4 star tendering?

[Koshlong]

This will be our first cruise as 4 star Mariners :) and we have 3 tender ports. How does the process work for us?

Edited January 24, 2016 by Koshlong

[sail7seas]

Assuming it will go as customary, you will not have to go to appointed place to collect a tender ticket.

 

You will go to the deck where it is announced tendering will be handled and if anyone is already in line there, you get in the back of the line. Many times there are few people there as when tendering is handled well, they hold people in the place where tender tickets are issued (usually show lounge) and they do not go to the gangway until they are ready to load them onto a tender. Sometimes there may be some back up.

 

You will have your key card scanned, as always, when leaving the ship and as you know, your star mariners level is shown on the card.

 

Returning to the ship, you wait in line for the next tender same as everyone else.

[Krazy Kruizers]

If you have booked a HAL excursion, your ticket will indicate which lounge and at what time you are to report. The early excursions go first.

If we don't have an excursion, we just wait a while for the majority of the excursions to go ashore and then we go down and join the line at the gangway for a tender.

[ICUQT]

My wife and I are 4 Star Mariners. In September we were on the Eurodam at a tendering port. We had booked an Independent excursion and needed to get off the ship quickly. We went to the gangway to exit the ship as soon as it was cleared and found the stairwell blocked by HA employees. Showed our ships card and 4 Star status to them but we were denied entry into the gangway. We were informed that we could not exit until "all HA sponsored shore excursions had left the ship". Needless to say I pitched a fit in a losing battle for me. One of the employees came over to me to calm me down about 5 minutes later and escorted us to the gangway. About three years earlier we had a similar experience on our Baltic's cruise. Both times I filed complaints with HA.

 

bob

[KirkNC]

My wife and I are 4 Star Mariners. In September we were on the Eurodam at a tendering port. We had booked an Independent excursion and needed to get off the ship quickly. We went to the gangway to exit the ship as soon as it was cleared and found the stairwell blocked by HA employees. Showed our ships card and 4 Star status to them but we were denied entry into the gangway. We were informed that we could not exit until "all HA sponsored shore excursions had left the ship". Needless to say I pitched a fit in a losing battle for me. One of the employees came over to me to calm me down about 5 minutes later and escorted us to the gangway. About three years earlier we had a similar experience on our Baltic's cruise. Both times I filed complaints with HA.

 

bob

 

We will be 4 star after our spring TA and I will be right there with you having a fit in those circumstances.

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

I apologize for asking this question which I know has been asked before but I can't remember the answer. If traveling with 2 non- 4 star people, can they go along with me without getting tender tickets or do I get tender tickets with them.

[shrimp56]

We just had this discussion. It depends on the ship and situation for how 4 star priority is handled.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2303466&highlight=tendering

[RuthC]

I apologize for asking this question which I know has been asked before but I can't remember the answer. If traveling with 2 non- 4 star people, can they go along with me without getting tender tickets or do I get tender tickets with them.

My understanding is that you are allowed to bring those who are sharing your cabin when you use the priority tendering amenity.

[sail7seas]

It has always been that HAL's own excursions technically are to tender first.

We are hardly ever in a hurry to get off and usually wait but a few times we wanted to tender early and we had no issue. We didn't interrupt a flow of a group doing the same excursion but as soon as the group had gotten on the tender and there were still some seats, they were fine about letting us go with that group.

 

There are so many four and five star Mariners now in addition to all the Suite guests on Vista and Signature ships, maybe it is just too many to allow us high star mariners to tender until their excursions are off the ship?

 

They say 'priority' but there really is little priority when there are so many people eligible. It's priority is dramatically diluted and realistically speaking, not of much benefit.

 

[cb at sea]

Of course, this all assumes you must be "1st off" at every stop...sometimes, you may not need to rush off!

[SilvertoGold]

Sail has good points.

 

It has always been the shorex to the tenders first. It seems that President's Club can bypass the shorex pax, but no one else.

 

Then it depends on how many 4 and 5 stars there are on a particular cruise, and how many of them want off early.

 

Patience is required or you can ruin your cruise with the wrong attitude. I suggest planning things later.

[Ottawa traveller]

I apologize for asking this question which I know has been asked before but I can't remember the answer. If traveling with 2 non- 4 star people, can they go along with me without getting tender tickets or do I get tender tickets with them.

Twice I have had this situation with people on CC tours where most of us were 4 or 5 star and one or two were not. We verified with the front desk that the non 4 and 5 star were part of our party and they said that they could accompany us without tender tickets. It worked out fine at the gangway.

Leslie

[cruz chic]

Sail has good points.

 

It has always been the shorex to the tenders first. It seems that President's Club can bypass the shorex pax, but no one else.

 

Then it depends on how many 4 and 5 stars there are on a particular cruise, and how many of them want off early.

 

Patience is required or you can ruin your cruise with the wrong attitude. I suggest planning things later.

 

Exactly. Why get so upset because you might have to wait 30 minutes, if that.

[sail7seas]

I believe the rule of thumb is each four/five star mariner can have one person who is not that star level accompany them to the tender. If you are two couples, you and they can tender together as long as there are two who have priority status.

[ICUQT]

Sail has good points.

 

It has always been the shorex to the tenders first. It seems that President's Club can bypass the shorex pax, but no one else.

 

Then it depends on how many 4 and 5 stars there are on a particular cruise, and how many of them want off early.

 

Patience is required or you can ruin your cruise with the wrong attitude. I suggest planning things later.

 

OK I will be the bad guy here. When I embarked Eurodam in September there was a ship's card left with my other paperwork concerning tendering. It simply stated that I did not require a tender ticket and that I need only go to the gangway. I can assure you that NOWHERE on that card did it state that first all HA shore excursions must disembark or President Club members have first priority. I was upset because YES I have a four star perk that is basically useless to me even though HA flaunts it as a rewards perk. Patience I have. What I can't tolerate is when I am told how to use a perk (in print) from the Captain only to find out that there is a different protocol for disembarkation. If that's the protocol that you describe then HAL should communicate clearly, by putting it in print so there is no misunderstanding. In hindsight I should have gone to the Lounge and gotten one of the first tender tickets to get off. You are correct again about attitude. I did not let it get to me on that cruise but I did reflect on it upon my return. I booked for the first time in more than 25+ HA cruises on another cruise line and this four star (almost 5) has doubts he will be seeing that 5 Star.

 

bob

[sail7seas]

If you were not on a Ship's excursion, going to the lounge would not have helped you. The first numbers are given to those on excursions.

[DaveOKC]

OK I will be the bad guy here. When I embarked Eurodam in September there was a ship's card left with my other paperwork concerning tendering. It simply stated that I did not require a tender ticket and that I need only go to the gangway. I can assure you that NOWHERE on that card did it state that first all HA shore excursions must disembark or President Club members have first priority. I was upset because YES I have a four star perk that is basically useless to me even though HA flaunts it as a rewards perk. Patience I have. What I can't tolerate is when I am told how to use a perk (in print) from the Captain only to find out that there is a different protocol for disembarkation. If that's the protocol that you describe then HAL should communicate clearly, by putting it in print so there is no misunderstanding. In hindsight I should have gone to the Lounge and gotten one of the first tender tickets to get off. You are correct again about attitude. I did not let it get to me on that cruise but I did reflect on it upon my return. I booked for the first time in more than 25+ HA cruises on another cruise line and this four star (almost 5) has doubts he will be seeing that 5 Star.

 

bob

 

I agree with you about being upset for not being able to get off right away, but I would not let this stop me from sailing on HAL, especially since you are in the 4-5 star group. Remember that each ship does things differently and what you experienced likely is not the case on every ship. I have been on many tenders with the early HAL excursions in the past.

 

I would write a letter (not an email) to HAL's customer service department and raise this issue and how it really disappointed and inconvenienced you. I would also point out how you like cruising on HAL and that you also experienced some good things/service, as this goes along way in getting their attention I have found. If you are too negative in the letter, they may just "write you off" so to speak. You may be surprised with their response.

Edited January 24, 2016 by DaveOKC

[sail7seas]

ICUQT....

 

Was that the first time you tendered as a Four Star Mariner?

[cruz chic]

OK I will be the bad guy here. When I embarked Eurodam in September there was a ship's card left with my other paperwork concerning tendering. It simply stated that I did not require a tender ticket and that I need only go to the gangway. I can assure you that NOWHERE on that card did it state that first all HA shore excursions must disembark or President Club members have first priority. I was upset because YES I have a four star perk that is basically useless to me even though HA flaunts it as a rewards perk. Patience I have. What I can't tolerate is when I am told how to use a perk (in print) from the Captain only to find out that there is a different protocol for disembarkation. If that's the protocol that you describe then HAL should communicate clearly, by putting it in print so there is no misunderstanding. In hindsight I should have gone to the Lounge and gotten one of the first tender tickets to get off. You are correct again about attitude. I did not let it get to me on that cruise but I did reflect on it upon my return. I booked for the first time in more than 25+ HA cruises on another cruise line and this four star (almost 5) has doubts he will be seeing that 5 Star.

 

bob

I'm a 4 star mariner. I hate it when they don't give tender tickets out at hmc. Many times they are lined up the stairs. What do I do about it? I wait for an hour and come back. Is it an inconvenience? Yup. If that's the worst thing that happens to me on a cruise I'd be delighted. How can they put all the ifs, ands or buts on the card? I'm sorry but this comes across as being a bit spoiled to me.

[PatsyAnne]

This year I'll take my first trip as a 4*. You are so bursting my bubble!! Oh well, there's still the free laundry. :) And of course, the wonderful cruise.

[SilvertoGold]

OK I will be the bad guy here. When I embarked Eurodam in September there was a ship's card left with my other paperwork concerning tendering. It simply stated that I did not require a tender ticket and that I need only go to the gangway. I can assure you that NOWHERE on that card did it state that first all HA shore excursions must disembark or President Club members have first priority. I was upset because YES I have a four star perk that is basically useless to me even though HA flaunts it as a rewards perk. Patience I have. What I can't tolerate is when I am told how to use a perk (in print) from the Captain only to find out that there is a different protocol for disembarkation. If that's the protocol that you describe then HAL should communicate clearly, by putting it in print so there is no misunderstanding. In hindsight I should have gone to the Lounge and gotten one of the first tender tickets to get off. You are correct again about attitude. I did not let it get to me on that cruise but I did reflect on it upon my return. I booked for the first time in more than 25+ HA cruises on another cruise line and this four star (almost 5) has doubts he will be seeing that 5 Star.

 

bob

 

It is interesting that you received the card in your cabin "explaining" the priority tendering. I haven't seen one of those cards for a couple of years.

 

It took us a few cruises to see that the shorex get first dibs at tendering. I've never seen anything stated in writing about that.

 

You have a good point about how the ship should tell pax exactly how the 4/5 star tendering works. This would make quite a difference.

 

Since the start of the Star program in 2009, the ships have "experimented" with several methods of doing this priority tendering from what we have been able to tell: for several years each ship seems to have done their own thing, set their own "rules". Lately I find that it has sort of settled down into what you described, which is what we have experienced lately.

 

The priority tender, like the other priority rewards for 4 and 5 stars, work pretty well in our experience. I don't find any of them useless.

 

I find that some ships do the 5 stars differently.... if that doesn't open a new can of worms..............

[Koshlong]

Thanks, I think. Let me see if I got it right. HAL excursions still get to go first. Then, when we're ready, we go directly to the tender deck and show our cards? Is that it?

[sail7seas]

Yes.... that's it. :)

[SilvertoGold]

Thanks, I think. Let me see if I got it right. HAL excursions still get to go first. Then, when we're ready, we go directly to the tender deck and show our cards? Is that it?

 

Yes, unless the ship tells you something else!

 

It beats having to go and get a tender ticket, then sit around until they call your number, be herded from the Lounge to the stairs, then to the tender area! I used to hate that!!

[cruz chic]

Yes, unless the ship tells you something else!

 

It beats having to go and get a tender ticket, then sit around until they call your number, be herded from the Lounge to the stairs, then to the tender area! I used to hate that!!

 

Absolutely. It took forever. I can remember waiting for well over an hour at times.