from tender to excursions

[happyholidayin]

Hi! Looking at doing an excursion at the Cayman Islands that starts at 8 A.M. Our boat tenders at 7 A.M. Do you think we will make it or should we be on the safe side at book the 10:30 one? Thought it might be nice to have more time afterwords exploring. What are some thoughts on this. Thanks

[jtl513]

If it's a HAL excursion, book it. If it's a private one book the later time, because even IF tendering really starts at 7:00 (which I doubt) HAL will get their excursions off first.

[Randyk47]

If it's a HAL excursion, book it. If it's a private one book the later time, because even IF tendering really starts at 7:00 (which I doubt) HAL will get their excursions off first.

 

And Cayman Islands is one of the more tricky tender stops. While we've never missed a stop there we've been delayed or taken a lot longer than scheduled to get on land. I guess we've been there four times and only one was glass smooth, two were rough but manageable, and one was just downright horrible and borderline dangerous. On the horrible one the captain kept starting and stopping tendering as the seas demanded. Took us the better part of two hours because of this to get off the ship and we were in one of the priority groups. Once we got on the tender a huge wave came through and actually snapped a two inch mooring line....probably an old one but it still sounded like a gun shot when it broke. Luckily nobody was hurt.

[Krazy Kruizers]

When it indicates that arrival is at 7 AM -- it does not mean that the tendering service begins at that time. The ship still has to be cleared.

Those who book the ship excursions will be boarding the tenders first.

If you are booking an independent tour -- then you will have to report to a lounge and get tender tickets -- the Explorer will list the place to get these tickets. Numbers will be called as space becomes available on the tenders.

We have never missed Grand Cayman either -- but we have had problems there -- last time -- Nov/Dec -- very high winds -- accidents -- tenders had to be stopped for awhile.

Don't book an early independent excursion.