Grand Cayman tendering questions

[CruisinCarps]

Hello all!

 

We have an excursion booked (not through Carnival) for our Grand Cayman stop (Acquarius Sea Tours). *Carnival does not offer this same trip or we'd just go through them.

 

Anyways, they only had two times available- First thing (7:45am) and a later morning/afternoon one. Since the later one (with a 4 hour excursion not including travel time) is cutting it too close to time to re-board, we chose the earliest one available.

 

I have read conflicting statements saying we need to get a tender ticket the night before. Also being told that since the FTTF, Platinum/Diamond, and Carnival excurions all have priority that I shouldn't bother and just cancel our excursion that we are sooooo looking forward to. I don't want to continue getting the kids' hopes up about this particular excursion if it even isn't gonna happen (not weather related). We had a dolphin snorkel booked last year for Honduras that weather cancelled and we were sooo sad about that.

 

So- do we have to get tickets to tender off in the morning or not? We plan on being down at the doors first thing in the morning (no later than 6:30am) to try to get one of the first tenders. However, I am being told I will be wasting our time and don't even bother trying to make that excursion. (Why would the tour operator even book us then if it wasn't even possible? We haven't paid anything- just have a reservation.)

 

What have been your experiences? Did you have to get tender tickets the night before to get off the ship in the morning?

 

Thank you!

[Nic6318]

Why don't you call the tour operator and ask them how flexible they are. Many tour operators specifically accommodate clients from cruise ships. They know the way the tenders work.

 

If they are saying that you have to be at the pier at 07:45 or they will leave without you, I would suggest looking for a different excursion. There are many operators with with a wide selection of tours that will wait for you.

 

I have been there often and the tenders are not predictable. Delays happen and I am sure your kids will be much happier if the van is still waiting for you when you get off the ship.

 

Perhaps you could find a similar excursion at one of your other stops. A very popular excursion with most kids and adults in Grand Cayman where they can interact with marine life would be a trip to stingray city.

 

Have a great cruise

Ian

[Homosassa]

Excursions booked through Carnival will also be given priority tendering.

 

Even if you are there at 6:30 AM, don't plan to be off the ship until after 8 AM.

[CruisinCarps]

I have contacted the tour company, explained to them the situation, and am awaiting a reply. :)

 

We booked a snorkel trip that includes Stingray City as well as Starfish Point and another separate reef to snorkel. It includes lunch, drinks, even photos for only $50 a person! Carnival doesn't even come close to that offer. (Carnival's trip is shorter and only to Stingray city and the reef, neither lunch or photos are included and is $70 a person.)

 

I don't know if they will leave us. I will have the tour operators number in my cell phone if we are sitting on the ship still and can't get off because of priority tenders. That way, if it appears we are running late and the FTTF, Platinum/Diamond people are already off (and possibly going on the same tour), we won't hold up the fun for them.:( (I know several other families from our shp are going on the same exact excursion, but as I understand, they were able to get FTTF.)

 

I figure there will be other excursion companies at the end of the pier if ours is gone, I just don't like hopping on one I have never heard of, not researched, etc... (And I assume that if we are left behind we can no longer book a Carnival excursion once we're off the ship...or we would have to tender back, go to their excursion desk and hope there is a spot left.)

[Lyncoya]

We were in Grand Cayman a few weeks ago on the Dream. We had a tour booked NOT WITH CARNIVAL and was off the ship VERY EARLY, by 7:30am. We got right on the tender, and there were only about 10 people on it.

[stressedmomof3]

Sounds like you have a dilemma. If I were you I would talk to the tour operator first. Then look into purchasing Faster to the Fun to get on the first tender out.

 

Usually first thing in the mornings the first tender or two seems to be dedicated 100% to the FTTF, Plat/Diamond crowd -judging from past tenders. Then I have seen Carnival letting some of their other tour group excursions go before the general public off the boat when we were in Belize as everyone in the theater had a group # in which they were called and walked out to the tenders.

 

If you can not get a "guarantee" from your tour operator you will not be left behind, I would cancel . But again, that's just my 2 cents worth what I would do if it was my family. It's just cutting it real close.

 

Hope you get it resolved.

[CruisinCarps]

Excursions booked through Carnival will also be given priority tendering.

 

Even if you are there at 6:30 AM, don't plan to be off the ship until after 8 AM.

 

Yep, I know that- and mentioned it in my first post. ;)

 

I am not expecting anyone to step aside for us or give us special treatment or anything. I just want to know if we are supposed to get tender tickets the night before. I am reading conflicting things on here. Some say yes, some say no... Some say they just walked down there and waited by the door and walked off with everyone else. I am hoping most people are sleeping in or getting breakfast when we are trying to get off the ship...:D

[CruisinCarps]

We were in Grand Cayman a few weeks ago on the Dream. We had a tour booked NOT WITH CARNIVAL and was off the ship VERY EARLY, by 7:30am. We got right on the tender, and there were only about 10 people on it.

 

Yay!! So glad to hear that! You give me hope! :D:D

 

What time did you go downstairs to wait?

[CruisinCarps]

Sounds like you have a dilemma. If I were you I would talk to the tour operator first. Then look into purchasing Faster to the Fun to get on the first tender out.

 

I have been watching for FTTF...it hasn't been available except for one very short amount of time yesterday. As soon as I heard they were available, I went onto the Carnival site, but they were already all gone again. Still hoping it will become available again. I haven't been lucky enough to get any on our cruises yet.

[cruznkate]

You don't mention when you are cruising but you should look into FTTF. That would solve your problem. Even if it is sold out now, it could open back up. I suggest emailing the shore excursion desk and asking if FTTF for your particular sailing will open back up. I did this on Wednesday for my June 15 Dream cruise (after suggested to me on these boards) and received an email the next day saying that FTTF would open up in five minutes and I was able to snag one!

[dljones]

Yep, I know that- and mentioned it in my first post. ;)

 

I am not expecting anyone to step aside for us or give us special treatment or anything. I just want to know if we are supposed to get tender tickets the night before. I am reading conflicting things on here. Some say yes, some say no... Some say they just walked down there and waited by the door and walked off with everyone else. I am hoping most people are sleeping in or getting breakfast when we are trying to get off the ship...:D

 

I have been to GC a couple of times and I don't recall ever having to get a tender ticket. I think your best bet is FTTF ($50) per cabin and it has a lot of other perks besides priority tendering... there are lots of threads on that topic including one by me. You can book it though the excursions page under your home port.

 

Anyway, 9 times out of 10 I would say that the tour operator will wait on you. They are used to dealing with cruise ships and you are their business. Plus, there is a real good chance other customers will be on that ship as well!

 

Best of luck to you and I hope you have a wonderful cruise!!

[CruisinCarps]

You don't mention when you are cruising but you should look into FTTF. That would solve your problem. Even if it is sold out now, it could open back up. I suggest emailing the shore excursion desk and asking if FTTF for your particular sailing will open back up. I did this on Wednesday for my June 15 Dream cruise (after suggested to me on these boards) and received an email the next day saying that FTTF would open up in five minutes and I was able to snag one!

 

I think I read that thread and I emailed them ASAP from that link someone posted. :D I haven't received a reply back from them.

 

We are sailing out May 11th... so I was surprised some even came available yesterday. Someone posted it on our FB page and they were snatched up before I was even home to try to look. I mean, I look probably 5 times or more a day and the ONE afternoon I am not home...:rolleyes:

 

I still will keep trying and still hope for a tender out in time. I have decided to tell the kids there is a chance we won't make it and just will have to do something else.

[TEXASMUNK]

1. check time zones, to confirm actual time ship arrives, versus ship time.

2. like you did, contact your tour operator and confirm

3. touch base with CD, if there is a time crunch, see if you can get up REAL early. First tender is usually only crew that will be working the pier for the day, often times you can ride in with them

[CruisinCarps]

Thanks TexasMunk!

 

Others going on our same excursion were told to be down by the doors by 6:30 am...but they also have FTTF.

 

So we are going to be there at 6am.:)

 

As I understand it, GC is on same as ship time. (We sail out of Galveston.) But I always check about a hundred times that my watch matches the ship time too..;)

 

The tour operator responded to my email- they said they found 7:45 meet time was enough time for people to arrive, but they also don't know if those people had priority tendering or not. Guess we will find out! We are bringing our own snorkel equipment anyways so if we have to, find our own place to go.

[mbet]

We were in Grand Cayman a few weeks ago on the Dream. We had a tour booked NOT WITH CARNIVAL and was off the ship VERY EARLY, by 7:30am. We got right on the tender, and there were only about 10 people on it.

 

We were there last week on the Dream. We had a Carnival excursion and were asked to gather in the show lounge and escorted to the tender according to their departure times. We were on the first one. Platinum, diamond and FTTF people were to go next. Everyone else could go whenever they wanted to after that.