Tender process when not on a Carnival excursion

[adriennerm]

Will someone explain the tender procedure in Belize if you are not on a Carnival excursion? We are considering going over to Caye Caulker just to have lunch, drinks and relax. We can take an excursion offered by Coral Breeze or take the water taxi on our own. We are scheduled to be in port from 8a-5p. From what I understand people that booked Carnival excursions are allowed to tender first. I'm wondering what is the earliest time we will be allowed to tender.

 

Since we are exploring on our own I prefer to leave early thus allowing us plenty of time in Caye Caulker and the ability to return back to the ship early.

 

Thank you

 

Adrienne

[A&Jfamily]

Will someone explain the tender procedure in Belize if you are not on a Carnival excursion? We are considering going over to Caye Caulker just to have lunch, drinks and relax. We can take an excursion offered by Coral Breeze or take the water taxi on our own. We are scheduled to be in port from 8a-5p. From what I understand people that booked Carnival excursions are allowed to tender first. I'm wondering what is the earliest time we will be allowed to tender.

 

Since we are exploring on our own I prefer to leave early thus allowing us plenty of time in Caye Caulker and the ability to return back to the ship early.

 

Thank you

 

Adrienne

 

The answer is, it depends. I believe the correct procedure is to go get a tender ticket and get off when that number is called. I have however been on ships where there was nothing said about tickets and people lined the stairwells. We just lined up and happened to get lucky and were waiting as they opened the second tender door and were diverted and were on the 2nd or 3rd tender away from the ship. Tendering is going to take 15-20 once you pull away from the ship. Make sure you are back in port at least an hour before you are due back on the ship - or book through the cruise line.

[skrufy]

All Carnival excursions get priority tendering along with diamond and platinum. The excursions will gather in a specified area then be escorted to the tender. The diamonds and platinums go to the excursion desk and are escorted to the front of the line. Everyone else must get a tendering ticket. If you want to get off early, get in line early to get your ticket. How long it will take to get off depends on how many passengers have early excursions and how many P&Ds. want to get off early. Using your arrival time in port the ship should be cleared to allow passengers off around 15-20 minutes later. Arriving earlier could have the ship cleared earlier. Factor in at least a 15 minute tender ride to the port.

[Life_Traveler]

definitely arrive early to get your ticket. We are Platinum so we get off right away but there has been times we go ashore for a few hours and come back and they are still calling numbers for the tickets. I have seen at times only having 2 or 3 hours ashore if you waited till all ticket numbers are called.

[coevan]

no reason to rush off the ship for a private beach trip. You never stay as long as you think you will stay. Relax, have a Bloody Mary and a nice breakfast. By 9:30-10 the tender craziness will be settled down. Still gives you plenty of beach time.

[Banditswife]

We ported in Belize this past September 2016. We went a bit late to get our tender tickets & got #7 tender. But when they finally called #7, it was along with #6 & #8 tender tickets. It probably took an hour from getting our ticket to actually getting off the tender in Belize. It might depend on the ship, how many other ships are in port, how many CCL excursions plus Diamond & Platinum.

[2cool4school]

How about FTTF?

 

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[nunuc2000]

How about FTTF?

 

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FTTF gets priority tendering the same as Platinum and Diamond. :)

[riffatsea]

We always buy FTTF these days!

You just go to the tender whenever you are ready.

On some ships you just meet at guest services and tell them you are ready. On others there may be a different spot.

WithOUT FTTF you just line up and get a tender ticket and get off when your group is called.

Getting back onto the ship is always first come first served so no priority for anyone!

[Athankfulheart]

The only ships that I have tendered ashore on with carnival are dream class ships. With these ships, they had the excursions meet in the theater and the independent people meet in the lounge. The tenders for the lounge started filling/leaving at the same time as the ones in the theater. Now, they may designate fewer tenders for the aft at least in the beginning, but we found ourselves on land as quickly as the carnival excursions when we arrived at the meeting place upon its opening.

 

One word of advice. They will not give tender tickets until your entire party is present. You cannot pick up tickets for your companions who are still getting ready or grabbing breakfast.