A few questions on Tendering

[3littlepigs]

Not having experienced the practicalities of a port where the ship is tendered I have a few queries relating to our upcoming Millie cruise...

 

Roughly how long it takes to get everyone off the ship once its "docked" we are in a FV so won't have priority access

 

Do we have to get tickets in advance or turn up to a specific place when we want to disembark

 

Can we arrange to get tender tickets on the same tender for all our private tour group or do we need to get them individually?

 

Do the tenders run all day/all night at the ports where the ship overnights? We are trying to work out how easy it will be to get off early in the morning and how late we can stay in town at night.

 

Thanks!!!

[Christine Frances]

Could you please tell us what ship and what tender port you are concerned about? :)

 

 

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[3littlepigs]

Its Millennium and the Port is one I don't think its ever been to before - Halong Bay in Vietnam.

[Ine]

In general those that booked a shipexcursion go first.

All others (except those with priority) report to a desk in (often) the theatre.

Everybody in your party has to report himself, no pre-booking or getting tickets for others. You will get a tendernumber and wait to be called.

Sometimes it goes rather quick, but we have been waiting also for more then 1 hour.

Those with priority get their special ticketnumbers for their concierge or cabinboy and report directly at the tenderstation.

[uktog]

As I recall in Halong Bay the tender operation is run by locals not the ships lifeboats. Procedures as explained above are exactly the same but it may be a little slower as the ship has no control over how many tender boats are in operation (though they do try and encourage the locals to have enough to meet the demand at a particular time)

Once the ship assesses that all those who have asked for tender tickets are ashore they revert to open tendering i.e. turn up and go

 

Returning to ship, there is no priority tendering and no tickets. If everyone turns up together (as can happen if a number of tours return at the same time) it can be a little disorganised

Again the ship will try and have you lining up in the shade but they cannot always manage that and they often cannot manage seats for those who need them so bear this in mind if this applies to any in your group

[MicCanberra]

Generally, they are free but of course if there is a cost they would take legal tender.:p

[nijh]

Generally, they are free but of course if there is a cost they would take legal tender.:p

 

Coat and Taxi for MicCanberra please :D

[uktog]

Not having experienced the practicalities of a port where the ship is tendered I have a few queries relating to our upcoming Millie cruise...

 

Roughly how long it takes to get everyone off the ship once its "docked" we are in a FV so won't have priority access

 

Do we have to get tickets in advance or turn up to a specific place when we want to disembark

 

Can we arrange to get tender tickets on the same tender for all our private tour group or do we need to get them individually?

 

Do the tenders run all day/all night at the ports where the ship overnights? We are trying to work out how easy it will be to get off early in the morning and how late we can stay in town at night.

 

Thanks!!!

 

I forgot to say, tenders usually run all night when ships are in port overnight - staff love the fact they can get off after their work is done, regardless of how late it is, and find somewhere to hang out. You will certainly be able to stay in town at night though bear in mind they may only have one boat shuttling back and forward if it is very late so you may have a little wait

[Blazerboy]

As far as keeping your group together, once you've all assembled, go to the theatre and get your tender tickets as a group. They will call the number, and you should all walk to the gangway together. Once there, let the staff know how many of you there are if it looks like the tender is nearly full. You might be able to let a few "ones and twos" go ahead of you, and catch the next tender...at which point you will have a great choice of seats! Do be aware that, especially with a locally run operation, it might be too busy for them to assess at the gangway, and they may not have room for you to wait...so go with the hope that it'll all work well, but have the back-up plan to rendezvous ashore if you get on two different tenders. There are usually ship's staff that can help you once ashore, soetimes even with a small tent on the dock (with water and cool towels when you return to the ship!).

 

Have fun, don't worry, but always have a plan!:D

 

Andrew

[3littlepigs]

Thanks!

Excellent info one and all!

[MicCanberra]

Coat and Taxi for MicCanberra please :D

LOL, sorry about that, couldn't help myself.:D