NCL tickets to tender???

[wilson9112]

I have been on NCL several times and never had to get a ticket to tender. Is this new? I have been reading posts that people are getting tickets the day before to get a tender. How does this work? I booked shore excursions on my own and need to get off the first tender.

[Don Haynes]

When you have 3000 passengers wanting off the ship on the first tender of 150 passengers or so, it takes time to tender, up to two hours. NCL's policy is to allow all of their NCL sold shore excursions off first, their suite passengers off second, and the rest via the free tender tickets, first come first served.

[Urban trekker]

"I booked shore excursions on my own and need to get off the first tender."

 

It won't happened - as explained above - ship shore excursions and other VIP's go off first - on my last two NCL cruises where we tendered - those doing their own thing had to line up at 8:00AM to get a tender ticket and then wait for all the priority cruisers to depart and then they called the numbers 100 at a time.

 

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but this is another reason why it is best to do a ship's shore excursion.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[Toyz711]

getting tender tickets is like the colored tags for disembarking. they will announce when the tickets are available, just watch/listen for it. tendering is a pain, just because the people don't listen and panic about getting off the ship. on my other tendering experiences (on other cruiselines, many years ago) we weren't doing a tour and just waited until the people cleared off the ship.

[clerky96]

Last Feb we were on the Sun and had booked a ship excursion at our only tender port. At the last minute they changed where we were supposed to meet, and told us to meet on the dock. No priority tender for us. We were able to get off in plenty of time for our tour, but it was aggrevating that we were told that we would get priority tendering and didn't. So, don't book a ship excursion just because you think you will get tendering priority. I KNOW that is not necessarily true.:rolleyes:

[garycarla]

As to the person that said they did not have tickets before. This is possible if you waited until the mad rush was over to go ashore. We often do this to avoid the standing in line and listening to people upset that they are going to miss their tour, etc. etc.

 

Once the initial groups get off, they skip doing the tender tickets.

[DAGVBSB]

I have been on NCL several times and never had to get a ticket to tender. Is this new? I have been reading posts that people are getting tickets the day before to get a tender. How does this work? I booked shore excursions on my own and need to get off the first tender.

 

Not new. I have been on NCL cruises since 2002 and there have always been tickets for tendering ports.

 

I have been on several NCL sponsored tours. On the POA, we met in the theater and they took us down some crew steps and through a crew area (it was neat to see that part of the ship). We came out just down the hall from where the regular tendering line was winding up the steps. We were escorted right through and right past a lot of passengers (icy stares all the way) and we were put on the next tender to come in.

 

I have also heard of suite passengers who get priortiy tender tickets meaning that they can go down to the tender anytime they want and are put on the next tender.

[CRUZIN TOM]

In the past we have gone to the reception desk after 8 PM the night before and have gotten the tender tickets for the next day. I don't know if they still offer that. It didn't save us that much time. They will not leave the ship until each tender is packed like sardines. About a 100 or so passengers. Try to get on the tender last not first......:) Other wise you will have a long wait smelling the desiel fumes. Not my favorite part of taking the tenders.:)

[vacation fool]

Just off the Pearl this past Friday and it is true that u have to line up that am to get tender tickets. We also had a private tour scheduled and wanted to be off first. Spoke with the pursers desk the nite before and that morning to no avail. One of our party got in line a few minutes before 9 and got our 5 tickets. We were numbers starting at 27 but like other person said we sat for a good 15 min waiting for tender to fill up. The funny part is that no one at any time even asked to see our tender tickets:confused:

[Toyz711]

i have hear that the tenders in belize are great.. larger and faster...they don't use the ship's lifeboats. but the ride into port is longer, due to them staying more out to sea? last time i did a tender was around the greek islands...this should be interesting. but i am no a ship excursion.

[wilson9112]

i have hear that the tenders in belize are great.. larger and faster...they don't use the ship's lifeboats. but the ride into port is longer, due to them staying more out to sea? last time i did a tender was around the greek islands...this should be interesting. but i am no a ship excursion.

 

Well, I never had to get a ticket before. Perhaps because I have always booked excursions with the cruiseline. Oh well! From what everyone says, I guess it wont be a problem. Thanks all:D

[DAGVBSB]

Well, I never had to get a ticket before. Perhaps because I have always booked excursions with the cruiseline. Oh well! From what everyone says, I guess it wont be a problem. Thanks all:D

 

Yes, if you book an excursion through the cruise line, the excursion ticket serves as your tender ticket

[Planer's Edge]

Tender tickets have been a reality as far back as I have cruised (1989). The distribution of these tickets has changed many times.

 

On the dawn a few weeks ago they started handing out tickets about the time we were to start tendering. I thought this was a great idea as it kept the halls leading to the tender area much less congested. All those people that were in such a hurry to get off the ship were lined up somewhere else.:rolleyes:

 

PE

[HighSeaslover]

On our last cruise I too booked an excursion not through the ship. I went to the Pursers' desk and informed them of my situation, they gave me and DH a tender ticket for the first tender! I loved the fact that they were really trying to help everyone out. Most times when there are tenders we stay back and wait till everyone that wants off is off. It is nice to sit on the deck with a cup of coffee and watch everyone else hurry and scurry. Sometimes I think people forget that vacations are to relax and enjoy. We try real hard NOT to book early excursions so that we don't have to be stressed out and can enjoy the tour in a leisurely way.

[Planer's Edge]

On our last cruise I too booked an excursion not through the ship. I went to the Pursers' desk and informed them of my situation, they gave me and DH a tender ticket for the first tender! I loved the fact that they were really trying to help everyone out.

 

Was you last cruise on NCL or Princess?

 

PE

[HighSeaslover]

Princess!

[Planer's Edge]

Princess!

 

Thank you. I just wanted to clarify since this thread is about NCL's tender ticket practices.

 

PE

[HighSeaslover]

I know but I have sailed RCCL, Carnival & Princess and feel they try hard to accomidate their guests. I have no doubt that NCL will also. We are taking our first NCL cruise this coming January! I am really excited about trying the Freestyle services.

 

A cruise is what YOU make it.

[Planer's Edge]

I know but I have sailed RCCL, Carnival & Princess and feel they try hard to accomidate their guests. I have no doubt that NCL will also. We are taking our first NCL cruise this coming January! I am really excited about trying the Freestyle services.

 

A cruise is what YOU make it.

 

Have a great cruise. I am sure you will love the Jewel. Let us know how Freestyle works out for you.

 

PE

[DAGVBSB]

On our last cruise I too booked an excursion not through the ship. I went to the Pursers' desk and informed them of my situation, they gave me and DH a tender ticket for the first tender! I loved the fact that they were really trying to help everyone out.

 

Funny, I have never heard of NCL giving out tender tickets (except priority tickets to Suite guests) early. I could see how that practice, when word gets out about it, would start a real problem with lines forming at the purser's desk hours before the actual tender ticket handout.

[Planer's Edge]

Funny, I have never heard of NCL giving out tender tickets (except priority tickets to Suite guests) early. I could see how that practice, when word gets out about it, would start a real problem with lines forming at the purser's desk hours before the actual tender ticket handout.

 

This has already been clarified if you read more of the thread. She got this treatment on Princess.

 

PE

[wilson9112]

Funny, I have never heard of NCL giving out tender tickets (except priority tickets to Suite guests) early. I could see how that practice, when word gets out about it, would start a real problem with lines forming at the purser's desk hours before the actual tender ticket handout.

 

Thats what I thought until I read these threads. I thought it was there but I didnt know it becasue I always book excursions with the ship. I only questioned it this time because its my first time booking on my own. I guess it will work ok. Just feel so time pressured!:eek:

[Crafti2750]

Just got off the Sun on Sat., we did the tender and if you have a shore excursion you go first we waited till about 9:30 to get our tickets we had no excursions, we waited for about half hour, they would call from 1 to 150, then 1 to 250, each time they called the number was higher they went from1 to 300 to 500, but by 11:oo I think you didn't have to worry about tender tickets, and they did collect them and looked at them because some one in front of us had a higher number, Belize took about 15 mins. Hope this helps. enjoy your cruise.

[mablinki]

I have 3 free VIP Tender tickets and will send them to anyone interested.

 

Just leave your e-mail info. I didn't use them the last cruise I took on the Pearl and it looks like it doesn't expire.

 

 

The ticket states you can board any tender you like to go ashore. No need to wait till your nubmer's called, just listen for the next available tender and get going! They were from the concierge. If you would like them just leave your e-mail infor on board and I will contact you.

[bearswife]

I have 3 free VIP Tender tickets and will send them to anyone interested.

 

Just leave your e-mail info. I didn't use them the last cruise I took on the Pearl and it looks like it doesn't expire.

 

 

The ticket states you can board any tender you like to go ashore. No need to wait till your nubmer's called, just listen for the next available tender and get going! They were from the concierge. If you would like them just leave your e-mail infor on board and I will contact you.

 

Wow, I would love them. However, Im sailing the Sun. Does it say Pearl on it? If not, I would appreciate that very much as I have booked excursions on my own...my email address is fullhousepc@netscape.net

Thank you so much, Pat