How Does the "Priority Tender" Work?

[custompcsys]

I will be on the Caribbean Princess in August and have reserved a bungalow at Princess Cays. One of the things they say is included is a "priority tender". How exactly does this work? I read a recent review of the CB on a short cruise and apparently the tendering to Princess Cays appears to be disorganized. Will the priority tender tickets help?

 

Thanks for your input :)

[KirkNC]

It means you will be in some of the first groups to get on a tender.

[oskidunker]

They will have Tender tickets in your room , if you are elite.

Edited May 28, 2014 by oskidunker

[Colo Cruiser]

Actually its always been organized well when we go, and thats been alot. :D

[Cruiselover1951]

I will be on the Caribbean Princess in August and have reserved a bungalow at Princess Cays. One of the things they say is included is a "priority tender". How exactly does this work? I read a recent review of the CB on a short cruise and apparently the tendering to Princess Cays appears to be disorganized. Will the priority tender tickets help?

 

Thanks for your input :)

 

Being in a full suite, we find a number of "priority tender tickets" = number of tender ports x2 on the desk in the suite.

 

When the tenders start loading passengers you can with those tickets go directly to the tender embarkation level and usually get on the tender loading, or at worst, the next tender, whereas those without these tickets either have to check in i.e. in the Princess Theater for a tour and wait to be brought to the tender embarkation, or if traveling independently get a time/ticket with a time for when they are allowed to embark. In addition to full suite guests, Elites, and apparently certain ammenity purchases on Princess Cays, come with Priority tender tickets.

 

Now, this was 2 years ago, and the process may have changed as the last 2 cruises we were on had no tender needs.

 

It was a god send for us when traveling Sydney-Fiji 2 years ago, as my wife and I had pre-arranged SCUBA diving on every Island we visited, and with those going out in the morning, we needed to be on shore as soon as possible to make it and usually was down on the 4th level as soon as soon as they started to launch the tenders!

[custompcsys]

They will have Tender tickets in your room , if you are elite.

 

Not elite, only a lowly platinum....the priority tender tickets are supposed to be part of what you get for booking the bungalow. Hopefully it will work the same way and the tickets will be in our cabin.

[Teris50]

I HAVE NEVER HAD tickets in my cabin, and always waited. This last cruise on the Island, we went to the tender room, and was told we MISSED the elite tenders and had to wait with everyone else and were given a number After a few mins, we decided they were not moving fast enough, we decided not to go into Cabo. SO lesson learned, GO EARLY!

[Nancyquilts]

I am assuming that priority tendering is the same as that for elite. You may go to the tendering area when you are ready and just wait at the back of the existing tendering line for your turn. Coming back on board there is no priority.

[Kinkacruiser]

Surely presenting one's black card (which you need to disembark) would be sufficient to get you on the first few tenders without need for a special ticket?

[pablo222]

Surely presenting one's black card (which you need to disembark) would be sufficient to get you on the first few tenders without need for a special ticket?

 

That has been my experience. I can't remember ever seeing a tender

ticket for elite.

 

And, now the elite card is more of a dark Gray. I liked the black better.

I could dream it was an American Express black card.

[OCruisers]

The OP is basically asking about how the promise of the "priority tender" will work when booking a bungalow in Princess Cays when not Elite.

 

Hopefully, someone who is not Elite will be able to help out!

 

LuLu

[Aquahound]

 

Hopefully, someone who is not Elite will be able to help out!

 

 

I certainly hope so because on my cruise, there were a lot of people who missed their excursions due to a horrific tender process. I know because I stood in line with some of them. They were given no priority in tendering. For the ops sake, I hope the bungalows are different.

[Pam in CA]

"Priority tender" means you go to the back of the line to board a tender without having to go to the lounge and wait your turn. It doesn't mean you get to push in front of the line -- whether you're Elite or have priority tender tickets.

[caribill]

Surely presenting one's black card (which you need to disembark) would be sufficient to get you on the first few tenders without need for a special ticket?

 

Those who purchase the Princess Cays bungalows do receive priority tender passes. Has nothing to do with possible elite status.

 

Normally those with these passes just go to the tender area and get on the end of the line. (Note: These passes, just like elite status, do not apply when returning to the ship.)

 

On some sailings with a very high number of elites, elites must go to an area just for elites and get a tender group number ticket. This would not be the same area that non-elites go to to get a tender ticket. If this is happening, then I suspect those who booked the bungalows would also go to the elite meeting place to get a tender group number.

[custompcsys]

Those who purchase the Princess Cays bungalows do receive priority tender passes. Has nothing to do with possible elite status.

 

Normally those with these passes just go to the tender area and get on the end of the line. (Note: These passes, just like elite status, do not apply when returning to the ship.)

 

On some sailings with a very high number of elites, elites must go to an area just for elites and get a tender group number ticket. This would not be the same area that non-elites go to to get a tender ticket. If this is happening, then I suspect those who booked the bungalows would also go to the elite meeting place to get a tender group number.

 

OK I think I get it now. Just one last question....are the passes put in our cabin or do I have to go to the excursion desk to pick them up?

 

Thanks for all the responses :)

[MrJulius]

We got a bungalow on our last two cruises to Princess Cays. You will get four priority tender tickets in your cabin. When you get to the Cays just go down to the announced location. They will try to give you a group number at the door. Just show them your priority tickets and walk straight to whatever line may have formed. Get on an early tender and enjoy your day.

 

MrJulius

 

 

Sent from my iPad Mini Retina

[freetocruise]

I certainly hope so because on my cruise, there were a lot of people who missed their excursions due to a horrific tender process. I know because I stood in line with some of them. They were given no priority in tendering. For the ops sake, I hope the bungalows are different.

 

If those people were on Princess (and not private) tours, they would have met in a specified location and been escorted by Princess tour people to the tenders. People on Princess tours have priority tendering in order to meet the tour times. Elites and those who rented cabanas (with priority tickets) would "fit in" at the back of the line of the tour people if they want to get off early.

 

I've been on many cruises with tender ports and have personally seen Princess board early tours before everyone else. I'm elite and I'm usually the one standing in the back of the long line with everyone else wearing Princess tour stickers in front of me. Don't get me wrong - I believe Princess should take care of those who are on the ship's tours and have no problem waiting for them to board first.

[Aquahound]

If those people were on Princess (and not private) tours, they would have met in a specified location and been escorted by Princess tour people to the tenders. People on Princess tours have priority tendering in order to meet the tour times. Elites and those who rented cabanas (with priority tickets) would "fit in" at the back of the line of the tour people if they want to get off early.

 

It's Princess Cays. Are any of the tours not Princess? These people had scheduled banana boat rides, fishing excursions, paddle board rentals, etc. They were all booked through excursions and had specific times reserved. These people did not have priority tendering. At least, if they did, they were not told so, had no priority tickets and were told to wait like everyone else. Many of these people missed their times and some even gave up on trying to go ashore. I know this because while sitting in the MDR for over an hour and half waiting, it was pretty much the talk of the room.