 

Didn't realize we could have had them when we sailed concierge class...

[excitedofharpenden]

Am I right in saying that the priority tender tickets have a number on them, thus the suites will have a lower number that say concierge or Captain's Club Elite/Elite+? I seem to remember this although haven't paid much attention because it hasn't been essential for me to be off the ship fast in a tender port recently.

 

Phil

[Compass Rose Monica]

On my recent cruise (with two ports that we tendered), we were given priority tickets in our cabin the evening before. We didn’t have to go to any lounge but to the appropriate gangway for those that held these tickets. It was not the same gangway as those on the ship's tours. When we were ready to leave the ship, we had no wait at all. Very easy and a great perk!!

Monica

[Compass Rose Monica]

Am I right in saying that the priority tender tickets have a number on them, thus the suites will have a lower number that say concierge or Captain's Club Elite/Elite+? I seem to remember this although haven't paid much attention because it hasn't been essential for me to be off the ship fast in a tender port recently.

 

Phil

 

Hi Phil!!

 

No, ours didn't have any number.

 

Monica

[elena7seas]

Am I right in saying that the priority tender tickets have a number on them, thus the suites will have a lower number that say concierge or Captain's Club Elite/Elite+? I seem to remember this although haven't paid much attention because it hasn't been essential for me to be off the ship fast in a tender port recently.

 

Phil

 

Our priority tender passes didn't have numbers on them, but we were instructed to wait in the Martini Lounge until the ships' excursions had disembarked, and when we arrived at the ML, we were given numbers. We were given numbers 129 to 134 for our group of six. At the time we arrived, the Celebrity shore excursion people were still disembarking and no one had left the Martini Lounge. It took 75 minutes for our group to leave the ML and then we spent another 15 minutes in the gangway lineup.

 

This was on the Century in July.

[Xport]

Keep in mind that a VERY large number of people have the priority tender tickets. Everyone in a suite, Aqua class and Concierge cabin get priority tickets in addition to all the Elites (and higher now). On Millennium class ships there are two decks of Aqua class and Concierge cabins. That is a large percentage of the ship (at least 25%). On the Century two of the three balcony decks are Concierge cabins.

 

Guests booked in AquaClass and Concierge Class do not receive priority tendering during port calls by virtue of their accommodation... They do get priority embarkation--via separate check-in line; sometimes helpful, sometimes not--at cruise start and priority disembarkation--via a dedicated departure lounge; sometimes helpful, sometimes not--at cruise conclusion...

 

Guests booked in all levels of accommodation--including AquaClass and Concierge Class--who have Elite status or higher [the website has been corrected/is now clear] in Captain's Club do receive priority tendering during intermediate port calls by virtue of their loyalty status, not their stateroom level...

 

Suite guests--regardless of Captain's Club membership/level--are provided with priority tendering...

Edited December 12, 2013 by Xport

[mferranti]

Whoever pushes their way to the front of the line trumps everybody else. Don't count on crew to enforce any "priority" you think you have.

[mickey89]

Everybody is treated like cattle when tendering, whatever class you are. Everyone these days wants to be first and two fingers to everyone else. Perks, what a laugh, next they will charge you like they do for the shuttles out of the port areas. Definitely had my last Celebrity cruise.

[Chunky2219]

There's no certainty about this, but I can give you a bit of a steer, from experiences this year and last (Royal Suites).

 

Speak to your butler, who will give you priority tender vouchers/invitations. I don't know if he will pre-register you or make any other preparations, but things will go pretty smoothly on the morning. Go to wherever everyone is massing (usually the theatre) and go to the desk (usually on stage) to present your voucher(s). I can't remember if X is one of the lines that has a VIP desk there; I don't think so but if there is one, go straight up.

 

You will usually get a ticket numbered for the very next tender due to depart (they hold on to a few, or sometimes even very low already departed tender numbers). Don't wait for the number to be called, just wander down to the scanner and join the back of whatever short queue is there.

 

This will usually trump all the pre-booked tour tickets, which are allocated in order depending on how the shore excursion team want the tours to depart and held, usually in a big huddle by the door of the theatre with everyone grumbling after the first couple of groups have gone. Other folks usually get late numbered tickets, which as others have said aren't called until after most (but not all) of the ships tours are on their way.

 

It helps to get there early anyway, to beat the queue on stage, but chances are that you will get off early, including being in front of the elites. (Shhh! Don't let on).

 

Of course, this is a bit speculative, based on limited experience and in any case you would be nuts to book a vey early private tour, just in case getting anchored and set-up is delayed or there are problems on shore. Been there, done that.

 

As Monica says, some voyages may have even better arragements than this with your own gangway provided, which will open up for everyone a little later. We've never enjoyed that perk on X, but have on other lines. Your Butler is the man/woman to find all this out for you in advance. I've never had one come back with duff info and they are almost obsessively keen to make your life easy.

 

 

.

Edited December 12, 2013 by Chunky2219
typo

[4774Papa]

Everybody is treated like cattle when tendering, whatever class you are. Everyone these days wants to be first and two fingers to everyone else. Perks, what a laugh, next they will charge you like they do for the shuttles out of the port areas. Definitely had my last Celebrity cruise.

With two or three thousand people departing from a ship at sea, what do you expect?

[C 2 C]

Everybody is treated like cattle when tendering, whatever class you are. Everyone these days wants to be first and two fingers to everyone else. Perks, what a laugh, next they will charge you like they do for the shuttles out of the port areas. Definitely had my last Celebrity cruise.

 

In N America we are more efficient when showing our displeasure. A single digit will do. ;)

 

Enjoy getting off any ship on any other cruise line more quickly if you don't have comparative perks. However I am sure passengers would be willing to pay for priority disembarkation in ports where two thousand people want to get off ASAP.

[CABINET]

Have to say that I was less than impressed with the organization on our cruise to Iceland earlier this year.

 

We had a Celebrity tour due to start at 14.00 (the ship had arrived at Reyjavik at 1330). Despite the fact that our tour was the longest one that afternoon and was not due to return to the ship until 2030, we had to wait over an hour until it was our turn to leave the ship. Many, if not all, other tours left before us.

 

As a result we did not return to the ship until 2130 and were not at all popular with Blu when we requested to dine there (having run all the way from the embarkation area). They did allow us to dine but this awkwardness would have been avoided if we had been allowed to leave the ship first rather than last.

 

I'm sure they thought they had their reasons but, whatever they were, it was illogical to say the least.

Edited December 12, 2013 by CABINET

[baldercash]

Everybody is treated like cattle when tendering, whatever class you are. Everyone these days wants to be first and two fingers to everyone else. Perks, what a laugh, next they will charge you like they do for the shuttles out of the port areas. Definitely had my last Celebrity cruise.

 

Sounds like you wanted to be first off and it did not go your way?

Wondering what cruise line you are moving to that has no lines for the tenders?

Hope it works well for you.

[scanditaly]

Whoever pushes their way to the front of the line trumps everybody else. Don't count on crew to enforce any "priority" you think you have.

First off, you are quite correct. We were VIP guests, and were told that we could just go to the front; just did not feel right. Crew knew who we were and did nothing to ease this, so we just stood in line with everyone else. We did see others waiving their priority vouchers and demanding to be let off first. Not a pretty sight.

 

With two or three thousand people departing from a ship at sea, what do you expect?

 

I expect some kind of cosistancy with regard to protocols, rules, and enforcement. Ok, maybe I live in a fantasy world, but you asked. :D

[herbanrenewal]

January is my first cruise with tendering ports since achieving elite status. I am trying to understand the process.

 

I only have Royal and NCL to compare, but on the cruises I've been on, ticket distribution times are announced the evening before the port. Lines open for Priority eligible persons - first come, first served. The priority group can claim places , then an hour later, everyone can get their passes.

 

When in port they will announce which tender is boarding for everyone holding that number to proceed to the tenders.

 

From what I am reading, on celebrity your stateroom attendant will leave a priority pass in your room the night before than at whatever time you wish you walk down to where tenders are boarding and "bump" to the head of the line?

 

Is this how it works?

[adirondacksailor]

On our Solstice Oct cruise we picked up priority tickets in Michael's Club when tendering began. We are just Elite, not suite passengers. They were not numbered. When we wanted to tender, there was a cordoned line at top of deck 3 staircase of people with numbered tickets waiting to go down to boarding area, but priority holders simply went to left of roped area down staircase to merge with the tender line at security.

[Honeybearhollow]

We were recently on Solstice. We had priority early number tickets, but ate breakfast first, then joined the line. Everyone in line had ticket numbers way higher than ours. We did not know if we were supposed to go to the front of the line or get at the back of a fairly long line. We got at the back, but for future reference, what is the appropriate thing to do. It was obvious that some people had not waited for their number to be called.

[Northern Aurora]

January is my first cruise with tendering ports since achieving elite status. I am trying to understand the process.

 

I only have Royal and NCL to compare, but on the cruises I've been on, ticket distribution times are announced the evening before the port. Lines open for Priority eligible persons - first come, first served. The priority group can claim places , then an hour later, everyone can get their passes.

 

When in port they will announce which tender is boarding for everyone holding that number to proceed to the tenders.

 

From what I am reading, on celebrity your stateroom attendant will leave a priority pass in your room the night before than at whatever time you wish you walk down to where tenders are boarding and "bump" to the head of the line?

 

Is this how it works?

 

While the stateroom attendant will leave priority tender tickets in the evening when they do the "turndown" service, our experience has been that the procedure varies. But check the back of the ticket for instructions. You will be either instructed to assemble in a certain lounge, and when they reach about ten or so folks with priority tickets they will escort the group to the tender dock, or you will be told just to go to deck for the tender dock. But the instructions on the reverse side will make the procedure clear.