Belize & Grand Cayman... Tenders :(

[RTlady00]

Just found out that both ports, Belize & Grand Cayman use "Tenders". Not too comfortable with this. How quick is it before you can get off? Is it worth getting off the ship?

 

We've been on the Liberty before but this is our first Western Caribbean sailing.

[CruzLover80]

Just found out that both ports, Belize & Grand Cayman use "Tenders". Not too comfortable with this. How quick is it before you can get off? Is it worth getting off the ship?

 

We've been on the Liberty before but this is our first Western Caribbean sailing.

 

Of course, it's worth getting off!!! Both countries are absolutely beautiful. Tenders is all of an additional 15 minutes for the most part.

[vacruizer]

They are just boat rides - stuff people pay for most places! :) No big deal at all - ride is about 10 minutes in Cayman and 15 in Belize (just timed it last week.)

 

They are both well worth visiting although you should plan a tour for Belize and get out of Belize City itself. The barrier islands or the interior of the mainland are where the true beauty of Belize are.

[Tapi]

Keep in mind a few things:

 

• The "tenders" in both of these ports are actually large boats, holding a couple hundred people.
   
  
• Both of these ports are completely worth the tender ride. Do some research beforehand (specially in Belize since the best attractions are far from the port area).
   
  
• Avoid "rush hours". Don't try to be the first one off the ship or the last one back on the ship.
   
  
• Make note of the last tender time and allow plenty of time for it!
  

[vols_159]

I look at tenders as a free excursion just note if there's bad weather it may turn into a sea day

[Rudyard]

I agree with what Tapi said about not rushing. Unless you have an excursion there's no need, and if you have an excursion they will give you priority over those who don't. When we were stopped at Grand Cayman last year we went and had a nice breakfast in the MDR, went back to our cabin and relaxed for a bit, and when we finally went to the tender station about an hour after the rush, we didn't even have much of a line to wait in. Got on the very next tender that pulled alongside.

[CruzLover80]

I look at tenders as a free excursion just note if there's bad weather it may turn into a sea day

 

FYI - that would also apply to regular ports. We missed Roatan because it wasn't safe to bring the ship in to port. I was upset to miss it, but I love sea days and prefer to not have back to back port days. Oh well, another reason to go back :p

 

Belize - we did cave tubing and it was worth every last penny, all $40 at the port. The drive out is about an hour or so, but you get to see the countryside, which I love things like that. I say the drive to and from was an excursion in itself. Anybody ever been back there would know exactly what I mean! Dirt road to the cave with lots and lots of potholes, was like a roller coaster.

 

Grand Cayman - we went to Stingray City and snorkeling for all of $45. at the port. Grand Cayman is a beautiful beautiful island.

[jimboridesmtb]

Just found out that both ports, Belize & Grand Cayman use "Tenders". Not too comfortable with this. How quick is it before you can get off? Is it worth getting off the ship?

 

We've been on the Liberty before but this is our first Western Caribbean sailing.

 

If it is available it would be worth it to buy FTTF.

[Ehpride]

Tendering is no big deal. If you want to be off the ship early, just go early for a tender ticket and they'll lead you right to the tenders.

[RuthlessBoss]

If it is available it would be worth it to buy FTTF.

I wouldn't. What did people do before FTTF? Just get down to the waiting/ticket area early. Save $50.

[Cruizinman]

Of course, it's worth getting off!!! Both countries are absolutely beautiful. Tenders is all of an additional 15 minutes for the most part.

Belize tender is just fifteen minutes :D , are you sure :eek: .

[Jimmy Geegitz]

Just found out that both ports, Belize & Grand Cayman use "Tenders". Not too comfortable with this. How quick is it before you can get off? Is it worth getting off the ship?

 

We've been on the Liberty before but this is our first Western Caribbean sailing.

 

Belize not worth it. 40 minute tender ride 1 way and Belize is a hole. Grand Cayman however different story. Very short tender ride and a beautiful island.

[vacruizer]

Belize tender is just fifteen minutes :D , are you sure :eek: .

 

I seriously did time the tender rides in Belize last week - 15 minutes from pulling away until we were pulling into the harbor - 20 total to tie up and begin unloading. Same going back.

[poptart]

Ate the Belize tenders as rough and fast as they used to be? My hc daughter is going with us and I'm not sure her spine can handle the ride. We're thinking about a spa day on the ship

 

Sent from my SM-T310 using Forums mobile app

[AZbeachboy]

Ate the Belize tenders as rough and fast as they used to be? My hc daughter is going with us and I'm not sure her spine can handle the ride. We're thinking about a spa day on the ship

 

Sent from my SM-T310 using Forums mobile app

 

I don't think they are bad at all. Once inside the reef there is nothing. I did take the ferry over to San Pedro. That can be quite a trip. I would not suggest it.

[Ryancoke]

I don't mind a boat ride but even if it's only 15 minutes, how long does the average person wait to get on the tender? And then you get to wait again to re-board, frequently in hot conditions.

[Cruizinman]

I seriously did time the tender rides in Belize last week - 15 minutes from pulling away until we were pulling into the harbor - 20 total to tie up and begin unloading. Same going back.

Seriously happy for you, seriously :rolleyes: the times our group went their were moderate to rough seas and I seriously think carnival should not have allowed tenders, 45 to 50 minutes. Protection while on the tenders, our group was sea sick and soaking wet :eek:. Belize city is a pigs sty of a city.

[cherbear4000]

The tenders themselves are not a big deal. Do not let them stop you from going to shore. I believe the ride in Belize is 3 or 4 miles and takes 15-20 minutes. In Grand Cayman, you will be really close to shore. The tender ride is just a few minutes. If you have a Carnival excursion booked then you will meet in the theater ahead of time an your excursion group will be escorted to the tender. If you are going to port on your own, you will have to go to the lounge (it will be in the Fun Times) and get a sticker. You will then be instructed to go to the tender once your tender # is called. Later in the afternoon, you will be able to just get on a tender without a sticker.

 

As for Belize, there is not much at port. Just some shops and a few bars. I personally do not feel comfortable leaving the port area unless on a tour. Belize is one of the few ports where I will only do a Carnival excursion, if I do one. Most of the tours take you really far from the ship. Also, if you book a snorkeling tour through the ship, the excursion picks you up and drops you off directly from the ship without having to tender to shore.

Edited October 1, 2013 by cherbear4000

[JimAOk1945]

The tendering process is very smooth and efficient. You will be pleasantly surprised and glad you tried it. Go and enjoy yourself.

[askimdog]

We are one of those who treat tenders as an extra joy. Yahoo!...extra boat trip. We love being tarried into port. Grand Cayman is touristy city in Georgetown and expensive. Though gems can be found, hike up in the hills out of town, visit historic Pedro St. James, visit Seymours or Tony's Jerk shacks, chow down some turtle or stewed cowsfoot. Go to the turtle farm and: swim with the sea turtles, play on the water slides and waterfalls, check out the shark tank, visit the aviary, hike the nature trail, and handle numerous turtles through different ages.

 

Belize City ( along with Roatan and Ensenada) is a favorite top 3 port of ours. Some of the nicest folks anywhere we have been. Town looks a bit rough, but only looks that way. We hiked all over town, sat and drank beers on the porch of a local, hit some stores, ate gibnut, toured great old British-Colonial churches, popped in a school and visted, did the museum. Great folks, great active vibrant city, again it just looks run-down.

[panoramaofthepast]

Both times I have been to Belize, the tender ride has been smooth, but it took 20-25 minutes easily. If you are going inland to Mayan ruins, then, yes - worth the ride. We had one of our best excursions to Altun Ha. The city tour wasn't worth it, IMHO. However, the chocolate factory in the dock area is a lot of fun, but only takes 30 minutes or so.

 

Grand Cayman - the tender ride is short, but the crowds at the port upon return can be large. It depends on how many ships are in port. We stood in line well over 30 minutes just to get on the tender - and it was an hour before we were supposed to depart.

[crusinpsychRN]

The worst part about tendering is the wait for everyone to board before you leave. Just enjoy talking to other people about what they are planning to do. That alone can be fun.

 

I've stayed on the ship before, only because I've been to GC so many times. It's a great time to go to Serenity and have a very peaceful day. The pirate ship attacks the ship, dolphins play in the water, jet skis fly around having fun.

 

If the ship drops anchor farther out in Belize, the ride can be longer.

 

Some tenders have plastic roll down "windows" if it rains, some don't and everyone near the outside gets wet.

 

The crew helping you board will make sure you step carefully and board safely.

 

Some of the very best pictures of the ship are taken from the tenders!

Edited October 1, 2013 by crusinpsychRN

[k2excursion]

I love Grand Cayman! Definitely get off there, as it's so easy there. I don't care much about Belize, which is a very common sentiment. For Belize, I highly recommend a Carnival-based excursion, since anything worth doing is a long ride from the city on very rough roads. You don't want to miss the ship, especially there. Plus, the tender ride is extremely long, so Carnival excursions get to go first. If you are on your own, you might not be allowed onto a tender for a couple hours, unless you have priority tendering. I wish we would've had 2 days at Roatan instead of coming to Belize. If you want to skip one of the 2, no question that Belize is the one to skip.

 

Grand Cayman is a beautiful & safe place. If you like sea life & snorkeling, you've got to do a snorkeling / stingray excursion there! No problem doing something on your own here, so save some money and don't book a Carnival excursion. The tender ride is extremely short, and everyone can get onto a tender pretty quickly, even if they don't have a Carnival excursion. In GC, I have noticed extremely long lines to get a tender back to the ship for Royal Caribbean ships. Meanwhile, Carnival ships have very short lines. It looked like the Royal line had over 2,000 people in it, while we walked right onto a tender with no wait (and we had more people on our ship than theirs).

[mrsd912]

I didn't think the tendering process was too bad getting to the ports. DH and I had a Carnival excursion in Belize, and we had FTTF so GC was really easy and organized to get to. Getting back on the ship in GC was easy, I had come down with a cold by then so we didn't stay long. Getting back on the ship in Belize was a whole different story. We had an all day excursion (Xunantunich) and when they bus got back to the port we were hurting to get to the tenders, but then saw a TON of people in line. It took us over an hour to get back on the ship, but had we been there earlier it probably wouldn't have been a problem.

 

GC is gorgeous, and I'm in the minority of really loving Belize too, so totally worth tendering for me.

[cruzeluver]

Both are worth it. Cannot imagine going to a new place and not experiencing it just because it involved a little boat ride.

Edited October 1, 2013 by cruzeluver
grammar