How does tender work?

[momonmeds]

Hi, we are cruising for the first time to the Mexican Riviera in December. I see that Cabo is a tender port, and I know that that means we take small boats to shore. How does that work? We are trying to plan shore excursions, and Cabo is a short day ashore. Just trying to plan time-wise. Do we have to wait in line for the boats? How long? Once we leave the ship, can we go back and forth? Thanks for your help!

Beth

[gizmo]

On most ships you need to get a "tender ticket". They will be numbered. When you number is announced you go to the designated area to board the tender. Your daily program should tell you time and place to pick up a tender ticket. Be aware, it can be a real zoo with everyone trying to get early tickets.

[lazygal]

Like Gizmo said, it used to be a free for all, but most cruise lines now have you go to the theater and get a tender ticket - then depending on traffic, you wait in a row until you are escorted to the tender. People with ship run tours get priority, also people in suites. It's not a big thing, the tenders handle 100 people easily and they run back and forth all day. As soon as one fills up and leaves, another one pulls up.

 

Cabo is the only port where we have ever been searched at the dock though - do not take fruit or food from the ship. I guess that's what they were looking for.

[solita]

Hi, we are cruising for the first time to the Mexican Riviera in December. I see that Cabo is a tender port, and I know that that means we take small boats to shore. How does that work? We are trying to plan shore excursions, and Cabo is a short day ashore. Just trying to plan time-wise. Do we have to wait in line for the boats? How long? Once we leave the ship, can we go back and forth? Thanks for your help!

Beth

 

The best advise is to follow the directions of the ship staff on where to go and what to do. Your ticket will always say where to meet on the ship and what time to be there. Depending on the ship/cruiseline, you may need a sticker to get on the tender or not. Also depending on same, there may be one gangway for tour guests and one for non. Some cruiselines use just the own tenders, some use a combination of ship tenders and tenders from Cabo Tender company and at least one ship only uses Cabo Tenders. So the size and capacity of the tenders varies from approx. 55-100 depending. Returning to the ship is continuous and you can come and go as you please. The only waiting line on the pier to return to the ship occurs later in the day as ship departure time approaches. But do not worry, the tenders will continue to run until the last person in line on the pier is onboard. They do not stop at a certain time if there is a line.