Ques. re: Tendering and Ship excursions in Belize

[sr5242]

I know someone will say "post this in the belize forum" but that forum is so inactive I was hoping this board might have better and more current info.

 

We will be on the spirit in July. I have heard that tendering in Belize is a joke, and takes forever. We really want to go to shark alley but the NCL tour requires kids be at least 12 yrs old and mine are 9.

 

I want to book through a private vendor to go there, but I am concerned about the tendering and getting off in time to make an excursion.

 

Can anyone speak to recent tendering experience off NCL in Belize? how difficult was it getting a tender ticket and what time did you make it to port?

 

Also, has anyone taken the Barrier Reef and Beach beach through NCL in Belize? I have heard that on this tour you don't really see many fish.

 

Thanks!!

[tkportersat]

The joke is that NCL makes you go get a tender ticket in the first place and then never asks you for it so the delay I believe is caused because people don't follow directions. People just go when they feel like it. Because we followed directions and waited for our number to be called we were an hour and 1/2 late to our private excursion with Coral Breeze (City tour and Beliken brewery tour). Fortunately we were the only family that booked this particular tour and they are used to the tendering process there at this point. So the tour operator was not surprised we were late.

The tender itself was not the issue, it was a quick 10 minute ride.

[NODAK1979]

This topic is near and dear to me. I had to call my shore excursion booking company yesterday about this. Let me ask what you think.

 

We get there at 7AM local time. The ticket says the tendering process can take up to 1 hours. Our tour leaves at 8AM, and they're requesting us to be there 20 minutes prior to the tour time (7:40AM).

 

They tried to assure me everything would be fine, but I'm a bit nervous about it. What do you think?

[fergusonvt]

This is exactly why I will be booking an NCL excursion for this port.

[sr5242]

This topic is near and dear to me. I had to call my shore excursion booking company yesterday about this. Let me ask what you think.

 

We get there at 7AM local time. The ticket says the tendering process can take up to 1 hours. Our tour leaves at 8AM, and they're requesting us to be there 20 minutes prior to the tour time (7:40AM).

 

They tried to assure me everything would be fine, but I'm a bit nervous about it. What do you think?

 

All I know is I spoke with a friend who took my same cruise last year and she said that due to other ships tendering first, and the chaos onboard she did not get ashore till 11am! and they docked at 8! for right now we have booked the 12noon NCL barrier reef and beach tour. we really want to snorkel, but also don't want to elbow our way onto the first tender!

[NODAK1979]

I think I'm going to call them again and ensure that I can get a refund if I cannot get onshore in time. If not, I'm going to cancel this one. This just seems way too risky for me.

[NODAK1979]

This is exactly why I will be booking an NCL excursion for this port.

 

I just hate to do that, because NCL's prices are usually about 20 percent higher than other sites. As long as I can get my money back if I can't make it, I'm good.

[fergusonvt]

I just hate to do that, because NCL's prices are usually about 20 percent higher than other sites. As long as I can get my money back if I can't make it, I'm good.

 

 

yeah that is probably the only port we will do an NCL excursion in.

[allesonwonderland]

I think I'm going to call them again and ensure that I can get a refund if I cannot get onshore in time. If not, I'm going to cancel this one. This just seems way too risky for me.

 

I think confirming that would be wise. I was on a ship excursion (Lamanai) in Belize last week, and our group met at 7:45a to take the first tender. While we were getting set to get off the ship, there was a very irate man trying to get in front of everyone to get on the first tender as well, evidently he had an 830a flight. (??) I don't know exactly what time we got to shore, but I have a feeling he didn't make his flight.

 

I hope it works out for you!

[sr5242]

I think confirming that would be wise. I was on a ship excursion (Lamanai) in Belize last week, and our group met at 7:45a to take the first tender. While we were getting set to get off the ship, there was a very irate man trying to get in front of everyone to get on the first tender as well, evidently he had an 830a flight. (??) I don't know exactly what time we got to shore, but I have a feeling he didn't make his flight.

 

I hope it works out for you!

 

did you have the same experience as the previous poster- did NCL even bother checking the tender tickets or did people just get on whenever?

 

Thanks!

[NODAK1979]

I think confirming that would be wise. I was on a ship excursion (Lamanai) in Belize last week, and our group met at 7:45a to take the first tender. While we were getting set to get off the ship, there was a very irate man trying to get in front of everyone to get on the first tender as well, evidently he had an 830a flight. (??) I don't know exactly what time we got to shore, but I have a feeling he didn't make his flight.

 

I hope it works out for you!

 

Just called again. They told me that we need to make the first tender...and there should be no problem as long as we do that. Apparently NCL will try to get all the people who have early excursions on the first ones. However, if we have a problem there's a local phone number we can call and pay ridiculous prices with our cell phone. Ugh.

 

Why does everything need to be cut so close?? You'd think giving even a half hour of slack would be sensible.

[tkportersat]

They announce when they are going to have tender tickets available (in our case 8am), they also tell you "don't go get a ticket until you are READY to get off the ship". If I were you I would have someone in your group head up to get in line shortly before they become available to try and get the first groups tender. Good Luck.

 

Just called again. They told me that we need to make the first tender...and there should be no problem as long as we do that. Apparently NCL will try to get all the people who have early excursions on the first ones. However, if we have a problem there's a local phone number we can call and pay ridiculous prices with our cell phone. Ugh.

 

Why does everything need to be cut so close?? You'd think giving even a half hour of slack would be sensible.

[allesonwonderland]

did you have the same experience as the previous poster- did NCL even bother checking the tender tickets or did people just get on whenever?

 

Thanks!

 

 

Since it was a ship excursion we were escorted off first. We did go by people standing in line at the counter to get tender tickets. (Those not on a ship tour) They were making the gentleman trying to catch his flight wait until we were all on. They did tell him he would still be on the first tender though. I'm not sure how it worked for the rest of the morning. I'm sure it could have ended up just like the PP mentioned. I know that happened when we were disembarking--the call had only been made for walk off guests, but people with various colored tags were starting to get in line to 'beat the rush.'

[NODAK1979]

Since it was a ship excursion we were escorted off first. We did go by people standing in line at the counter to get tender tickets. (Those not on a ship tour) They were making the gentleman trying to catch his flight wait until we were all on. They did tell him he would still be on the first tender though. I'm not sure how it worked for the rest of the morning. I'm sure it could have ended up just like the PP mentioned. I know that happened when we were disembarking--the call had only been made for walk off guests, but people with various colored tags were starting to get in line to 'beat the rush.'

 

If they make me wait because I'm not on a tour that I paid the ship for, it's going to be an ugly scene. Just because I didn't want to pay NCL's inflated prices doesn't mean they should treat me as second priority. I'm gearing up for a fight now.

[sr5242]

was local time the same as ship time?

[tkportersat]

On our NCL Spirit cruise it was the same.

 

was local time the same as ship time?

[Urban trekker]

Have you checked to see if there is a roll call for your cruise - perhaps there will be someone who has gold or platinum or suite privileges who get priority tender tickets - frequent cruising has it rewards - who aren`t in a hurry to get ashore or who have booked a ship`s excursions who could do you a favorite a get some tickets for you.

 

In some cases but not all - those who are on ship excursions and who get priority tender use a different boat than those going off independently.

 

Hope this suggestion might help.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[Toyz711]

the thing is not NCL, it's the other 1,000 passenagers that all say they HAVE to be on the 1st tender and crowd the stairs, elevators and passageways. all of them being told that they HAD to get the 1st tender. in reality, the tour operators know what is going on and that you might not be on the 1st tender. most of the time CCers report that they hurried and got the 1st tender, only to wait for another group from another ship.

the tenders hold up to 150 people, they line up (at the gangway). as one tender leaves, another takes it place.

we were on the 1st tender, NCL tour to lamanai (the only way i would do that tour....it's long and goes to areas you would not want to break down), there were close to 30 vips.suite passenagers, maybe 50 tour goers and the rest were non-ncl tours.

many of NCL tours leave from the ship and don't use the tenders (fishing, snorkeling, scuba, private island)

how soon they start the tenders will depend on belize officials..but once it starts it moves fast. security was tight, on our cruise, they were stations all along one stair way (to avoid line jumpers).

just be early to get the tender tickets, one person can get for the whole group.

i will say, our tour to lamanai, was the 2nd greatest tour ever...great tour guide, wonderful day...2nd only to our tour guide/tour to ephesus.

[fergusonvt]

was local time the same as ship time?

 

They will tell you when they are changing the ships clocks so you can do the same. On our Jan. cruise there were announcements and it was in the daily and a card was left on our bed. Very hard to miss.

[fergusonvt]

the thing is not NCL, it's the other 1,000 passenagers that all say they HAVE to be on the 1st tender and crowd the stairs, elevators and passageways. all of them being told that they HAD to get the 1st tender. in reality, the tour operators know what is going on and that you might not be on the 1st tender. most of the time CCers report that they hurried and got the 1st tender, only to wait for another group from another ship.

the tenders hold up to 150 people, they line up (at the gangway). as one tender leaves, another takes it place.

we were on the 1st tender, NCL tour to lamanai (the only way i would do that tour....it's long and goes to areas you would not want to break down), there were close to 30 vips.suite passenagers, maybe 50 tour goers and the rest were non-ncl tours.

many of NCL tours leave from the ship and don't use the tenders (fishing, snorkeling, scuba, private island)

how soon they start the tenders will depend on belize officials..but once it starts it moves fast. security was tight, on our cruise, they were stations all along one stair way (to avoid line jumpers).

just be early to get the tender tickets, one person can get for the whole group.

i will say, our tour to lamanai, was the 2nd greatest tour ever...great tour guide, wonderful day...2nd only to our tour guide/tour to ephesus.

 

 

That is the one I'm going to do there! I've only heard great things about it and to me its worth the extra money to book the NCL tour.

[roger001]

I may have overlooked a previous answer but NCL tours meet in teh theater first and by tour number are then escorted to a tender. This all happens before any other tender ticket persons are called. Last year.

[vols_159]

I was in Belize One week ago... This is what you do.. they start handing out Tender tickets at the casino desk.. Just go grab a ticket and wait for them to start calling tickets.. make your way down to deck 3 and board the tender when the call for tickets #1 no matter if you have 2 3 4 5 doesnt matter they dont look at the tickets just collect them up once the boat is full they leave the ship boat ride takes 5-10 minutes.. Btw I was on THE SUN was on the 1st tender with alot of other 1 tickets and alot of 2 tickets.. have a safe trip.. and this advice works for Key west also to pass threw customs..

[tkportersat]

This is unfortunately the exact reason the Tender process doesn't go smoothly.

 

I was in Belize One week ago... This is what you do.. they start handing out Tender tickets at the casino desk.. Just go grab a ticket and wait for them to start calling tickets.. make your way down to deck 3 and board the tender when the call for tickets #1 no matter if you have 2 3 4 5 doesnt matter they dont look at the tickets just collect them up once the boat is full they leave the ship boat ride takes 5-10 minutes.. Btw I was on THE SUN was on the 1st tender with alot of other 1 tickets and alot of 2 tickets.. have a safe trip.. and this advice works for Key west also to pass threw customs..

[STARFISH*4]

the looking at the tender tickets to see what number you have varies and most of the time THEY ARE LOOKING and TAKING the TICKETS specially if you have one of the first tender tickets like 1 or 2 so dont count on having 5 and getting on the first tender...

just be in line to get your tender tickets first so you can get on the first tender out--if people would do it RIGHT it would go smoother...

they will let you know when tender tickets will be available just have someone be in line as soon as you can!!

 

GOOD LUCK!!

[AerynSun_JohnCrighton]

Also, the tenders take longer if the seas are a bit rocky...I was on once that took about 30 min.

 

Got to keep that in mind, and yes they do check ticket #'s, at least the times I've been. I've found it's not worth the few dollars and headache in Belize...I book w/ the ship.

 

besides, the other non tender ports you can save money and book elsewhere, but regardless, I hope it works out.