Does the Emerald ever tender in Bonaire or Grenada

[keep on cruising]

I am trying to book private tours for out cruise in March on the Emerald. Everything I see on Princess web site indicates they dock at both Bonaire and Grenada but I saw on an old thread that indicated that sometimes ships have to tender.

 

My husband is in a wheelchair and cannot walk at all so if we have to tender, it is my understanding, he won't be able to get off the ship. In that case, I definitely do not want to book a tour.

 

Thanks for any first hand knowledge.

[ibfern]

I am trying to book private tours for out cruise in March on the Emerald. Everything I see on Princess web site indicates they dock at both Bonaire and Grenada but I saw on an old thread that indicated that sometimes ships have to tender.

 

My husband is in a wheelchair and cannot walk at all so if we have to tender, it is my understanding, he won't be able to get off the ship. In that case, I definitely do not want to book a tour.

 

Thanks for any first hand knowledge.

 

I was on the Ruby last year in a wheelchair, we docked at Bonaire and Grenada and it was easy to get off the ship. It was NOT easy trying to get into an elevator in a wheelchair, be prepared with a lot of patience.

[tvaud]

We have been to both Bonaire and Grenada and docked in both ports. Even in ports where the ship tenders in, wheelchair access is limited, but not unavailable.

[Caribbean Sunsets]

I was on the Emerald in November and we did not tender in Grenada. The only tender port was Princess Cays. Not sure about Bonaire as that was not one of the ports on our itinerary.

[keep on cruising]

Thanks for the quick answers. We have been cruising for years but this is the first one with DH in a wheelchair so I'm questioning everything we took for granted before.

[Billy and Charlie's Mum]

We were in those ports in November and docked both times.

 

Grenada

 

Bonaire

[Infi]

As Eileen kindly illustrated, there are two docks in Grenada and two docks in Bonaire. Check cruiseTT and cruisetimetables for an idea of how many ships will be in port with you on those days, and then you'll have an idea about available dock space. Really, I don't think the ship will tender. First, the Emerald is a bigger ship, and I think those tend to get priority at docking because it's a hassle to tender so many passengers. Second, the Southern ports are rarely as crowded as those on the Eastern/Western runs. I have done both Southern itineraries on Princess and never had to tender in any port (aside from Princess Cays, obviously).

[Tralynn]

We've been to Bonaire and Grenada a couple of times on different ships, and never had to tender.

[Essiesmom]

Emerald Princess docked in Grenada Dec. 13, 2010:

These pictures were taken from QM2, who was tendering. Guess we were too big for the dock. EM

[WeBeGone]

In Dec we docked at both ports but the QM2 tendered.

[keep on cruising]

Thanks for everyone's help and the great photos. CruiseTT shows the Emerald is the only ship in port and cruisetimetables shows one other at both ports but it looks like we will dock.

 

I went ahead and contacted the vendors to book both tours.

 

It does look like the only tender port is Princess Cays and I have no problem with enjoying the empty ship and staying on board. We are just looking forward to some warm weather and some relaxation.