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Priority Tender - How Does it Work?


ctemkg
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On our cruise a couple of weeks ago, there was only one line for the tenders. A few passengers who were behind us (Elite & Suite guests) were asking where the Priority line was. They did not get an answer and had to wait in the line with the rest of the regular passengers.

 

How is Priority Tender supposed to work?

 

Thanks.

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Yes, just go to the tender embarkation area (usually on deck 4), show your black card and then join the line. It does NOT mean that you can go to the head of the line...:rolleyes:
Right. :) You get to skip getting a tender ticket. That's what "priority" is about it. You get in line at the back, not push ahead of others already in line. And, it's only to shore, not back to the ship. Edited by Pam in CA
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Right. :) You get to skip getting a tender ticket. That's what "priority" is about it. You get in line at the back, not push ahead of others already in line. And, it's only to shore, not back to the ship.

 

That makes sense. Priority is just not having to get a tender ticket and going to the line that is already waiting to board.

 

Thanks.

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When there are many elites (over 1200 on the Royal) you go to a restaurant & are given group numbers & escorted to the tender. That also happened a year ago on the Crown with 500+ elites.

 

that happened to us last april when we tendered at Indonesia, all the elites had to meet in the night club and given a ticket and escorted to the tender area

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We are sailing on our first cruise in April with only one tendered port, but it is a foreign concept to me. We will be in a full suite, and as I understand the above comments this means we will enjoy Priority boarding -- but that means only that we don't have to get a tender ticket and we merely proceed to the same tender deck as everyone else ( generally 4), and join the line at the end. If that is correct, all well and good enough.

 

But just for curiosity, what additional troubles have we avoided? In other words, what ordinarily is required to obtain a tender ticket, and why is it a perk to avoid that?

 

I have purposefully scheduled our excursions for later in the morning, as we do want to enjoy a leisurely breakfast...

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We are sailing on our first cruise in April with only one tendered port, but it is a foreign concept to me. We will be in a full suite, and as I understand the above comments this means we will enjoy Priority boarding -- but that means only that we don't have to get a tender ticket and we merely proceed to the same tender deck as everyone else ( generally 4), and join the line at the end. If that is correct, all well and good enough.

 

But just for curiosity, what additional troubles have we avoided? In other words, what ordinarily is required to obtain a tender ticket, and why is it a perk to avoid that?

 

I have purposefully scheduled our excursions for later in the morning, as we do want to enjoy a leisurely breakfast...

For tender purposes, passengers are in three groups:

Those on Princess tours. They go to the designated lounge and are led to a tender when their tour is ready to depart.

Those who are Elite or in a Suite. They just go to the tender departure point (usually deck 4) and join the line.

All others. They go to the designated lounge and are given a numbered ticket. When their number is called they go to the tender. It can be 1 or 2 hours before all are off.

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Yes, just go to the tender embarkation area (usually on deck 4), show your black card and then join the line. It does NOT mean that you can go to the head of the line...:rolleyes:

 

 

In Maui this past October we were waiting to get off the ship when a woman (and her small group) came through waving her card asking us if we were Elite. When we all said no, she said "Elite get on first." There were a whole eight of us in line.

 

 

Denise

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In Maui this past October we were waiting to get off the ship when a woman (and her small group) came through waving her card asking us if we were Elite. When we all said no, she said "Elite get on first." There were a whole eight of us in line.

 

 

Denise

Unfortunately there are such people everywhere who feel the rules are for others & not for them. :mad: It's clearly stated to join the line including in the Elite benefits letter each person receives in their cabin. :eek:

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You just go to the tender embarkation deck and get on the line. You don't get to move past anyone already waiting.

 

Exactly, just join the line. In no way does it mean we can push ourselves to the front of those already waiting by waving our black cards. Seems fair to us. :)

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In Maui this past October we were waiting to get off the ship when a woman (and her small group) came through waving her card asking us if we were Elite. When we all said no, she said "Elite get on first." There were a whole eight of us in line.

 

 

Denise

She probably bought the dam* black card on ebay she waved around LOL!

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For tender purposes, passengers are in three groups:

Those on Princess tours. They go to the designated lounge and are led to a tender when their tour is ready to depart.

Those who are Elite or in a Suite. They just go to the tender departure point (usually deck 4) and join the line.

All others. They go to the designated lounge and are given a numbered ticket. When their number is called they go to the tender. It can be 1 or 2 hours before all are off.

 

This was helpful (and news to me). All of our excursions are Princess (we're being very cautious for our first cruise adventure!), so it looks like we are in good shape. Thank you!

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On our last cruise we showed our Elite cards to a crew member and were escourted to the front of the tender line.

You had a crew member who needs to learn the Princess procedures:

 

Priority Ship to Shore Tender Embarkation

As a well-traveled guest with Princess, you have the opportunity to travel ashore quickly and without waiting in line in our tender ports. Simply present your Elite cruise card directly at the tender embarkation area. You will then join any remaining passengers and board the tender as soon as it is clear to embark, and will not need to wait with other passengers in the lounge area

Edited by Astro Flyer
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This was helpful (and news to me). All of our excursions are Princess (we're being very cautious for our first cruise adventure!), so it looks like we are in good shape. Thank you!
Princess tours have priority on the first tenders to shore. There aren't a lot of "independent" seats available. Some are Elite and a few independent with tender tickets. What this means is that if you're going ashore independently, aren't Elite or in a full suite, and weren't first in line for tender tickets, chances are you won't get on the first few tenders. That's why having the priority can make a difference.
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Princess tours have priority on the first tenders to shore. There aren't a lot of "independent" seats available. Some are Elite and a few independent with tender tickets.

 

Princess often is loading tenders from two places on the ship. When this occurs, Princess tours will usually use one of the lcoations and those not on Princess tours will use the other.

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  • 8 months later...

I will be visiting Belize in January 2015 from Emerald along with 3000 other passengers and I know this is a tender port. My family of 5 adult siblings are traveling together and I have an independent cave tubing excursion booked. 3 of us are in a suite and 2 are in an outside. I know the 3 suite guests can get priority tender passes. Can my 2 family members board an early tender along with the 3 of us since we are all together? Do I ask our suite room steward for the extra passes for them? I am also a plat, the only one in the family group if that makes a difference.

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I will be visiting Belize in January 2015 from Emerald along with 3000 other passengers and I know this is a tender port. My family of 5 adult siblings are traveling together and I have an independent cave tubing excursion booked. 3 of us are in a suite and 2 are in an outside. I know the 3 suite guests can get priority tender passes. Can my 2 family members board an early tender along with the 3 of us since we are all together? Do I ask our suite room steward for the extra passes for them? I am also a plat, the only one in the family group if that makes a difference.

 

This has been brought up before, and the general consensus has always been that, no, only people who themselves deserve priority tendering can and should have priority (with the exception of minor children and, one would imagine, spouses). Same with most other Elite/suite perks. (They should not throw their laundry in with yours, take advantage of priority embarkation, etc.) If your sibs want to board an early tender, they should show up as soon as distribution of tender tickets begins. There should then be no problem.

 

Platinum status is irrelevant in this case, as is "traveling together."

 

And stewards do not have access to tender tickets.

Edited by shepp
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Do I understand correctly, that since I've scheduled all our shore excursions through Princess and we are staying in a full suite, we have a choice in how we leave the ship to go ashore for our excursions?

 

We can either go directly to deck 4 to disembark or join the others who also have Princess excursions at their meeting location for the excursions? :confused:

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