How do I get off the ship in a tender port?

Sailing the Breeze and we get into Grand Cayman at 8 am (7 island time). I have an early excursion and would like to be off by 8:30 if possible. We are only Gold and FTTF is sold out since we just booked a few weeks ago. I will keep trying and see if it opens up but don't want to count on it.

So, how do we get off? What is the process for us non-priority folks? Any suggestions?

Thanks

You'll need to get a tender ticket/sticker.

The process for doing this will be spelled out in the Fun Times the night before.

It will give a time to meet, usually in the theatre. But get there well before the meeting time to get the earliest tender. Everyone else will be lined up too.

For Grand Cayman there is no priority tendering, it's a quick trip to the port so everyone just lines up and waits together. I just got off the Legend last week and had purchased FTTF knowing that we had 2 tender ports, turns out I didn't need it for either since we had a carnival excursion booked for Belize and the Cayman tenders were so quick.

Sailing the Breeze and we get into Grand Cayman at 8 am (7 island time). I have an early excursion and would like to be off by 8:30 if possible. We are only Gold and FTTF is sold out since we just booked a few weeks ago. I will keep trying and see if it opens up but don't want to count on it.

 

So, how do we get off? What is the process for us non-priority folks? Any suggestions?

 

Thanks

You will be placed in an excursion tender line for your excursion time.

If you want to tender off before your excursion group you will need to queue up with everyone else.

Sometimes ships have a queue point for tender tickets the day before or early tender morning which is first in best dressed:)

For Grand Cayman there is no priority tendering, it's a quick trip to the port so everyone just lines up and waits together. I just got off the Legend last week and had purchased FTTF knowing that we had 2 tender ports, turns out I didn't need it for either since we had a carnival excursion booked for Belize and the Cayman tenders were so quick.

Maybe for FTTF but for Platinum and Diamond members they get escorted to the front of the line.

Maybe for FTTF but for Platinum and Diamond members they get escorted to the front of the line.

And get tendered off before the others in their early ships excursion group:confused:

For Grand Cayman there is no priority tendering, it's a quick trip to the port so everyone just lines up and waits together. I just got off the Legend last week and had purchased FTTF knowing that we had 2 tender ports, turns out I didn't need it for either since we had a carnival excursion booked for Belize and the Cayman tenders were so quick.

You said the key words - "Carnival excursion". Folks on Carnival excursions automatically get first option for tenders. Though my understanding is that they get stickers as well, other folks have to get the stickers. We were on the Liberty last month. We were in no hurry and got #59. After the initial few batches though, things moved pretty quickly. I learned that there are about 30 folks per sticker number. About 200-250 folks fit a tender so, if required, the whole ship could empty in about 10-15 trips.

But wait a minute now. Did you not get stickers in Belize either? We were in a Carnival excursion in Belize but still got stickers, and those tenders have much less capacity than those in Grand Cayman. Maybe you guys did not have a whole lot of folks tendering then?? [still does not make sense!]

Thanks and no we do not have a Carnival excursion. It is independent. And we are not Platinum or Diamond so that really doesn't apply.

But wait a minute now. Did you not get stickers in Belize either? We were in a Carnival excursion in Belize but still got stickers, and those tenders have much less capacity than those in Grand Cayman. Maybe you guys did not have a whole lot of folks tendering then?? [still does not make sense!][/quote

In Belize we got tender stickers and numbers we did have a Carnival excursion for that port. In Grand Cayman there wasn't any stickers or numbers, just jump in line and wait for the tender to pull up. We went down and there was a large line ups at the forward and mid tenders already but lines moved quickly. The tender we were on had a capacity of 300 passengers.

Thanks and no we do not have a Carnival excursion. It is independent. And we are not Platinum or Diamond so that really doesn't apply.

Tender process is so fast in Grand Cayman that it really doesn't matter. Either way, your excursion people do this every day of the week and has been doing this for 10 to 20 years now. They know the tender process and will not leave without you. (unless you're an hour late).

Either way,,, since you don't have priority status either in Platinum/FTTF/ or a sponsored Carnival excursion,,,,, follow the directions that will be in the FunTimes the night before and go to the meeting area to get your tender tickets.

Thanks and no we do not have a Carnival excursion. It is independent. And we are not Platinum or Diamond so that really doesn't apply.

If you want to get off as early as possible and way before your private tour then it is best be very very early and try to get first tender tickets.

Problem is almost everyone else onboard wants to get off first:D

We usually hang back if we dont have a tour, relax over breakfast and just wait for open tender call, this way you avoid the mad rush push&shove:)

Sailing the Breeze and we get into Grand Cayman at 8 am (7 island time). I have an early excursion and would like to be off by 8:30 if possible. We are only Gold and FTTF is sold out since we just booked a few weeks ago. I will keep trying and see if it opens up but don't want to count on it.

 

So, how do we get off? What is the process for us non-priority folks? Any suggestions?

 

Thanks

Meet us in the morning and follow us off with FTTF. :)

Thanks everyone!

Don't sweat it too much. These local tour guides are usually waiting for numerous people off of the ship. They know you won't be let off first so they will wait, they're used to it. Chances are you will rush to get off of the ship then end up waiting with your tour guide for the rest of the group. It happens to us every time. :rolleyes:

If its a carnival excursion, then you dont need a ticket.

It it isnt, you will. They will explain this onboard.

On the glory, you needed a ticket if you didnt have an excursion.

on the freedom last week, there were no tickets.

They arent very consistent there...

But its my favorite island. I love it there. Enjoy!

Don't sweat it too much. These local tour guides are usually waiting for numerous people off of the ship. They know you won't be let off first so they will wait, they're used to it. Chances are you will rush to get off of the ship then end up waiting with your tour guide for the rest of the group. It happens to us every time. :rolleyes:

This has been our reality! Never have missed a tour that we did independently. We just get in line and we've always been let off early when they see that we have a tour at an early hour. However, like CruisingT says, you usually do end up having to wait for others on the same tour anyway!

Maybe for FTTF but for Platinum and Diamond members they get escorted to the front of the line.

Our DD, SIL and GS had FTTF. We are Platinum. We went to Guest Services and they asked are you ready to go? We said yes and were escorted to the front of the tender line. This was last week on the Paradise in Grand Cayman.