HMC tendering from Vista ships

[Orcrone]

On the Maasdam we did not arrive at HMC until 11 AM. They started giving out tender passes at 10. I got there at 10 and received a pass for tender 16. We didn't arrive on HMC until 1 PM. If I had to do it again on the Maasdam I would have arrived 15 - 30 minutes early to get a low tender number.

On the Zuiderdam we're at HMC from 8 - 4. I'm thinking that on the Maasdam the late arrival time causes many passengers to want to head to the island immediately. However, I'm hoping the 8 AM arrival for the Zuiderdam will have some people wanting to get there immediately, some eating breakfast and heading to the island a little later while others sleep in and arrive later still.

Is this an accurate assessment, or should we plan on getting in line early for tender passes?

[K&RCurt]

I believe you are correct in your assesment.

On our 1/23 cruise on the Westerdam we arrive at HMC a little before 8:00. We were booked on an excursion that met in the vista lounge befroe tendering to the island. When we had breakfst in the lido at 7:30 there was no big rush going on to be ready to hop the first tender. And when we tendered over with the folks for our excursion at 9:30 there was no big line in the tendering area. The tendering process at HMC went very smoothly and there didn't seem to be a huge peak. If you wanted to be one of the first on the island you could have done that with little problem and if you wanted to take your time and get there "whenever" you could do that too. The only caveat is that they stopped issuing clamshells at around 11:00 so that there were enough left for those reserved by folks on the Maasdam.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Orcrone,
Your assessment seems to have hit the nail right on the head. Our group will be in the group you mentioned, sleeping later and going over about 10am. :)

Bill

[Krazy Kruizers]

Just check to make certain that you are the only ship to be at HMC that day.

Whenever our ship gets there early, we love to get on the first tender over and do our own thing - camp out in our favorite spot.

[Orcrone]

Thanks everyone for the help. This will be a lot better than our last visit - with everyone heading there at once. We also had to share HMC with the Oosterdam.

KK - I already checked. Unless there's a change in schedule we'll have HMC to ourselves.:)

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have been lucky as well at HMC. The last 2 times we were there we were alone. And I also checked the next 4 times - also alone.

[TeresaJenkins]

Just check to make certain that you are the only ship to be at HMC that day.

Whenever our ship gets there early, we love to get on the first tender over and do our own thing - camp out in our favorite spot.


Is there a web site that lists which ships will be in each port?

[Orcrone]

We have been lucky as well at HMC. The last 2 times we were there we were alone. And I also checked the next 4 times - also alone.
One ship is company, two's definitely a crowd.:D