Panama Canal Cruise stopping at Amador--tender question

[mcmarya]

Asked this question a couple of months ago but got conflicting responses. We'll be on a cruise in November that transits the canal, then stops overnight off Fuerte Amador and remains there until the next day at 5 p.m. Since we plan to tour independently, we would be interested to know how early to expect tenders to run on the full day in Amador.
Thanks

[jtl513]

Maybe you could look at the earliest times being offered for HAL excursions, and then figure about 1/2 hour earlier?

[rkacruiser]

My memory may be faulty, but I think that very soon after we anchored off the port that late afternoon after transiting the Canal, the tender service started and ran all night and the next day.

[mcmarya]

Thanks for your input. I think there is an 8 hour tour offered so it would probably need to leave around 8 am. Hopefully we can get an early start.

[alsas]

You can depend on an early start. Been at this port with Holland many times and you can tender well before the first tour. Happy sailing Alsas

[Krazy Kruizers]

Noticed that you mentioned you have booked an independent tour that begins at 8 AM and is 8 hours long.

I would be concerned that they may not get you back to the tender area before 4:30 -- when the last tender goes back to the ship.

You are taking a risk.

Remember that the ship will not wait for you since this is not a HAL tour.

[mcmarya]

Sorry, reading my post again, I can see it was confusing. I failed to say that I was referring to a HAL tour that was 8 hours long, requiring tenders to begin running fairly early, thus enabling us to hopefully get off fairly early as well. We plan to be back at Amador no later than 3 pm.

[Krazy Kruizers]

No problem as you are taking a HAL excursion -- the tenders will wait for your group no matter how late your tour returns to the tender pier.

[Richard in Panama]

Holland actually does a really great job with tenders . . . folks going on excursions will be tendered off first . . . ship waits until all shore ex groups have returned . . . not to worry! Just "Get off the Dam ship!" and have a great time!

Regards, Richard