How does tendering process work ?

[MONKEY20]

We are shown as arriving at 8an and I want to book a private tour which starts at 9.15. How does NCL arrange tender tickets? I am sailing on Norwegian Dawn.

Many thanks. Ian

[dpepper64]

1. Get in line and jump on tenders,  Usually they run 2-4 tenders at a time so you should be ok.  If your booked thru NCL you bump all other passengers

[ontheweb]

1 hour ago, dpepper64 said:

1. Get in line and jump on tenders,  Usually they run 2-4 tenders at a time so you should be ok.  If your booked thru NCL you bump all other passengers

When you say "booked thru NCL", I assume you mean an NCL excursion, correct?

[mapleleaves]

which  port ?  Some are trickier than others.  ie on NCL Gem last Sept, the tickets were available the day prior at 8am.  We got there at 7 and there was already a line)

Pax with priority status and NCL excursions will be off first

 

 

[dpepper64]

yes if you book thru NCL no issue with tender

[genealogyfan]

Also if your excursion is through NCL and it isn't until hours after you dock (like you dock in the morning and your excursion is in the afternoon), you can still use your excursion ticket as your tender ticket at anytime during the day. You won't need to get a separate tender ticket. You can get in line anytime and get on a tender.

[Rob_H]

On 9/4/2023 at 11:56 AM, MONKEY20 said:

We are shown as arriving at 8an and I want to book a private tour which starts at 9.15. How does NCL arrange tender tickets? I am sailing on Norwegian Dawn.

 

For tendering there are normally (free) tender tickets, in numbered groups.  These are available early in the morning (sometimes previous night) at a location specified in Freestyle.  Go early to get a low tender ticket number  (just one person from your group needs to go). 

 

When the tendering starts, a few ship (not private) excursions may be let off, then they'll call tenders by number.  When (or just before...) your tender ticket number is called, you can join the queue.  After all the numbers have been called (can be hours), there are "open tenders" and anybody can go with no ticket.

 

If you're Latitudes gold or above, you can join the queue at any time, without needing a tender ticket.  If you're on a ship shorex, no tender ticket is needed (and you probably get to jump the queue).  If you're solo, the solos host will often give out tender tickets the night before at the solos meetup. But no special treatment for those who have private tours planned.

 

Tendering can be slow, no guarantees you can get off quick even with a low ticket number.

 

No tickets are needed to get back to the ship, just join the queue on shore.

 

 

Edited September 8, 2023 by Rob_H

[KeithJenner]

It really depends on the port and how individual ships deal with the process. You book a tender ticket and are given a group (unless you are on an NCL tour or have priority due to latitudes status or or in a suite).

 

They call the group numbers and once those are done then it is open access. Getting through the groups usually takes a couple of hours so if you need to get off early then get a ticket as soon as you can.

 

You can usually get tender tickets through the NCL app as well as places mentioned earlier.

[KeithJenner]

On 9/4/2023 at 9:56 PM, MONKEY20 said:

We are shown as arriving at 8an and I want to book a private tour which starts at 9.15. How does NCL arrange tender tickets? I am sailing on Norwegian Dawn.

Many thanks. Ian

Just noticed you are on the Dawn. The Dawn goes to some ports where tendering is particularly challenging, due to long tendering distances and some short port times which really make things busy.

 

What port are you taking about?

[mking8288]

YMMV, returning to the ship at the end of the day when tendering, Haven (and, I believe, sometimes extended to suite (not mini or club) pax - priority to take the next available tender (in other words, skip the line or go to the front of the line from a separete waiting area ... typically escorted or assisted by the concierge/butler/Haven teams assigned to be ashore to be on the lookout/watch for "their" guests).  

 

Check with them before going ashore for details & how/where ... Nevertheless, the entire tender trip easily takes 20 to 40 minutes under ideal circumstances, no lines, no wait and not waiting for the tender boat to be 95% full before it leave or depart.  That's for a "short" 5 to 10 minutes time to do the crossing between the ship and tender pier, or vice versa.   Sunscreen for high SPF+ protection plus a hat, and water for hydration - highly recommended while under the hot sun and strong UV lights.   

[ICutTheCheese]

It works quite well.