Priority Tender - How Does it Work?

[susiesan]

Where did you get the idea there are only two tenders?

 

People here have been saying there is one tender/waiting line for pax on Princess sponsored excursions and one for independent people. With 3000 pax and 2 tenders holding maybe 100 people each and it taking 30 minutes to leave the ship, dock, and come back, that's why I am concerned it could take hours and hours to disembark at Belize. The last 10 cruises I have been on have been on small ships of Oceania, Azamara, and Windstar where tendering is a breeze.

 

I will start a new thread asking specifically about tendering at Belize.

[Corfe Mixture]

People here have been saying there is one tender/waiting line for pax on Princess sponsored excursions and one for independent people. With 3000 pax and 2 tenders holding maybe 100 people each and it taking 30 minutes to leave the ship, dock, and come back, that's why I am concerned it could take hours and hours to disembark at Belize. The last 10 cruises I have been on have been on small ships of Oceania, Azamara, and Windstar where tendering is a breeze.

 

I will start a new thread asking specifically about tendering at Belize.

 

Don't confuse the number of tender lines with the number of tenders. There will be more than one tender using each docking station, usually either three or four - depending on the distance to be covered, and if you miss one tender you do not have to wait for it to complete its round trip to the shore.

 

Initially all the tenders, except the ones used to transport to 'dock crew' to the shore, will be standing off waiting to come in and up to pick up passengers and by the time the last one departs, the one used to transport the shore crew will be arriving back at the ship to join the line of tenders.

 

I suspect that you will find it much much better than you are anticipating.

[CruisingJs]

People here have been saying there is one tender/waiting line for pax on Princess sponsored excursions and one for independent people. With 3000 pax and 2 tenders holding maybe 100 people each and it taking 30 minutes to leave the ship, dock, and come back, that's why I am concerned it could take hours and hours to disembark at Belize. The last 10 cruises I have been on have been on small ships of Oceania, Azamara, and Windstar where tendering is a breeze.

 

I will start a new thread asking specifically about tendering at Belize.

It's not going to be as bad as you're imagining. Just have your group go to the restaurant where tender tickets are issued. Get there about 15 minutes before the door opens. You will be off early and in plenty of time to take your tour. Just tell the tour operator you will be on the earliest tender you can get. They have experience with this and will know what to do.

[Spaceball]

What if you’re on an excursion?  You have to get a bus number first before going to the tender to know which bus you are assigned?  Correct?

[skynight]

7 minutes ago, Spaceball said:

What if you’re on an excursion?  You have to get a bus number first before going to the tender to know which bus you are assigned?  Correct?

Wow, this is a very old thread. If you are on a Princess excursion you report the location mentioned on the tour ticket, usually the theater. A staff member will escort the entire tour group to the tender pontoon. You will not require a tender ticket. Once on shore a tour guide will show you to the bus(es).

 

[paul929207]

Justas Skynight explained. 

[OCruisers]

7 minutes ago, skynight said:

Wow, this is a very old thread. If you are on a Princess excursion you report the location mentioned on the tour ticket, usually the theater. A staff member will escort the entire tour group to the tender pontoon. You will not require a tender ticket. Once on shore a tour guide will show you to the bus(es).

 

 

Yes, it's an old thread BUT "Spaceball", a new member, took the time to find and read it before asking.  

The location to meet will be on your tour ticket.  

If your tour with the ship is an early one,  it will normally be as "skynight" said.

If yours is later in the day, the location to meet might be in the area once you'd tendered where someone will be holding up a sign with your tour number on it.  In that case you will need to get a tender ticket.  

You'll be fine so, please, try not to worry about it!   

[Spaceball]

Thanks guys, but I think you missed the point.  I am an Elite so I've taken plenty of tenders, but there's still a question out there that if you go to the Tender "before" you go to your staging location i.e., theater, lounge, etc., to get a sticker #number, you will not know which bus to go to for your excursion.  So, if you sit with your group in the theater, lounge, etc., and leave when they leave for the tender, then there's really not a "priority".

[paul929207]

If you are on a Princess excursion, you do not go to anywhere except the staging location noted on your tour ticket. Your Elite priority tendering does not come into play of you are on a Princess tour.

[OCruisers]

On 12/30/2013 at 4:47 PM, Colo Cruiser said:

It only works from ship to shore by going directly to deck 4 tender loading area and showing the prority tickets or the black card. :)

Exactly!  We've never had a problem doing that!  

[OCruisers]

2 hours ago, Spaceball said:

Thanks guys, but I think you missed the point.  I am an Elite so I've taken plenty of tenders, but there's still a question out there that if you go to the Tender "before" you go to your staging location i.e., theater, lounge, etc., to get a sticker #number, you will not know which bus to go to for your excursion.  So, if you sit with your group in the theater, lounge, etc., and leave when they leave for the tender, then there's really not a "priority".

Not sure I understand what you're not sure about.

If it's an early Princess tour, you'll be ask to meet at a location on the ship and they'll get you on one for the first tenders as a group.

If your tour is to meet on shore at where you're dropped off by the tender, you can use your Elite to tender whenever you wish ... and meet back where instructed on your tour ticket when it's time for your tour.  There will be someone there holding a sign with your tour number on it.  They will take you to the correct bus.  

[caribill]

9 hours ago, skynight said:

Wow, this is a very old thread. If you are on a Princess excursion you report the location mentioned on the tour ticket, usually the theater. A staff member will escort the entire tour group to the tender pontoon. You will not require a tender ticket. Once on shore a tour guide will show you to the bus(es).

 

If tendering, morning excursions usually meet on the ship and are escorted to a tender when it is time to l;eave the ship. No tender ticket required.

 

Afternoon excursons will usually meet on shore, so you will have to tender there (and allow enough time for this), but by that time tender tickets will no longer be required and you can go directly to the tender area to get on the next tender to shore.

[skynight]

15 hours ago, Spaceball said:

Thanks guys, but I think you missed the point.  I am an Elite so I've taken plenty of tenders, but there's still a question out there that if you go to the Tender "before" you go to your staging location i.e., theater, lounge, etc., to get a sticker #number, you will not know which bus to go to for your excursion.  So, if you sit with your group in the theater, lounge, etc., and leave when they leave for the tender, then there's really not a "priority".

Elite status is not a concern when on a Princess tour. Report to the location on the tour ticket, and you will be escorted to the tender and on to the bus. The only time you go ashore yourself is when the tour ticket specifically mentions to meet ashore. This is normally only for late departing tours. Note, there really is priority, Princess tours have first priority. Elite priority is for when you are not on a Princess tour and when you are tendering during high demand times.