Tendering process with a private tour?

[BlerkOne]

What is the Celebrity process for tender ports if you have a private tour. Do you need to grab tender tickets somewhere and then hurry up and wait? The port in question is Stanley in the Falklands if it makes a difference. Thank you.

[omeinv]

Yes, first will be tenders for Celebrity's shore excursions, which generally depart from the forward deck 1, while simultaneously regular tendering begins at the midship deck 1.  First will be Elite and above Captain's Club members, and then those with tender tickets.  Generally by about two hours after they go to open tendering, and tickets are no longer required. 

 

Harris

Denver, CO

[Northern Aurora]

I have actually tendered at Port Stanley.  My experience was that this is a port where essentially the entire ship wants to get off that ship right NOW.  At the time we were Elite+ (did not reached Zenith until a few months later).  We used our Elite+ tender priority and were able to make it to our Patrick Watts tour to Volunteer Point with few problems.  As I recall we were not on the first tender, but on the second or third.

 

For those not on X tours there will tender tickets issued by number.  If you don't have priority tender due to Captain's Club status you will pick up the tickets and wait until your number is called.  But this is an unusual port and almost everyone will want to get off.

[the penguins]

1 hour ago, Northern Aurora said:

I have actually tendered at Port Stanley.  My experience was that this is a port where essentially the entire ship wants to get off that ship right NOW.  At the time we were Elite+ (did not reached Zenith until a few months later).  We used our Elite+ tender priority and were able to make it to our Patrick Watts tour to Volunteer Point with few problems.  As I recall we were not on the first tender, but on the second or third.

 

For those not on X tours there will tender tickets issued by number.  If you don't have priority tender due to Captain's Club status you will pick up the tickets and wait until your number is called.  But this is an unusual port and almost everyone will want to get off.

Also it's a long ride in which is one reason Port Stanley is often missed as the Captain must be sure that not only can the tenders get you in but, more importantly, get you back. We should have been twice. First with X, the port was cancelled 24 hours before due to rough seas being forcast. Second on a smaller expedition ship which docked right in the harbour just minutes from the town 

[upwarduk]

Good luck.

We experienced 3 hours delay in Split.

We only had Select status at the time.When I complained, I was told that Celebrity tours get priority.

[the penguins]

10 hours ago, the penguins said:

Also it's a long ride in which is one reason Port Stanley is often missed as the Captain must be sure that not only can the tenders get you in but, more importantly, get you back. We should have been twice. First with X, the port was cancelled 24 hours before due to rough seas being forcast. Second on a smaller expedition ship which docked right in the harbour just minutes from the town 

Specifically for the OP. If  you have contact with the other members of your private tour check to see how many of them have priority tendering ( Elite and above). If it's most talk to the CC Host, explain the situation and see if the "odd" passengers can be issued with priority passes. If you are particularly lucky and a  good proportion of the group are in Suites see if the whole group can be added to suite priority. In either case agree a specific place/time for you to meet up. We have had success with both these options. As always be polite not demanding and hopefully you will have the same success as we have had.

[upwarduk]

3 hours ago, the penguins said:

it's most talk to the CC Host, explain the situation and see if the "odd" passengers can be issued with priority passes.

An Elite member of our group organised just that for our tendering in Maui. She was on the Roll Call for our cruise and indicated what she intended doing. We all met with the C.C Host in a room on Century, at a pre arranged time.

It worked very well.

[Lastdance]

Is anyone on your tour in a suite?  That can be a "suite deal" for everyone else, as long as there are not too many.  I love taking the back way to get off; did that for Israel and it worked well, except that are guide was not there...her heard about from us, but it actually worked out for the best inside Jerusalem.

Edited January 12, 2023 by Lastdance

[CaribbeanBound]

OMEINV nailed the answer and you got additional good info on how to try to get an earlier tender from the other respondees.

[BlerkOne]

1 hour ago, Lastdance said:

Is anyone on your tour in a suite?  That can be a "suite deal" for everyone else, as long as there are not too many.  I love taking the back way to get off; did that for Israel and it worked well, except that are guide was not there...her heard about from us, but it actually worked out for the best inside Jerusalem.

I am not aware of anyone else on the tour, although there must be others. I am not above (below?) trying to attach myself to a ship tour or seeing if some group with status wants to adopt me. Or just heading for a tender unless/until someone physically stops me. I can always beg forgiveness. 🙂 I booked a Volunteer Point tour through a broker (a longer story), so I probably am in someone's group.

 

Ushuaia is a tender port on our schedule so I can try to research what I think might give me the best chance. I'll have a ship tour there and can see how that works.

 

Really I'm just trying to get ashore within a hour of tendering starting, so even if I follow the rules and get an early tender ticket, I think I should be okay. I have an alarm clock.

 

 

[Arizona Wildcat]

21 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

What is the Celebrity process for tender ports if you have a private tour. Do you need to grab tender tickets somewhere and then hurry up and wait? The port in question is Stanley in the Falklands if it makes a difference. Thank you.

We had a private tour in the Falklands a few years ago.  Several of us that were Elite coordinated with the Captain's Club rrp to obtain priority tickets for the group.  It took a bit of patience, tact and a discussion that began just after boarding.  FWIW our group was about 25 and 2/3 were Elite.

[the penguins]

6 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

I am not aware of anyone else on the tour, although there must be others. I am not above (below?) trying to attach myself to a ship tour or seeing if some group with status wants to adopt me. Or just heading for a tender unless/until someone physically stops me. I can always beg forgiveness. 🙂 I booked a Volunteer Point tour through a broker (a longer story), so I probably am in someone's group.

 

Ushuaia is a tender port on our schedule so I can try to research what I think might give me the best chance. I'll have a ship tour there and can see how that works.

 

Really I'm just trying to get ashore within a hour of tendering starting, so even if I follow the rules and get an early tender ticket, I think I should be okay. I have an alarm clock.

 

 

Is there a specific Roll Call for your cruise? If there is post full details of your tour you are on (start time, etc) explain the tendering implications and ask for anyone else on the tour to get in touch. It's a good bet that you will get enough responses to be able to approach the CC Host for help.

[john1970]

We had beautiful weather for Port Stanley. Unfortunately our battlefields tour was cancelled due to the bus breaking down! It's just one of those ports where they have finite resources. We did get ashore with no issues and still had a memorable day. I think you will be just fine as long as the weather is kind. If not then all of the people on the tour will be in the same situation and the guide onshore will be aware as it's a very small community onshore.

[the penguins]

4 hours ago, the penguins said:

Is there a specific Roll Call for your cruise? If there is post full details of your tour you are on (start time, etc) explain the tendering implications and ask for anyone else on the tour to get in touch. It's a good bet that you will get enough responses to be able to approach the CC Host for help.

You should also note that it's 25 minutes on the tender each way so getting everyone on the same one would make life easier.

[BlerkOne]

8 hours ago, the penguins said:

Is there a specific Roll Call for your cruise? If there is post full details of your tour you are on (start time, etc) explain the tendering implications and ask for anyone else on the tour to get in touch. It's a good bet that you will get enough responses to be able to approach the CC Host for help.

I will try here and there. Last time I looked (a while ago) I couldn't find a there, but looked again and there is a there. 🙂

[the penguins]

4 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

I will try here and there. Last time I looked (a while ago) I couldn't find a there, but looked again and there is a there. 🙂

Great. Please let us know how you get on. It's always annoying when you don't know the ending and your experience might help others. What ship and date is your cruise?

[BlerkOne]

4 minutes ago, the penguins said:

Great. Please let us know how you get on. It's always annoying when you don't know the ending and your experience might help others. What ship and date is your cruise?

I will be doing an "Almost Live" from Infinity (Internet willing)

[the penguins]

3 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

I will be doing an "Almost Live" from Infinity (Internet willing)

Once you are down around the peninsular the emphasis might be on the "Almost". You will need the faster ( premium) internet to be able to post on Cruise Critic.

[BlerkOne]

6 hours ago, the penguins said:

Once you are down around the peninsular the emphasis might be on the "Almost". You will need the faster ( premium) internet to be able to post on Cruise Critic.

Booked. I should also have Internet anywhere I can pick up land cell service, which may also be slim.

[the penguins]

5 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

Booked. I should also have Internet anywhere I can pick up land cell service, which may also be slim.

My advice. Just enjoy your time somewhere that hopefully won't have any internet access. Get out on deck watch the burgs, the birds and possibly even whales, penguins and seals. The "modern" world will still be waiting when you return. Enjoy

[BlerkOne]

5 hours ago, the penguins said:

My advice. Just enjoy your time somewhere that hopefully won't have any internet access. Get out on deck watch the burgs, the birds and possibly even whales, penguins and seals. The "modern" world will still be waiting when you return. Enjoy

Thank you. Yes, of course. I'm sure the enthusiasm of the initial posts will wane and peter out to be resurrected sometime after the cruise. At least that is how it usually turns out. But it does reduce my losses in the casino. 🙂

[the penguins]

4 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

Thank you. Yes, of course. I'm sure the enthusiasm of the initial posts will wane and peter out to be resurrected sometime after the cruise. At least that is how it usually turns out. But it does reduce my losses in the casino. 🙂

Loses, surely you jest. The boss (Anita) likes to convert all our OBC into cold hard cash playing roulette ( yes we know about using the slots and cashing out but prefer our fun way of achieving the same thing) and has never made a loss yet. 😀 

[phoenix_dream]

Celebrity doesn't differentiate between those on private tours versus anyone else not booking a Celebrity tour. Once the tour tenders are gone you can get on. You go to the designated place and get a ticket until all clear is announced. 

[the penguins]

1 hour ago, phoenix_dream said:

Celebrity doesn't differentiate between those on private tours versus anyone else not booking a Celebrity tour. Once the tour tenders are gone you can get on. You go to the designated place and get a ticket until all clear is announced. 

X actually has 3 groups not 2 as you suggest:

1) is people on an X  tour.

2) Elite and above plus Suites who also get priority.

3) everyone not in 1 and 2.

The difficulty for passengers with private tours arises when some members fall into Group 2 and the rest are in Group 3. In the past Captain's Club Hosts have, albeit unofficially, helped where the majority on a private tour are in Group 2 by giving out passes to the few who didn't qualify for priority.