RCI tender ticket

[Buckeye 6]

Our stop on Toulon just changed to tender. We haven’t done a tender recently on RCI. We are going independently into the city not on excursion. We know we have to report to a location to get tickets. We have 2 questions

1.  Is their priority based on what Tier level you are? I know that on Celebrity we received priority based on Elite level. 
2.  Does everyone in the group have to report to the location to get the tender ticket?  There are 6 in our family and hopefully we all don’t need to go at 6am when they start distributing tickets. 
Thank you Linda

[firefly333]

I was told at grand Cayman rcl doesn't prioritize tender tickets. I booked thru rcl and walked the length of the ship 3 times following disorganized crew instructions  ... and I bought my excursion thru rcl. Wasnt happy. 

[Airbear232]

We were on Explorer last month and tendered to Santorini.  No priority other than to RCL excursions.  Only one person had to go.  Go earlier than stated.  On our cruise they started giving out half an hour early because so many people were waiting. 

[Buckeye 6]

Our son called RC and they said the planner is wrong and we are tendered. They will update the planner 

[twangster]

Feel free to photoshop

 

[steveru621]

On 6/8/2023 at 10:07 PM, Buckeye 6 said:

Our stop on Toulon just changed to tender. We haven’t done a tender recently on RCI. We are going independently into the city not on excursion. We know we have to report to a location to get tickets. We have 2 questions

1.  Is their priority based on what Tier level you are? I know that on Celebrity we received priority based on Elite level. 
2.  Does everyone in the group have to report to the location to get the tender ticket?  There are 6 in our family and hopefully we all don’t need to go at 6am when they start distributing tickets. 
Thank you Linda

 

RCI excursions always get priority; suites and Pinnacles generally get escorted to a separate tender area by the concierge.  Only one passenger needs to get tender tickets for the entire group.

[Buckeye 6]

1 hour ago, steveru621 said:

 

RCI excursions always get priority; suites and Pinnacles generally get escorted to a separate tender area by the concierge.  Only one passenger needs to get tender tickets for the entire group.

Thank you this is what I needed to know 

[CruiseMelissa]

I have more tender questions...

1. If you get to the distribution and they're currently handing out group 4, can you ask for a later group like 12?  Or do you have to take the next availabile?

 

2.  Somewhat similarly, when they call those with tender ticket 8, does that mean anyone with tickets 1-8 or just 8 and if you had an earlier # you are out of luck? 

[DukeASUGirl]

22 minutes ago, CruiseMelissa said:

I have more tender questions...

1. If you get to the distribution and they're currently handing out group 4, can you ask for a later group like 12?  Or do you have to take the next availabile?

 

2.  Somewhat similarly, when they call those with tender ticket 8, does that mean anyone with tickets 1-8 or just 8 and if you had an earlier # you are out of luck? 

We got to the distribution area 4 minutes after it began, but I was already Tender group 23 by that point because apparently people had been lined up waiting for more than 2 hours. I kid you not.

 

Anyway, at least on our cruise, but they literally didn't even check the tickets at all when it came time to board the tenders. They called 3 groups at a time, and all they did was scan your Seapass. And if you missed your slot, you just went when you could. Like if you were in the bathroom when they called Groups 7, 8, and 9, you could just go when they called Groups 10, 11, and 12.

[CynBeth6]

We will hopefully be on a Med cruise next month. We are mostly going on our own. Can you explain what the tender ticket process is as this is new to us? Thanks!

[Biker19]

8 hours ago, CynBeth6 said:

Can you explain what the tender ticket process is as this is new to us?

There will likely be an announcement on board (via Compass, app, at the show, etc) about how to get one. Actual implementation of use will likely vary but usually they announce groups to report to the tendering area. 

[NanaPam00]

If you are on an excursion through the ship do

you still need to get a tender ticket?

[Biker19]

4 hours ago, NanaPam00 said:

If you are on an excursion through the ship do you still need to get a tender ticket?

No. 

[CynBeth6]

How soon before the day of the tendered port do you sign up for this and is it in person or on the app? If in person where do you go to do this and what time do they start giving them out? How long of a wait do you have getting off such as if they start calling groups at 8 am does it take an hour to get to you if have a number 25 for example or 2 hours, etc? We are trying to book some attraction tickets ahead of time for a few Mediterranean ports and for one are taking a train so wanted to have an idea. Thanks!

[neverbeenhere]

You show up in person the get the tickets. The amount of time to get to a particular number is a crap shoot. So called Water Shuttles(tenders) get held up all the time… rough seas, slow moving passengers and a variety of other things happen to make predicting the time very hard.  If you don’t have a large group, you could consider attempting the trade with other passengers method. Bring out your best sob story. AND…Best to assure them that you will be buying a few drinks later that evening. 

[Tree_skier]

3 hours ago, CynBeth6 said:

How soon before the day of the tendered port do you sign up for this and is it in person or on the app? If in person where do you go to do this and what time do they start giving them out? How long of a wait do you have getting off such as if they start calling groups at 8 am does it take an hour to get to you if have a number 25 for example or 2 hours, etc? We are trying to book some attraction tickets ahead of time for a few Mediterranean ports and for one are taking a train so wanted to have an idea. Thanks!

Tendering time is a crap shoot.  I'd book RCi excursions at tender ports.  You get priority tendering then.  

[CynBeth6]

We are traveling with my elderly mother and the ship excursions offered for the most part she felt are too strenuous for her so we are pretty much going around the different ports on our own. When does this open up to get tender tickets is it the day before or day of? and Where and what time do they usually start offering it? 

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, CynBeth6 said:

When does this open up to get tender tickets is it the day before or day of? and Where and what time do they usually start offering it? 

The tickets are usually handed out the day before the tender port - location/time varies.

[CynBeth6]

Oh no the day before is the one day we have an excursion booked and will be out all day. Hope it works out. Thanks!

[marci22]

They will tell you the decks/areas where you can wait for your tender number to be called. I would be ready and at this location early. Once the line goes down for the tenders, they will usually let you on even if your number has not been called yet. Sometimes they call the tender numbers earlier than expected and I have been able to get on the first tender because there are no other people waiting. 

 

If there is a line they will make you wait for your number to be called.

[Rogueperson]

There really is no rhyme or reason.

 

Last year, I was on Adventure.  We had to tender into bar harbor.  I had a fairly early excursion (10am for an 8am arrival).  Stupid me, missed the first tender ticket session the day before and I had to go to the one that was offered morning of. 7am.  I was there at 6:30am and waited because I was hoping for some semblance of an early tender ticket, and hoped this was my best chance, but not really expecting anything because of the fact that I'm at the second session.  I got priority #1 somehow. 

[Buckeye 6]

Tender tickets have also been distributed in the early morning of the port call. It may vary by chip or port 

[teddybear231]

What about if you purchased The Key? It says you get priority tender access, do they give you tickets automatically in your room?

[Merion_Mom]

1 hour ago, teddybear231 said:

What about if you purchased The Key? It says you get priority tender access, do they give you tickets automatically in your room?

No, you can just go to the front of the line.  (expect glares)

[teddybear231]

On 6/13/2023 at 4:19 PM, Merion_Mom said:

No, you can just go to the front of the line.  (expect glares)

 

😆 good to know!