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The Tender Process

sjmbruce

By sjmbruce,
in Princess Cruises

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Astro Flyer

Astro Flyer

Posted
Posted (edited)
How do tendering and tickets for tendering work on Princess? I have cruised with them before, but only had to tender once and we were on a ship sponsored excursion so no tickets or waiting in line. Thanks!

When you & your group are ready go together to the dining room off the atrium listed in the Patter to get a tender group ticket. When you're group is called they escort you to the tender.

 

Elite level & suite passengers can join the end of the tender line without a ticket although when there are too many elites they go to the other side of a dining room for a different priority group.

 

So you'll generally board after Princess tour's passengers & some of the elite & suite passengers.

Edited by Astro Flyer
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Thrak

Thrak

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Be aware that there is no "getting a tender ticket for someone who isn't here yet". You must all be there. People try to get tickets for their spouse who is still in the cabin but it is a no-go. If you aren't present you don't get a ticket.

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Alaskan Joe

Alaskan Joe

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How do tendering and tickets for tendering work on Princess? I have cruised with them before, but only had to tender once and we were on a ship sponsored excursion so no tickets or waiting in line. Thanks!

 

First off thank you for this thread because I have been on cruises (first time on princess) that had tenders but never ever did I get a ticket. All you did was wait in line so I had no idea that I needed to get a ticket but now I do. Thanks for the heads up and when we board we will find out more info.

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olha2

olha2

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Princess tours meet at specified places and do not need a ticket, Others who want to get off earlier than open tender boarding will go to a specific place and obtain a tender ticket , you will then wai until your number is called, after all tickets have gone on the tender a call will go over PA to

Let you know that you now do not need a ticket

I just recently returned from a S America cruise and when I was not on an organized tour I was allowed to take the very first tender or go to tender when I wanted, This was provided for Elite and Suite passengers

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

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karena1

karena1

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I am Elite and we did not need tender tickets when we did Ruby. We could just go down and get on any tender we wanted which was nice. We were able to get on the first one. Plan to do the same on Regal in Dec when we hit Princess Cays and Grand Cayman.

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fishywood

fishywood

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Thirty minutes? The member in response #10 continues her dubious streak.

 

To use Princess' most visited tender port strictly as an example: At Princess Cays they usually call open tendering about 2 to 2 1/2 hours after arrival. At other ports I have seen much longer waits, including on a British Isles cruise where tickets were required even well after lunch.

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caribill

caribill

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At other ports I have seen much longer waits, including on a British Isles cruise where tickets were required even well after lunch.

 

A problem that will continue to grow as Princess builds larger and larger ships with more passengers that need to tender.

 

And the line to get a tender back to the ship can also be quite lengthy.

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floridalover5623

floridalover5623

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Unless you NEED to be off the ship ASAP, there's really no need for tickets...just wait about 30 mins. or so, and let the 1st couple tenders go...then walk on when you're ready!

 

I guess you've been lucky. There have been times that wait is much, much longer especially when the sea was rough and it takes people longer to board & empty out the tenders.

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spirit28

spirit28

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I guess you've been lucky. There have been times that wait is much, much longer especially when the sea was rough and it takes people longer to board & empty out the tenders.

 

We waited nearly 2 hours in the dining room on Sea Princes in Bali last week!! Had priority tendering (suite passengers), but traveling with others that did not. Normally book a ships tour at tender ports to avoid the wait. With 100's of elites on Board, there was some resentment from those who been waiting forever for a tender only to have to wait longer because 10-15 elites show up and go to straight to the head of the queue. At least they can't jump the queue on the way back to the ship. There must be a better way.

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CRUZBUDS

CRUZBUDS

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We've been on two Princess cruises this year with tender ports (Cabo and Loreto)

 

In Cabo the tenders were declared "open" (no ticket needed) about 3 hours after tendering began -- the 30 minute advice as never remotely been our experience in any port on any line. We've done a lot of tender ports on 40 cruises.

 

In Loreto both times, we went to assigned dining room as soon as tendering began and were directed straight to a tender. (not Elite).

 

We are first off - first back types of folks. The last time they didn't even try to fill the tender -- there were less than 20 of us on it. Later tenders were packed, as they usually are for the first several hours.

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CruisingJs

CruisingJs

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So suites don't need to bother with tickets, they just go down and join in the tender line??

 

When you're in a suite they deliver tickets to your cabin in an envelope. You just get in the tender line when you're ready to go and have your tender ticket with you.

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CRUZBUDS

CRUZBUDS

Posted
Posted
Thank you all for your replies! We'll be on the Ruby in Cabo. The Ruby doesn't get there until 1:00pm, so I think we'll have lunch and then go get our tickets.

 

YIKES -- That will make tendering a bear. Everyone will be up, fed and ready to go at the same time.

 

You may want to take a look at the excursions offered by the ship -- they always have priority.

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Astro Flyer

Astro Flyer

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Posted (edited)
With 100's of elites on Board, there was some resentment from those who been waiting forever for a tender only to have to wait longer because 10-15 elites show up and go to straight to the head of the queue. At least they can't jump the queue on the way back to the ship. There must be a better way.

While I understand the frustration of being further delayed, it's not much different than when boarding a flight. I check in early & arrive at the departure gate early & still passengers in First Class & top level frequent flyer passengers all get to board before me.

 

Such benefits are either paid or earned by passenger loyalty & elite/suite passengers do not get to "go straight to the head of the queue" but are merely allowed to join the back of the queue without getting a tender ticket. And when there are too many elite level passengers they're also required to go to a dining room for a tender ticket.

 

It's one of the benefits Princess gives to elite level passengers & is available to anyone who sails either 15 cruises or 150 days on a Princess ship.

Edited by Astro Flyer
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catsdinner

catsdinner

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On the Royal this yea, as Elites we still had to go to the dining room where they were giving out the tender tickets. We did not have to get a ticket but were the first called for the next tender. Much better than going down to the tender deck and joining the line.

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floridalover5623

floridalover5623

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When you're in a suite they deliver tickets to your cabin in an envelope. You just get in the tender line when you're ready to go and have your tender ticket with you.

 

Not always. Lately they have been not tickets handed out. Just show up & get in line.

 

Thank you all for your replies! We'll be on the Ruby in Cabo. The Ruby doesn't get there until 1:00pm, so I think we'll have lunch and then go get our tickets.

 

It's going to be a very long line to get on shore. People will be lined up for the tender even before lunch.

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cruzsnooze

cruzsnooze

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While I understand the frustration of being further delayed, it's not much different than when boarding a flight. I check in early & arrive at the departure gate early & still passengers in First Class & top level frequent flyer passengers all get to board before me.

 

 

I don't understand your comparison at all. On a plane it doesn't leave until everyone is on board and everyone arrives at the same time. On a tender you could wait 2 or 3 hours while others are already ashore beginning their day.

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Astro Flyer

Astro Flyer

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I don't understand your comparison at all. On a plane it doesn't leave until everyone is on board and everyone arrives at the same time. On a tender you could wait 2 or 3 hours while others are already ashore beginning their day.

It was a simple comparison that those who pay or earn benefits get them while others don't get them. :rolleyes:

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