Tendering Process - Grand Cayman - Freedom of the Sea

[gchamber]

My family and I have a tour with an independent company to go the stringray city in March 2013. Ship Itinerary states an 8:00 am arrival which would be 7:00 am local time. I'm looking for information on RCI tender process. thanks.

[smacksgirl11]

We did this if few weeks ago on the Jewel, and they had you get a sticker with a number about 30 minutes before you wanted to get off the ship. It worked very well. We go on the tender at 8:30 and were off in time to meet our tour for Stingray City.

[plowboy920]

VOS last year was a disaster, RCL booked excursions went first, then you had to get in line for tender tickets, only 1 person per group needed to get in line. We did not have an excursion planned, when I went down for tickets the line was LONG, so we waited til later, the line went down got tickets and waited 2 more hours:eek: There were 8 ships there and tenders going everywhere

[RCI Cruisers 004]

If you are in a Grand suite or bigger, you get priority tender. The concierge will escort you on whenever you are ready to go. Not sure of your room, but hopefully this is helpful !

[yogimax]

If you are in a Grand suite or bigger, you get priority tender. The concierge will escort you on whenever you are ready to go. Not sure of your room, but hopefully this is helpful !

 

The odds certainly make it unlikely the OP is in a GS or larger!:)

[Coralc]

VOS last year was a disaster, RCL booked excursions went first, then you had to get in line for tender tickets, only 1 person per group needed to get in line. We did not have an excursion planned, when I went down for tickets the line was LONG, so we waited til later, the line went down got tickets and waited 2 more hours:eek: There were 8 ships there and tenders going everywhere

 

That sounds like our Voyager cruise in December of last year. After looking at the tender line, all the tenders in the water and all the ships in port. ( I think there were 8 as well)...we just decided to stay onboard.

 

We sailed about an hour and 45 minutes late, because they were still trying to get everyone back onboard.

[danjulia]

My family and I have a tour with an independent company to go the stringray city in March 2013. Ship Itinerary states an 8:00 am arrival which would be 7:00 am local time. I'm looking for information on RCI tender process. thanks.

 

I thought Grand Cayman was the same time zone as Florida?? If it says the ship arrives at 8 am, is that local time? I am making arrangements for a private excursion and it sounds like getting off the ship will be a challenge...

 

Any help would be appreciated!

[Coralc]

I thought Grand Cayman was the same time zone as Florida?? If it says the ship arrives at 8 am, is that local time? I am making arrangements for a private excursion and it sounds like getting off the ship will be a challenge...

 

Any help would be appreciated!

 

It looks like you are correct:

 

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=377

 

The time (at present) in Grand Cayman is the same as Florida time. :)

 

If people are leaving from New Orleans, LA on Navigator....it is going to be different.

[narrow56]

Tendering was a nightmare when I went on the Freedom of the Seas. Getting off the ship wasn't so bad but there was a HUGE line to get back to the ship. I recommend getting back plenty early (or layering yourself with sunscreen for the wait).

[BillOh]

My family and I have a tour with an independent company to go the stringray city in March 2013. Ship Itinerary states an 8:00 am arrival which would be 7:00 am local time. I'm looking for information on RCI tender process. thanks.

 

I tendered from Freedom at this port. It was a fairly efficient process, but you can probably rest assured the private tour company is experienced with the ship and the port and will probably wait for you if your not the first persons off the ship.

[JeffKoz]

Also be aware that tendering in Cayman can be stopped due to rough seas. Some years ago I had two sailings go there and we sat at anchor all day as the seas were too rough. My recent Jewel sailing over thanksgiving had a few delays of about about 30-40 minutes because of rough seas. The tenders were not able to securely come along side. From the ships perspective, with the use of tender tickets for your party, it makes it rather painless most of the time.

[Big_G]

VOS last year was a disaster, RCL booked excursions went first, then you had to get in line for tender tickets, only 1 person per group needed to get in line. We did not have an excursion planned, when I went down for tickets the line was LONG, so we waited til later, the line went down got tickets and waited 2 more hours:eek: There were 8 ships there and tenders going everywhere

 

If we don't have an excursion planned, we wait until the rush is over and then you don't need a ticket. We just did Grand Cayman on the Navigator and had no problems. Of course, I think there were only four ships in port.

[RCI Cruisers 004]

The odds certainly make it unlikely the OP is in a GS or larger!:)

 

Isn't the purpose of CC to provide helpful info to posters, not judge them ?

[Ronsangel]

We just got off the Freedom and did a Stingray tour by a private company. We got in at 8am (local time is the same as ship time right now), tour was at 9:15 and we had plenty of time...enough to browse in a couple of the shops nearby. The tenders are large ferries that hold almost 200 passengers, so the lines clear pretty quickly. The Cruise Compass said that 'tender rush hour' in GC is 9am-10am, so as long as you plan on getting off once they start running, you should be fine.

 

Enjoy it...we had an INCREDIBLE time despite some crazy intense waves that day!

[TEXASMUNK]

I do believe that Yogimax was talking the percentages...those that take a cheap shot at yogimax seem to be the ones judging others.

A mirror often times reveals who you are.

[island lady]

Tendering was a nightmare when I went on the Freedom of the Seas. Getting off the ship wasn't so bad but there was a HUGE line to get back to the ship. I recommend getting back plenty early (or layering yourself with sunscreen for the wait).

 

You are right on there. Our last visit there on the Jewel (smaller ship, less people) was

a horrible nightmare with the long line trying to get back on the tenders. And we were

in line 2 hours earlier than last shuttle call! One slime ball tried to cut in front of us, telling us "oh, I need to get on board now, since I am a crew member". I said, "oh that's nice...where is your crew pass?"

Which of course he could not present. Nice try dude. :rolleyes:

He slinked back out of line and then convinced someone else further back to let him in.

We waited in line for almost an hour. :(

[cb at sea]

If you are IN line at the tender dock...they will not leave you behind! As long as you don't need to be 1st off, tendering isn't such a big deal. Same with returning to the ship....don't wait until the last minute....go back to the ship a bit early and the whole procedure is pretty painless.

[Trekker954]

One slime ball tried to cut in front of us, telling us "oh, I need to get on board now, since I am a crew member". I said, "oh that's nice...where is your crew pass?"

:(

 

You must have been a New yorker in your previous life. That what I would have said. I travel all over the world and there are cultures that just "cut in". Its rare when someone from any culture cuts in front of me and gets away with it. Queens girl in my youth!!!

[ahecht]

I thought Grand Cayman was the same time zone as Florida?? If it says the ship arrives at 8 am, is that local time? I am making arrangements for a private excursion and it sounds like getting off the ship will be a challenge...

 

Any help would be appreciated!

 

Grand Cayman doesn't observe daylight savings time. Therefore, in the summer Florida is in EDT and Grand Cayman is in EST. Hence the 1 hour difference.

[DrD]

Isn't the purpose of CC to provide helpful info to posters, not judge them ?

 

How is this judging? Given the number of GS compared to other cabins the statement is undeniably true.

 

I would never wait in line that long. I'd pay someone to take me back to ship. Or swim.

[reney313]

There is a bar in the port area where you wait to get the return tender. I find it very efficient to sit there with a beer in hand watching everyone in a VERY long line that wraps around itself for wait times of an hour or more sometimes. I wait until the line goes down to something reasonable and then pay up, and immediately board the tender :) Much nicer that way! Even if you just drink a coke, I think it would be a more relaxing way to wait in "line".

[DrD]

Isn't the purpose of CC to provide helpful info to posters, not judge them ?

 

How is this judging? Given the number of GS compared to other cabins the statement is undeniably true.

 

I would never wait in line that long. I'd pay someone to take me back to ship. Or swim.

[island lady]

You must have been a New yorker in your previous life. That what I would have said. I travel all over the world and there are cultures that just "cut in". Its rare when someone from any culture cuts in front of me and gets away with it. Queens girl in my youth!!!

 

LOL!! :D Thanks, but just a former hard nosed tough Michigander. ;)

 

Rude is rude, in any lanquage, country, or state. They get my panties in a bunch

also!!

[slmwo]

We just got off the Freedom and did a Stingray tour by a private company. We got in at 8am (local time is the same as ship time right now), tour was at 9:15 and we had plenty of time...enough to browse in a couple of the shops nearby. The tenders are large ferries that hold almost 200 passengers, so the lines clear pretty quickly. The Cruise Compass said that 'tender rush hour' in GC is 9am-10am, so as long as you plan on getting off once they start running, you should be fine.

 

Enjoy it...we had an INCREDIBLE time despite some crazy intense waves that day!

 

No tickets, no stickers or anything like that? Just first come, first serve?

 

Thanks!

[NorbertsNiece]

No tickets, no stickers or anything like that? Just first come, first serve?

 

Thanks!

 

Yeap.