Tender Tickets on Celebrity Infinity

How does the distribution of tender tickets work on Celebrity Infinity? We will be taking a California Coastal Cruise in September and will be tendering in Santa Barbara and Monterey. We will not be taking a ship excursion, but will be renting a car privately. How can we insure that we can get an early tender?

If you are not taking a ship's tour and you do not have Elite status then you just have line up early for tender tickets. They will make announcements about when and where you can get them.

Get there early to pock up a ticket. The early bird... simple as that :D

Also, all parties must be present and ready to leave ASAP. This was our experience on the Infinity Pacific Coastal cruise last month.

If you are not taking a ship's tour and you do not have Elite status then you just have line up early for tender tickets. They will make announcements about when and where you can get them.

Do Elites always get priority tender embarkation on all ships ? I couldn't it listed a a perk on the Captain's Club section of the Celebrity web-site.

If the ship arrives early enough plan to leave prior to the ships tours departures.

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Do Elites always get priority tender embarkation on all ships ? I couldn't it listed a a perk on the Captain's Club section of the Celebrity web-site.

Yes, unless the tender operation is done without tickets (happens sometimes) Elite receive priority tickets.

Yes, unless the tender operation is done without tickets (happens sometimes) Elite receive priority tickets.

As Elite we were told to go to a designated location to meet the Captains Club hostess when we were ready to leave the ship. We were then escorted to the front of the tender line

Miaminice - what were your experiences with the Tender times on the Infinity during your South American cruise?

We will be on the Infinity over the holidays (BA to Santiago) and noticed there are quite a few tendered ports. We have sailed in Suites for the past couple of years, so have never had an issue waiting for a tender (and we did leave before all the ship excursions for all tendered ports, "but one" - which overall took 45 minutes to wait for).

However, this sailing we are going AQ - but perhaps our saving grace is that we recently became Elite - so "hoping" that helps getting off the ship in a timely manner. All of our planned private excursions are very early (as soon as we can get off the ship, early - LOL).

Anyhow - hoping to gain some insight of how "efficient" the tenders were from the Infinity in the "Around the Horn" route.

Kindly, Heather

As Elite we were told to go to a designated location to meet the Captains Club hostess when we were ready to leave the ship. We were then escorted to the front of the tender line

Different on ships/cruise... we had both: the way you explained it and receiving priority tickets the night before on our bed.

And... tender ports without tickets at all.

Whichever way it was done it was no problem.

Miaminice - what were your experiences with the Tender times on the Infinity during your South American cruise?

Well, we could not tender at all at Punta Arenas because of the weather. However, our captain took us to a great alternative...

Puerto Montt and Punta del Este went pretty smooth. I can not remember waiting or standing in line very long.

Well, we could not tender at all at Punta Arenas because of the weather. However, our captain took us to a great alternative...

 

Puerto Montt and Punta del Este went pretty smooth. I can not remember waiting or standing in line very long.

Thank you very kindly! we have private excursions in all the tendered ports - of which Puerto Montt and Punta del Este is bright and breezy - right off the ship and GO! tours - LOL

With appreciation, Heather

We tendered in both of these ports from the Infinity a couple of years ago. Celebrity was trying something out with not giving priority to Elite and above in Monterey. (Those in suites, concierge and aqua also receive priority tender tickets.) It was a mess and took forever to get off the ship. By the time we got to Santa Barbara, they went back to giving out priority tender tickets. We were on a ship's tour for that one anyway so no problem getting off the ship in a timely manner so not sure if those left on the ship with tickets had any issue. Just of note, there was a very long line to get back onto the ship in Santa Barbara so can only assume that the same might have occurred when tendering into this port.

If you don't get down to grab a tender ticket, with everyone in your party ready to go, you may end up being in one of these long lines off the ship as these two ports might prove to be a little problematic.

We tendered in both of these ports from the Infinity a couple of years ago. Celebrity was trying something out with not giving priority to Elite and above in Monterey. (Those in suites, concierge and aqua also receive priority tender tickets.) It was a mess and took forever to get off the ship. By the time we got to Santa Barbara, they went back to giving out priority tender tickets. We were on a ship's tour for that one anyway so no problem getting off the ship in a timely manner so not sure if those left on the ship with tickets had any issue. Just of note, there was a very long line to get back onto the ship in Santa Barbara so can only assume that the same might have occurred when tendering into this port.

If you don't get down to grab a tender ticket, with everyone in your party ready to go, you may end up being in one of these long lines off the ship as these two ports might prove to be a little problematic.

We had a smilier experience on the California Coastal Cruise on the Century a few years ago. It was our first Celebrity cruise and they did not do tendering well at all. Very long lines with very long wait times at all the California tender ports. Even when you try to be first in line to get tender tickets, they ended up being high numbers so we assumed they saved the low numbers for elites or someone else. We almost didn't cruise Celebrity again after that and an unsolicited room change that put us right over the theater - very loud anytime they had a rehearsal or a show.

We had a smilier experience on the California Coastal Cruise on the Century a few years ago. It was our first Celebrity cruise and they did not do tendering well at all. Very long lines with very long wait times at all the California tender ports. Even when you try to be first in line to get tender tickets, they ended up being high numbers so we assumed they saved the low numbers for elites or someone else. We almost didn't cruise Celebrity again after that and an unsolicited room change that put us right over the theater - very loud anytime they had a rehearsal or a show.

I completely forgot about that. We saw those lines for the tenders in Monterey and instead of waiting, we decided to turn around and enjoy a lovely day onboard instead. Saw a ton of whales right from that lounge on the top of the ship.

BTW, I think we were on the same cruise and I remember you. It was in the spring, right?? I believe you were in a Super Shuttle with us on the way to the port. You were upset because they moved your cabin from aft or midship to the very front of the ship without any notification. We looked for you during the cruise to see how things worked out and never saw you again. :( Sorry to hear they couldn't put you back into your originally booked room.

I completely forgot about that. We saw those lines for the tenders in Monterey and instead of waiting, we decided to turn around and enjoy a lovely day onboard instead. Saw a ton of whales right from that lounge on the top of the ship.

BTW, I think we were on the same cruise and I remember you. It was in the spring, right?? I believe you were in a Super Shuttle with us on the way to the port. You were upset because they moved your cabin from aft or midship to the very front of the ship without any notification. We looked for you during the cruise to see how things worked out and never saw you again. :( Sorry to hear they couldn't put you back into your originally booked room.

I remember - aren't you the one that found the great discount code for us to use on Super Shuttle? I even have a photo!

The cabin thing was difficult. When we checked in - they had no room keys for us. We waited over 30 minutes while they conferred in a corner. They finally gave us keys but told us to go directly to guest services once we boarded to settle the issue and get our "real" keys. Guest Services onboard just said they were full and nothing could be done. After repeated answers of "someone will contact you" which no one did, my husband flagged down an officer and explained he just wanted a truthful answer about what happened. In the end, they gave us future cruise credit which we almost didn't use. I'm glad we did because the second cruise with Celebrity was a completely different experience and we are now hooked!

I remember - aren't you the one that found the great discount code for us to use on Super Shuttle? I even have a photo!

 

The cabin thing was difficult. When we checked in - they had no room keys for us. We waited over 30 minutes while they conferred in a corner. They finally gave us keys but told us to go directly to guest services once we boarded to settle the issue and get our "real" keys. Guest Services onboard just said they were full and nothing could be done. After repeated answers of "someone will contact you" which no one did, my husband flagged down an officer and explained he just wanted a truthful answer about what happened. In the end, they gave us future cruise credit which we almost didn't use. I'm glad we did because the second cruise with Celebrity was a completely different experience and we are now hooked!

 

 

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Ah yes....that was me for sure!! Sorry to hear that cruise was a challenge ... we've all had one of those I guess. Our bad one was on Princess and they did the same ... gave us some onboard credit for another cruise and we took them up on it .... on the same ship as a matter of fact. And like you, we are glad we did ... we had an awesome time. I am hooked on cruising, too. Hopefully, we'll sail together again!!

Miaminice - what were your experiences with the Tender times on the Infinity during your South American cruise?

 

We will be on the Infinity over the holidays (BA to Santiago) and noticed there are quite a few tendered ports. We have sailed in Suites for the past couple of years, so have never had an issue waiting for a tender (and we did leave before all the ship excursions for all tendered ports, "but one" - which overall took 45 minutes to wait for).

 

However, this sailing we are going AQ - but perhaps our saving grace is that we recently became Elite - so "hoping" that helps getting off the ship in a timely manner. All of our planned private excursions are very early (as soon as we can get off the ship, early - LOL).

 

Anyhow - hoping to gain some insight of how "efficient" the tenders were from the Infinity in the "Around the Horn" route.

 

Kindly, Heather

Heather: Miaminice and we were on the same cruise. For us that Buenos Aires to Valparaiso was the middle leg of a B2B2B.

At Punta del Este the ship was anchored on the estuary side of the community. The tender distance was not extreme, but longer than at Puerto Montt. Tendering doesn't bother me at all (we've done three cruises through French Polynesia where the bulk of the ports require tendering) but we had some swells in Punta del Este which were making a few people on the tender unhappy.

At Puerto Montt the tender distance is actually quite short.

At Punta Arenas the city is located along a broad and open bay. The day we were scheduled call there were significant winds, and the Infinity was really rocking. We were sufficiently rocking that there was some glass damage in Michael's Club. Port authorities had closed the port. Just looking at that wind and the wave action it would have been extremely difficult to attempt a tender operation. After waiting a bit for the winds to die down it was clear that the port wasn't opening any time soon so plans were made to travel to Skua Glacier.

Our first cruise of that series was an Antarctic cruise. The vast bulk of the passengers had never been to Port Stanley. A number of the shore excursions in the Falklands are long in duration, and at that port it seemed that everyone expected to be in that first tender. When the Eclipse assumes the Antarctic cruises, with the larger number of passengers, tendering there could be interesting if a number of passengers don't have realistic expectations.

Our first cruise of that series was an Antarctic cruise. The vast bulk of the passengers had never been to Port Stanley. A number of the shore excursions in the Falklands are long in duration, and at that port it seemed that everyone expected to be in that first tender. When the Eclipse assumes the Antarctic cruises, with the larger number of passengers, tendering there could be interesting if a number of passengers don't have realistic expectations.

Passengers on a larger ship may have a different kind of disappointment. Some ports, Port Stanley being the prime example, have relatively limited shore excursion opportunities and many passengers will be unable to take any organized tour there whether it be a ship's excursion or an independent excursion.

We have also experienced rough waters but with tenders still running. Problem is that the tender process was very late starting and slow going so many missed tours

I just booked a Pacific Coastal on the Infinity for September of 2018. Hopefully they continue their elite tender tickets. I haven't tendered on a ship in years, thankfully. And and dreading doing so on that cruise. Would love for you to come back after your cruise this year with your comments on the process! I hope you have a great cruise.

Heather: Miaminice and we were on the same cruise. For us that Buenos Aires to Valparaiso was the middle leg of a B2B2B.

 

At Punta del Este the ship was anchored on the estuary side of the community. The tender distance was not extreme, but longer than at Puerto Montt. Tendering doesn't bother me at all (we've done three cruises through French Polynesia where the bulk of the ports require tendering) but we had some swells in Punta del Este which were making a few people on the tender unhappy.

 

At Puerto Montt the tender distance is actually quite short.

 

At Punta Arenas the city is located along a broad and open bay. The day we were scheduled call there were significant winds, and the Infinity was really rocking. We were sufficiently rocking that there was some glass damage in Michael's Club. Port authorities had closed the port. Just looking at that wind and the wave action it would have been extremely difficult to attempt a tender operation. After waiting a bit for the winds to die down it was clear that the port wasn't opening any time soon so plans were made to travel to Skua Glacier.

 

Our first cruise of that series was an Antarctic cruise. The vast bulk of the passengers had never been to Port Stanley. A number of the shore excursions in the Falklands are long in duration, and at that port it seemed that everyone expected to be in that first tender. When the Eclipse assumes the Antarctic cruises, with the larger number of passengers, tendering there could be interesting if a number of passengers don't have realistic expectations.

Thank you! appreciate the additional information :)

Heather

Do you have to special request early tender tickets for Elite? Our next cruise on Infinity will be our first as Elite, so I am curious how it works

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Do you have to special request early tender tickets for Elite? Our next cruise on Infinity will be our first as Elite, so I am curious how it works

 

 

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You will either be told where to go as Elite members from where you will be escorted to the tender or you will find priority tickets in your room the night before. Experienced both...

Thanks!

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