Priority Tendering- what is this?

[Destin Mom]

We recently upgraded to an SA and noticed one of the perks includes priority tendering. What exactly does this mean? We will tender into Santorini and realized that many experienced passengers on our ship pointed out... we won't exactly be alone. Do we need to book the cheapest excursion going or will we be able to tinder with those who have excursions booked? We would prefer to hike and see the city on our own...we booked private excursions in other ports but were looking forward to doing Santorini on our own. Thanks for your help!

[JimVrhovac]

Suite passangers do not have to go to the show lounge to get a ticket to board the tenders. The only time they do is if they are part of a tour meeting there.

 

You Suite card gets you on and off the tender at anytime.

 

Same goes for debarkment. You are always the first group off the ship--if you want to get off that early.

 

Hope this answers your question..

 

Ruth & Jim

[Destin Mom]

Thanks very much Ruth and Jim. Is there a separate line or do you line up with the groups that have excursions booked? Sorry...probably a dumb question, but we have very limited cruise experience and with younger children, we want to minimize time in lines as much as possible. Thanks again!

[twinkletoes4445]

Thanks very much Ruth and Jim. Is there a separate line or do you line up with the groups that have excursions booked? Sorry...probably a dumb question, but we have very limited cruise experience and with younger children, we want to minimize time in lines as much as possible. Thanks again!

 

There's not a separate line. If you've booked an excursion and you meet them somewhere on the ship, you'd meet up with them and go out with the group. If you're on your own, you just go directly to the tender area and get in line. Your HAL card will be gold and than the other passengers are blue.

 

The priority tendering is nice when you're not booked on a ship excursion. They usually allow those off first who've booked ship excursions and the rest of the passengers have to go to a lounge and pick up a tender ticket. If you don't have an ship excursion booked, you get to bypass this part. :)

 

When you return, there's no real benefit to the priority tendering. You just get in line with everyone else.

 

Enjoy your suite. We were in an SA on the Zuiderdam and had a wonderful time! :)

[sail7seas]

When you are ready to go ashore, go to the gangway and get in the back of the line. The line is not usually very long as they only let just so many people go from the Lounge to the gangway at a time in order to avoid a big backup.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We usually wait until the majority of the ship's tour are gone before we go ashore independently. That way the lines aren't long. You will find that many times the lines are very long for the ship's tours and you may have to wait 20 or 30 minutes in line to get a tender. That gold card won't allow you to go directly to the front of the line.

[Harry1954]

If you are planning on going ashore on your own in Santorini, a couple of points:

a) the last time we were there three weeks ago, they let the on-own folks tender until a set time after which they only allowed excursions to tender for about an hour and 15 minutes. So, be aware of when you can tender when going there on your own;

b) if there are a bunch of cruise ships and you plan on taking the lift to Fira, you should use the priorty and go directly to the tender as early as you can as the wait for the lift was 30 minutes last time and 40 minutes when we were there the week before on b2bs. Prior trips there we had no wait, but we were the only ship in that day.

c) if you want to have a real interesting time, go to the main bus station, get on the local bus that goes to Oia, paying the 1.2 euros pp as you get on the bus. You will have an almost free excursion as it really covers the whole back of the island. Oia is a clone of Fira but with a lot less people and the shops seem a bit more upscale. The restaurants are not near as crowded and thus the waiters/esses are very pleasant, not to mention the view.

 

harry

[Destin Mom]

Thank you Harry1954- very helpful. I think we are one of 4 or 5 ships in port that day. Yikes! Did you pick up the bus to Oia at the main station in Fira? We are big hikers and assuming our kids wanted the day off from touring, we were hoping to enjoy some great hiking. Did you hear of anyone hiking the 6 miles from Fira to Ia? I know it's going to be blazing hot but we're thinking this might mean fewer hikers and a more scenic experience. Thoughts?

[syesmar]

If you are planning on going ashore on your own in Santorini, a couple of points:

a) the last time we were there three weeks ago, they let the on-own folks tender until a set time after which they only allowed excursions to tender for about an hour and 15 minutes. So, be aware of when you can tender when going there on your own;

 

Is the ship in the same locale the whole time, with 2 different destinations for tenders (Athinos & Fira)?

 

How many people can the tender accomodate?

 

Do you know what time the Lounge opens for people to pick up their cards?

[SDadw01]

Thanks!!!

[Sir PMP]

Is the ship in the same locale the whole time, with 2 different destinations for tenders (Athinos & Fira)?

 

How many people can the tender accomodate?

 

Do you know what time the Lounge opens for people to pick up their cards?

 

Yes, the ship will stay in the same spot, surrounded by all the other ships, the tenders will be operated by the island (union), they have big ones ,(100 plus passengers)and small ones (50)

I was in Santorini twice with the Zuiderdam, and the non tour people can leave first towards the Lift or donkeys, I had a 10 minute wait, and then the general tender stopped for a while to let the tour groups off, those tenders go to the right, Athinos, to pick up the buses, after all this it was very easy to go up and down with a tender, with 10/15 minute wait.