YC Seaside and Grand Cayman Tender Question

[Aldri_CA]

Hi everyone! We're sailing on the Seaside in YC this summer and are looking to book an external (not through MSC) snorkel tour at our stop in Grand Cayman.

 

I'm worried about making the start time of the tour after reading some of the reviews that state MSC's tendering process is mayhem in the mornings with everyone trying to get off at the same time and some waiting over an hour to get a tender to shore. I've read that one of the YC perks is having your butler escort you to the front of the line when embarking/disembarking, but does this apply to tendering ports too? It would ease the worry of missing our tour (though I would feel bad skipping the entire line of people waiting to get off as well...). Just want to know if this is an option if need-be.

 

Thanks in advance!

[Cruisergal1208]

Hi everyone! We're sailing on the Seaside in YC this summer and are looking to book an external (not through MSC) snorkel tour at our stop in Grand Cayman.

 

I'm worried about making the start time of the tour after reading some of the reviews that state MSC's tendering process is mayhem in the mornings with everyone trying to get off at the same time and some waiting over an hour to get a tender to shore. I've read that one of the YC perks is having your butler escort you to the front of the line when embarking/disembarking, but does this apply to tendering ports too? It would ease the worry of missing our tour (though I would feel bad skipping the entire line of people waiting to get off as well...). Just want to know if this is an option if need-be.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Yes, the butler will take you to the tendering line. But you will still have to wait till the boat fills up. It holds quite a lot of people. Last time, they used tender ferries from GC. and they hold more people. I remember waiting quite a while for others to get on.

[lcpagejr]

Yes.. Tenders are large. But you should have no worries about missing your tour unless you leave extremely late. The Tour operators are accustomed to tender process delays. Also look for the YC Butler with a sign on your return tender. We must have passed 200 passengers standing inline.....Great benefit as we moved right to the area where the tenders were loading

[Aldri_CA]

Thank you both for your replies.

 

Just to confirm: the butler will take you to the front of the line of the tendering line - not just the area where you begin to line up (e.g., simply escorting you to the back of the line which we can easily do ourselves)? (Of course we will have to wait for the boat to fill up... if YC gave passengers their own private tendering boats, that would be the deal of the century!!).

 

That's great to hear we get to by-pass the line coming back on the boat. It's never a fun time to wait in the blazing sun after spending so many hours sunbathing on the beach. But, at least there's worse problems to have! ;)

[lcpagejr]

Thank you both for your replies.

 

Just to confirm: the butler will take you to the front of the line of the tendering line - not just the area where you begin to line up (e.g., simply escorting you to the back of the line which we can easily do ourselves)? (Of course we will have to wait for the boat to fill up... if YC gave passengers their own private tendering boats, that would be the deal of the century!!).

 

That's great to hear we get to by-pass the line coming back on the boat. It's never a fun time to wait in the blazing sun after spending so many hours sunbathing on the beach. But, at least there's worse problems to have! ;)

 

He will take you down to deck 4 and to the area you have your card scanned to leave the ship. If there is a crowd you will be brought close to the front and there maybe a small group being processed ahead of you. We always departed mid morning...so the rush was gone...but we did go on 2 MSC excursions and they check you in and give you your excursion sticker in the Top Sail Lounge so again...you miss the crowd! There is not an exclusive exit just for YC.

 

As for returning....MSC does have several tents the long lines walk under....but it does not protect you completely from the Sun during the wait. This is where the YC adds more value...so there is not a long wait. YC does have a priority boarding entrance when you get back to ship

[Aldri_CA]

He will take you down to deck 4 and to the area you have your card scanned to leave the ship. If there is a crowd you will be brought close to the front and there maybe a small group being processed ahead of you. We always departed mid morning...so the rush was gone...but we did go on 2 MSC excursions and they check you in and give you your excursion sticker in the Top Sail Lounge so again...you miss the crowd! There is not an exclusive exit just for YC.

 

As for returning....MSC does have several tents the long lines walk under....but it does not protect you completely from the Sun during the wait. This is where the YC adds more value...so there is not a long wait. YC does have a priority boarding entrance when you get back to ship

 

Excellent, thanks for your help!