Grand Caymen and tenders.

[mcoler181]

I've read quite a few posts about long delays for the tenders getting on and off and Grand Caymen.

 

We have been there a couple of times before and were only going to get a taxi to a beach, so are thinking about just staying on the ship that day. I'm assuming the ship will be pretty quiet will it? We are on Seascape for reference. 

 

On the few cruises we have been on we have always got off at a port so will be interesting to see what the ship is like on a port day. 

[JAGR]

6 hours ago, mcoler181 said:

I've read quite a few posts about long delays for the tenders getting on and off and Grand Caymen.

 

We have been there a couple of times before and were only going to get a taxi to a beach, so are thinking about just staying on the ship that day. I'm assuming the ship will be pretty quiet will it? We are on Seascape for reference. 

 

On the few cruises we have been on we have always got off at a port so will be interesting to see what the ship is like on a port day. 

We rarely get off at Grand Cayman anymore!  You will feel like you have your own ship, or large piece of it! Staff are still around, and you have your choice of loungers. You will probably be two of maybe 150 to 200 people during the large majority of the time at anchor when the tender are running. Granted, the casino is not open, but that just saves money (at least in our case!😉).  It's just nice to be able to relax.  We usually get a chance to talk with crew members, which we find is very educational and entertaining.

[momofmab]

We were just in Grand Cayman last week on Seascape.  We decided not to deal with the tenders (even though we were in YC and had priority).  While soaking up the sun on the pool deck, we heard tender numbers being called all the way up until at least 1:30 pm.  We kept thinking that has to be the last number and they would call another.  Keep that in mind if booking a private excursion.  I have no idea how tender numbers are assigned.

 

 

Edited December 14, 2023 by momofmab

[freeon]

On 12/14/2023 at 5:28 PM, momofmab said:

 we heard tender numbers being called all the way up until at least 1:30 pm.  

 

 

So if they call out tender numbers, how are these numbers assigned? Is it first come first serve or can you pre book a slot to disembark? 

[KINGBOBOFTHENORTH]

38 minutes ago, freeon said:

So if they call out tender numbers, how are these numbers assigned? Is it first come first serve or can you pre book a slot to disembark? 

Except for Yacht Club getting priority, tender numbers are assigned in the order you go to pickup your tender ticket. From my last visit, this was in the Daily Program: "Disembarkation will be via continuous tender service from ship to shore and vice versa. To use this complimentary service, pick up your tender ticket in the Casino Bar, deck 7, from 6:45am."

 

It's really not that big of a deal. If you want to get off the ship early, pickup your tender tickets early. If you want to get off late morning or early afternoon, get your tender tickets later.

[JAGR]

17 hours ago, KINGBOBOFTHENORTH said:

Except for Yacht Club getting priority, tender numbers are assigned in the order you go to pickup your tender ticket. From my last visit, this was in the Daily Program: "Disembarkation will be via continuous tender service from ship to shore and vice versa. To use this complimentary service, pick up your tender ticket in the Casino Bar, deck 7, from 6:45am."

 

It's really not that big of a deal. If you want to get off the ship early, pickup your tender tickets early. If you want to get off late morning or early afternoon, get your tender tickets later.

If I could add a small clarification on assignment/distribution of tender tickets:  YC does have a priority, but MSC also assigns earlier (lower ticket numbers) to those who have signed up for MSC's sponsored excursions. If you have no excursion, or you have purchased an excursion from an independent supplier, your earliest priority tender ticket number will be after YC (who can get to the front of the line at anytime) and MSC excursion holders. 

[morpheusofthesea]

We stayed on the ship for the tender port of Grand Cayman. Tender tickets are needed for all passengers that do not have MSC tours booked. They are given out at 6:30 am at the Sports Bar, FCFS. Since we stayed on board we went to deck 8 outside and watched the tender process. 5 white tenders waited patiently for the ship to clear at around 8-8:30 am the first two pulled up alongside the two gangways. The first tender tickets called were 1 & 2 simultaneously (about 30 guests per tender ticket). I counted the seats on the tender and figured the tender could accommodate 80 passengers each, not crowding. It took the tenders 13 minutes to fill up and the Cruise Director Endrigo Martin (he left for one of the other cruise ships to be CD when we got off) mentioned over the PA system that the tender ride would be 20 minutes). At 11:57am Endrigo announced the final tender ticket ashore #56. These guests would only have a couple of hours ashore before they would have to return to the pier to return to the ship at 3:30 leaving at 4 pm. The snafu occurs at two places. The guests are asked to wait in MDR or lounges until their tender ticket is called to come down to the gangway. But most (no matter what tender #)do not follow procedure and clog the stairwell and gangway area waiting to be called, making the called tender ticket guests a gauntlet to get past. Then, since port time is short and tours all finish about the same time hundreds (thousands) of passengers arrive back at the pier at the same time and only 100 tops per tender to take them back every 15 minutes to load. This translates into a couple of hour wait for those at the end of the line. The Yacht Club guests are also thrown together with everyone else and they are spoiled by never having to wait in any lines at ALL other non-tender ports, so they cut to the front of lines at ports like this.
P.S. The second ship's gangway is unadvertised and so its exit and stairwell is free and clear of passengers. But this gangway and tenders are for those with MSC sponsored tours and Yacht Club guests. These groups are escorted to the tender at this gangway.

[morpheusofthesea]

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