Wait time for excursions

[belmont]

:confused: How long does it take before people can get off the ship in ports? Is it best to get in line early and wait to be one of the many first off or get in line later and wait?

 

Thanks!

[Toto2Kansas]

That depends on if tenders are used. If they aren't, the line moves very quickly. If tenders are needed, then you must go with your entire party and everyone needs to get a tender ticket. You can not go and get one for everyone in your family but they all have to be present.

[FredS]

How long before you can get off the ship depends on how long it takes the local authorities to approve all the paperwork. Sometimes this can cause a wait past the original dembarkation time. Usually not too long, less than an hour. This can happen whether tied up or using tenders.

 

If you don't have ship excursions and you are tendering usually ship excursion get off first if they have early start times. Tenders can take about 120 people at a time so lines go pretty fast.

 

Ship excursions always have a meeting place on the ship to collect all the people going on the tour. As has been said, everyone in your party must be at the meeting place to get a tender ticket or tour tag on your clothing.

[Pam in CA]

Something else to factor in if the ship is tendering is that Princess tours get priority on the tenders. If you've booked an independent tour, you'll probably need to wait until the tours have left or in a long line for the extra spaces on a tender.

 

If the ship is docked, it can take anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour for the ship to prepare the gangways and have the local authorities come onboard and allow the ship to disembark passengers. Once you're allowed to get off the ship, there's usually a rush among those wanting to be the first to get off.

[OnlyCruises]

If your not in a hurry to go ashore you can wait an hour and a half after the first tender and not have to wait at all. It works most of the time.