How Early to Be in Line to Get Tender Ticket

[dioxide45]

We have sailed to Grand Cayman twice before, one time it rained and our Carnival excursion was cancelled, the last time we took a taxi to Cemetery beach and the public bus back. For our November Magic cruise we are renting a car. We are in port from 9:00 - 5:00. We rented our car with a 9:00am pickup time, but picking it up later won't be an issue.

 

I am wondering how we can go about getting the earliest tender ticket possible? We are only gold and didn't purchase FTTF. I don't really want to buy it if I don't have to. Though it is sold out on our sailing. On our last cruise we weren't in a real hurry to get off the ship, so I didn't rush up to get a tender ticket. This time around we want to maximize our time on the island. Any tips? What time do people start to line up for tender tickets?

Edited September 20, 2015 by dioxide45

[stargate fan]

We have sailed to Grand Cayman twice before, one time it rained and our Carnival excursion was cancelled, the last time we took a taxi to Cemetery beach and the public bus back. For our November Magic cruise we are renting a car. We are in port from 9:00 - 5:00. We rented our car with a 9:00am pickup time, but picking it up later won't be an issue.

 

I am wondering how we can go about getting the earliest tender ticket possible? We are only gold and didn't purchase FTTF. I don't really want to buy it if I don't have to. Though it is sold out on our sailing. On our last cruise we weren't in a real hurry to get off the ship, so I didn't rush up to get a tender ticket. This time around we want to maximize our time on the island. Any tips? What time do people start to line up for tender tickets?

 

First of all, there are no tender tickets, there are numbered stickers to be placed on clothing, hats, beach bags, etc. (They must be visible.)

 

On to the topic at hand. In order to get the low numbered tender stickers, we used to go to the designated lounge as soon as we saw land. We learned not to wait until the time listed in the Carnival Capers (pre-Fun Times) because we ended up with double digit stickers. After that first time, we saw land in the horizon and headed to the lounge. There were always crew members already handing out the number of tickets each party needed. (One per person.)

 

The tenders are very big and hold a few hundred people. Numbers are called two to three at a time.

 

Have a great cruise.

Edited September 20, 2015 by stargate fan

[love my grandkids]

I would get there an hour before you get in and figure you will wait on line for awhile.

[GMRPHRN]

Can one person get tickets (numbers for those needing to be technical) for several people? After you get the tickets can do you go back to your cabin or wait in a certain area? (Would everyone need to be ready to go in otherwise when you went to wait for the tickets?)

[Budget Queen]

Can one person get tickets (numbers for those needing to be technical) for several people? After you get the tickets can do you go back to your cabin or wait in a certain area? (Would everyone need to be ready to go in otherwise when you went to wait for the tickets?)

 

If you leave the area- how are you going to know when your number is called? Or where to go?

 

You need to be ready to go, which you pick up the stickers.

[dioxide45]

First of all, there are no tender tickets, there are numbered stickers to be placed on clothing, hats, beach bags, etc. (They must be visible.)

 

On to the topic at hand. In order to get the low numbered tender stickers, we used to go to the designated lounge as soon as we saw land. We learned not to wait until the time listed in the Carnival Capers (pre-Fun Times) because we ended up with double digit stickers. After that first time, we saw land in the horizon and headed to the lounge. There were always crew members already handing out the number of tickets each party needed. (One per person.)

 

The tenders are very big and hold a few hundred people. Numbers are called two to three at a time.

 

Have a great cruise.

 

Thanks. I was aware that they were just stickers with numbers on them. Though the CD on our Paradise cruise and i think also the Fun Times, called them tender tickets. I do recall them calling several numbers at a time. Just trying to figure out the best way to get a single digit number.

 

Can one person get tickets (numbers for those needing to be technical) for several people? After you get the tickets can do you go back to your cabin or wait in a certain area? (Would everyone need to be ready to go in otherwise when you went to wait for the tickets?)

 

Yes, I do know that only one person from the group needs to go to get the tickets. They just ask how many and hand them over. You can then go and wait anywhere until your number is called. Though keep in mind that it may be hard to hear them called in your cabin.

[Budget Queen]

We have sailed to Grand Cayman twice before, one time it rained and our Carnival excursion was cancelled, the last time we took a taxi to Cemetery beach and the public bus back. For our November Magic cruise we are renting a car. We are in port from 9:00 - 5:00. We rented our car with a 9:00am pickup time, but picking it up later won't be an issue.

 

I am wondering how we can go about getting the earliest tender ticket possible? We are only gold and didn't purchase FTTF. I don't really want to buy it if I don't have to. Though it is sold out on our sailing. On our last cruise we weren't in a real hurry to get off the ship, so I didn't rush up to get a tender ticket. This time around we want to maximize our time on the island. Any tips? What time do people start to line up for tender tickets?

 

I would be, up and ready to go, an hour prior to the posted time. Grand Cayman has a LOT of independent cruise ship visitors.

[Jenn410]

First cruise ever coming up soon. I have a cabana on HMC. don't we get priority for the tender? Do I still go get the stickers? Do I just tell them I have an excursion? Wondering exactly how it works.

[cntrydncr1]

There will be a special lounge for those who have "excursions". Your cabana purchase is considered an excursion. You will get priority boarding on the tenders.

[13cheermom]

There will be a special lounge for those who have "excursions". Your cabana purchase is considered an excursion. You will get priority boarding on the tenders.

 

Just curious if anyone else has felt like having the cabana booked and getting priority tender boarding wasn't necessarily priority? We noticed on our trip to HMC, where we had a cabana booked, we went to the theatre and waited but when they called us to go to the tender we ended up in this very long line and wait to board the tender where we clearly weren't the first onboard. We also had FTTF, which is suppose to allow you to go straight to guest services and be escorted to the tender. We wondered if we should have tried that route instead? It was just a lot of waiting in the halls and on the crowd stairs. Has anyone done both ways to see which was better (for future reference)? Thanks for any experience with this.

[Budget Queen]

Just curious if anyone else has felt like having the cabana booked and getting priority tender boarding wasn't necessarily priority? We noticed on our trip to HMC, where we had a cabana booked, we went to the theatre and waited but when they called us to go to the tender we ended up in this very long line and wait to board the tender where we clearly weren't the first onboard. We also had FTTF, which is suppose to allow you to go straight to guest services and be escorted to the tender. We wondered if we should have tried that route instead? It was just a lot of waiting in the halls and on the crowd stairs. Has anyone done both ways to see which was better (for future reference)? Thanks for any experience with this.

 

Just because you have "priority" doesn't mean- private service and no waits. There can be multiple- HUNDREDS of platinum's on board, numerous ship excursions, and FTTF purchasers. The tenders- usually at most hold 200 people, some less. The early port times are going to be bottle necked, reason, why I suggest being in line and ready to go, an hour prior.

[13cheermom]

Just because you have "priority" doesn't mean- private service and no waits. There can be multiple- HUNDREDS of platinum's on board, numerous ship excursions, and FTTF purchasers. The tenders- usually at most hold 200 people, some less. The early port times are going to be bottle necked, reason, why I suggest being in line and ready to go, an hour prior.

 

Yes I understand that, and I don't have a issue with the waiting either way. My question was for anyone that might have a cabana booked and also have FTTF, which would be the better route to proceed? You didn't indicate where you waited in line at? For instance I have stop at Grand Cayman and with FTTF would be any better to go to guest services rather than the regular meeting place for tender tickets?

[Budget Queen]

Yes I understand that, and I don't have a issue with the waiting either way. My question was for anyone that might have a cabana booked and also have FTTF, which would be the better route to proceed? You didn't indicate where you waited in line at? For instance I have stop at Grand Cayman and with FTTF would be any better to go to guest services rather than the regular meeting place for tender tickets?

 

You would go to guest services, the cabana "tours" aren't high priority so those people are going to encounter more waits since most of the other tours are time specific.

[13cheermom]

You would go to guest services, the cabana "tours" aren't high priority so those people are going to encounter more waits since most of the other tours are time specific.

 

Thank you so much, that's the information I was looking for. :)

[stargate fan]

Just because you have "priority" doesn't mean- private service and no waits. There can be multiple- HUNDREDS of platinum's on board, numerous ship excursions, and FTTF purchasers. The tenders- usually at most hold 200 people, some less. The early port times are going to be bottle necked, reason, why I suggest being in line and ready to go, an hour prior.

 

Yes it does.

We're Platinum so we've gone to Guest Services and have let the crew members behind the desk know that we're ready to go. We've always been immediately escorted to the tender. Private service, no waits.

 

Yes I understand that, and I don't have a issue with the waiting either way. My question was for anyone that might have a cabana booked and also have FTTF, which would be the better route to proceed? You didn't indicate where you waited in line at? For instance I have stop at Grand Cayman and with FTTF would be any better to go to guest services rather than the regular meeting place for tender tickets?

 

Yes, go straight to GS when you are all together and ready to go. You'll get off the ship much more quickly. Don't go to the meeting place to wait for other excursions to tender.

[Budget Queen]

Yes it does.

We're Platinum so we've gone to Guest Services and have let the crew members behind the desk know that we're ready to go. We've always been immediately escorted to the tender. Private service, no waits.

 

 

 

Yes, go straight to GS when you are all together and ready to go. You'll get off the ship much more quickly. Don't go to the meeting place to wait for other excursions to tender.

 

How many times have you tendered in the past couple years? EVERY time you went right on a tender- multiple times?

 

Well, I'm also Platinum (Diamond next sailing) sailed Carnival 10 times last year, tendered about 10 times in the past 2 years- this was NOT a given- I encountered several waits for tenders, including one time- told to just join the current line, which was maybe an additional tender wait long. Only about half my sailings went straight to the head of the line.

Edited September 21, 2015 by Budget Queen

[SadieN]

How many times have you tendered in the past couple years? EVERY time you went right on a tender- multiple times?

 

Well, I'm also Platinum (Diamond next sailing) sailed Carnival 10 times last year, tendered about 10 times in the past 2 years- this was NOT a given- I encountered several waits for tenders, including one time- told to just join the current line, which was maybe an additional tender wait long. Only about half my sailings went straight to the head of the line.

 

 

Yep, like everything else it depends on the ship and crew of your particular sailing.

This isn't only a Carnival issue. Princess and HAL have the same variations from ship to ship to policy.