Tenders at Grand Cayman

[nmsk5]

Sailing Carnival Legend in July. Is Grand Cayman a tender port? How long is the trip?

[mrpayroll]

Yes it is a tendering port. Short 3 to 5 min ride.

[howielovescruisin]

Truthfully, I think it took a lot longer to load the tender than to get there. I didn't time it, but it seemed like no time at all to get there.

[*Mach*]

This is a picture of Georgetown, Grand Cayman, from the Panorama Deck of the Carnival Conquest. You can see how close to the island the ships moor...

 

 

:)

[howielovescruisin]

Wow Host Mach, I love that picture!

[cb at sea]

The tenders DO take longer to load than the trip takes.....you'll be on a large "people ferry", not a small boat.

[Colorado Kat]

I much prefer when a ship docks, rather than tenders. In Grand Cayman, it is a quick process, but still not easy to run back to the ship to drop off gear and such, to continue shopping or sight-seeing unencumbered.

 

They do a good job of tendering at Grand Cayman.

[chill6x6]

I much prefer when a ship docks, rather than tenders. In Grand Cayman, it is a quick process, but still not easy to run back to the ship to drop off gear and such, to continue shopping or sight-seeing unencumbered.

 

They do a good job of tendering at Grand Cayman.

 

Exactly....and you'll be waiting in the sun on the pier as tenders load/unload...

[blondietink]

Is there a reason that they don't build a dock, since it is so close?

[SteelerCruiser]

Cool Pic from Mach!

[Fergus]

The lines to tender over to the GC dock are long, but they do seem to move pretty fast. But, boy, when you are standing over on that hot concrete dock in a line that winds all the way around the dock, waiting to get back to A/C and a shower, the lines are BRUTAL!

[*Mach*]

Wow Host Mach, I love that picture!

 

Cool Pic from Mach!

 

 

Thanks so much, folks! Georgetown is fun to see as the ship approaches and, a lot like Nassau, the buildings are gorgeous... very colorful...

:)

[*Mach*]

Is there a reason that they don't build a dock, since it is so close?

 

 

The reef... they're justifiably proud of the reef that forms the north side of the island... amazing from underwater.

Within a few hundred yards of the shore is the Cayman wall... descends to a stunning 26,000 feet... You should see it from the Atlantis submarine... mind boggling...

Despite that they have contracted to have a pier built... just not right there at Georgetown... down the coast where the reef isn't a factor.

:)

[nmsk5]

Thanks everyone! What time does the last tender head back to the ship? We sail at 6pm.

[Fergus]

In my experience there will be a line for the last two hours before sailing time, so it depends on how eager you are to stand in it. They'll run the tenders until everyone is loaded.

[ImmortalxKiss]

Very short cruise ride ..also very rough when we went. The islanders kept saying how surprised they were that they allowed us to tender in with such choppy conditions!

[neworleanscruiser]

Hi,

 

I have a question that may sound stupid. When you are going to the tender in Grand Cayman from a Carnival ship. Do you go down stais on the Carnival ship or is there a ramp you use to get on the tender? If it is stairs you use. Are the stairs open that if you are looking at them you can see through them. I have a fear of open stairs and am not sure about tendering in Grand Cayman.

 

Thanks,

Neworleanscruiser

[winddawn]

The reef... they're justifiably proud of the reef that forms the north side of the island... amazing from underwater.

Within a few hundred yards of the shore is the Cayman wall... descends to a stunning 26,000 feet... You should see it from the Atlantis submarine... mind boggling...

Despite that they have contracted to have a pier built... just not right there at Georgetown... down the coast where the reef isn't a factor.

:)

Mach, do you know when that pier is supposed to be completed?

[nytraveller53]

The reef... they're justifiably proud of the reef that forms the north side of the island... amazing from underwater.

 

Within a few hundred yards of the shore is the Cayman wall... descends to a stunning 26,000 feet... You should see it from the Atlantis submarine... mind boggling...

 

Despite that they have contracted to have a pier built... just not right there at Georgetown... down the coast where the reef isn't a factor.

 

:)

 

Yes, I did the Atlantis submarine when I was in Cayman from Freedom of the Seas in 2008. It is truly stunning, as you said. Well worth it - highly suggested!