Tendering Question

[pumpkinlady]

Hello all. First time cruiser here with a question about tendering. DH & I will be on the Infinity to Alaska this month and tender at a couple of the ports. In terms of getting on the tenders, does Celebrity schedule them at particular times? Do they give priority to you if you've scheduled a ship excursion? I'm not sure exactly how this works, so I'd appreciate any helpful comments you have :-) Thanks for your feedback.

[Libracruzer]

Generally speaking, if you are on a ship excursion, and you need to be off the ship, they will escort you to your tender. Tender tickets are often given out ahead of time, first come first serve - the time and place will be announced. In my experience it is very organized, and usually is not a problem. However, I have not been in Alaska.

[TEXASMUNK]

All cruise lines schedules tenders to co-ordinate with tours. Ship purchased tours go first. Most of the time, if you are on a tour, you will be asked to meet in the theatre where you will be assigned a departure code/code/number. When called you head down to the gangway.

 

Please note, when you head down to the gangway, the ship has asked EVERYONE to not clog the hallways, stairwells and elevators. You will find every hallway, stairwell and elevator clogged. I am personally convinced that these folks sincerely beleive that the island or port will disappear or be moved before they can get off the ship and see it.

 

Once all the tours are cleared, they will have open tendering...the tenders will go back and forth all day between ship and dock.

 

Important, pay attention to the time for the last tender back to the ship. If you miss this tender, you will have a spectacular view as your ship leaves the harbor and sailed to the next port....from the dock.;)

[hajekfam]

Elite captain's club members and I believe suites get priority tendering before regular passengers not on ship's tours.

[MEcruzr]

That's correct... Elite and Suite passengers are given different colored tender tickets the night before in their cabins. Take those to the place they announce for you to go for tender tickets if you're trying to get off first... as in right after the excursion groups. If you wait a little while (20 minutes) you can go right to the tender and not need ANY ticket. It's really worth it to wait and go later, once the crush is over.

[Tracyr]

We were on the Infinity July 17th Sailing to Alaska, we tendered in Ketchikan and Sitka. I was impressed at how smooth it went. We did not have shore excursions in either port, so just waited about an hour or so after we anchored and went down to the thearter. By then there was no line, we just picked up numbers and whent directly down to the tender. Soon after, it was announced that you no longer needed tender tickets. They were running several tender boats.(at least 3 maybe 4) You will love the Infinity, we certainly did!!

[JNLROSE]

We were in a suite on Mercury & we had tender tix to go to the Navigator lounge. They had coffee, juices & pastries available there & we were escorted by a CD to the tender boat--THEN we had to wait just like everyone else until it filled up, so what really was the point??? The next tender port, we just went with the flow & it was not harder nor more crowded!!! The priority tendering in my opinion, was a huge joke!!! If I had needed another cup of coffee, I could have had the butler get it! :rolleyes:

[pumpkinlady]

Thanks to everyone for your replies and helpful hints (such as waiting to beat the rush out and paying attention to timing of last tender back).

 

Tracyr: Thanks for your comments on Infinity and your Alaska trip. I found out that we were scheduled to tender in Ketchikan when I made reservations for Misty Fjords flightseeing with Island Wings and they suggested taking their second flightseeing trip at 10 AM, instead of the first trip of the morning. We leave on the Infinity next Sunday - can't wait :)