Dock vs. Tendered?

[becca3711]

What is the difference? Are you allowed to get off the ship and then go back on as you please?

 

We are going to be docked in Nassau from 8 am to 11:59 pm, so I will probably want to shower back in my cabin after our excursion before dinner on the island. As long as we have our seapass card, are we free to enter and exit as we please? Can we use the ships' ammenities as we please while it is docked/tendered (ie pools, casinos, eating lunch/dinner, etc)

 

We are going to be tendered in cococay. Again, what is the difference, and are we free to enter and exit the boat as we please?

 

Thank you and I apologize I did search, but didn't really find answers to all of my questions.

[Parkay]

Docked means you are docked at a pier and can just walk on and off the ship. Tendered means you are anchored out in the water, and have to tender in to shore on smaller boats. Either way, you can come and go as you please. The tenders run all day while the ship in in port.

[Langley Cruisers]

Hi Becca,Docked means you pull up to the pier and are secured to the actual dock. You are free to walk on and off the ship as desired, taking your SeaPass card with you each time. The "last call" for passengers is 30 minutes prior to sailing; you must be onboard at that time.Tendered means you anchor off-shore in the ocean, and go back and forth to shore by means of a tender ship; these can be quite large, though, holding up to 200 passengers at once. Tenders leave every 15 or 20 minutes or so, depending on how long the trip to shore is. They usually run all day long until a designated time, again, allowing passengers to be back onboard before the cut-off time.You are free to tender back and forth to shore as often as you wish, but most people will not do this; they will go ashore once, spend the day, and then come back when they are ready to do so. Personally, I've seen some awfully long tender lines, especially to the private Islands - I was glad to only have to wait once. You'll figure it out. Have a great cruise.

[becca3711]

Thank you both for your replies!

[cb at sea]

The tender lines are longest first thing in the morning, and the last couple in the evening. During the middle of the day, the tenders are seldom full, so it's quite doable to come and go...it just takes a bit longer...most tender rides take from between 5 -15 minutes.

[TEXASMUNK]

Either docke dor tendered, there are limited offerings on the ship, ie, shops closed, casino closed. Food, etc still available, bars open, pool open. But local merchants want that $$$ on shore!

[gjkubel]

Just to put it in very simple terms - when docked it is much easier to go back and forth from the ship (once the initial crowd dies down you literally just swipe your seapass and walk off) whereas when tendering, it takes much longer (waiting for a tender can take 10 minutes or more and the tender trip to shore can take 10 minutes or more). Therefore, on tender ports, most people only leave the ship once. That said, you are allowed to go back and forth as much as you want and as much as your schedule allows.

[Blazesyth]

I've read that you should get a tender slip to get off the ship. Do you NEED a slip to get off the ship every time, or just if you need to go during busy times? (ie. first off to get to an excursion)

[Ocean Boy]

I've read that you should get a tender slip to get off the ship. Do you NEED a slip to get off the ship every time, or just if you need to go during busy times? (ie. first off to get to an excursion)

 

You usually just need them for the first few tenders from the ship. That is to make sure that folks who have excursions booked through the cruise line get to shore on time. And from a personal perspective, we have never had to show the slips. However, I can't tell you that is always the case.

[cruisenfever]

Can we use the ships' ammenities as we please while it is docked/tendered (ie pools, casinos, eating lunch/dinner, etc)

 

The Windjammer will be opened for lunch and dinner and the MDR will be opened for dinner while you are in Nassau. The WJ will be closed while you are in CocoCay (due to the beach barbecue that they will most probably set up) but the MDR will be opened for lunch.

 

Casinos are not opened while you are in any port regardless if you are tendered or are docked. They normally open up 30-45 minutes after leaving the port.

 

The spa will be opened on port days as well as the pool.

[becca3711]

So let me ask you this, originally we were scheduled to be docked at Nassau from 9am-5pm but I checked our reservation last night and they changed the itineary and we are now scheduled to be docked from 8am-11:59 pm. I thought our formal dinner night was supposed to be the 2nd night after we set sail again from Nassau; so what happens now, do you think they will reschedule the formal dinner since the majority of the people will be on Nassau for dinner? I hope so I was really looking forward to it.

[karena1]

So let me ask you this, originally we were scheduled to be docked at Nassau from 9am-5pm but I checked our reservation last night and they changed the itineary and we are now scheduled to be docked from 8am-11:59 pm. I thought our formal dinner night was supposed to be the 2nd night after we set sail again from Nassau; so what happens now, do you think they will reschedule the formal dinner since the majority of the people will be on Nassau for dinner? I hope so I was really looking forward to it.

 

It will still be that night. We are always in Nassau on Monarch when it is formal night. you will probably find though that the diningroom will not be as full as many will skip formal and eat on the island.

[Michuck]

I may be wrong (it's been 2 years since we sailed)...but I think I recall that the casino is open at 9:00 a.m. when in CocoCay (slots) and the tables open at 2:00. In Nassau, the casino was open in the evening. Things may have changed though.....

 

M.

[Langley Cruisers]

...since the majority of the people will be on Nassau for dinner?

 

You may find that it's not the "majority" who stay in port for dinner. For instance, we have never done that. Some people do and the dining room will be less crowded, but not everyone eats in port.

 

Also, check your printed Cruise Compass to be sure about which night will be your formal night. It will have the correct info for you.

[amybeth4]

Definitely not the majority. Gimme my "free" food! :)

[Langley Cruisers]

Definitely not the majority. Gimme my "free" food! :)

 

LOL! I didn't want to say that, but yeah... basically, we enjoy eating dinner onboard too! We do like lunch in port; a local restaurant with a local brew is always fun. :)

[amybeth4]

Absolutely! :)