Phuket, port or tender

[NorthernJoey]

Hi,

 

I cannot find information about Phuket / NCL Jewel. So, which one it will be, tender or port near Cape Panwa ?

And if tendering will it be by tender to Patong Beach or where? Visit to Phuket is 7th January 7 AM - 6PM

 

or

[NeilonBoard]

On 11/15/2023 at 2:03 AM, NorthernJoey said:

Hi,

 

I cannot find information about Phuket / NCL Jewel. So, which one it will be, tender or port near Cape Panwa ?

And if tendering will it be by tender to Patong Beach or where? Visit to Phuket is 7th January 7 AM - 6PM

 

or

In January which is high season the cruise ships normally anchor in Patong Bay on the West coast and tender passengers ashore. The tender will drop passengers at the southern end of Patong Beach which is close to shops, bars and restaurants.

In low season (monsoon) the ships berth near Phuket town on the East coast in an area with very little appeal. You would have to make your own arrangements for transport to Phuket town or to the  western beaches. The cruise line may provide a shuttle.

[NorthernJoey]

Thank you NeilonBoard, this is what I presumed. NCL just states that Phuket is a tender port, that's all info I was able to find.

 

Any idea, when the last tender will be? 60 or 90 mins before 6PM when ship departs?

[Maria63]

I agree that the info is difficult to find, and even if the itinerary says "tender" it´s unfortunately no guarantee that the tendering will be at Patong. Generally for instance RCI Spectrum OTS indeed tenders at Patong during high season, but we did HAL Westerdam in Feb 23 and for some reason, they actually did the tendering off Cape Panwa. We opted to stay onboard, but those who went ashore reported back that the tendering was very uncomfortable indeed due to high swells and the long distance to get to the pier.

 

There may of course have been an acceptable reason for this arrangement, for instance that Patong cannot handle more than one shipload of guests on any given day.

[NorthernJoey]

Thank you Maria

I think I just need to wait and see which way it will be.