What is cruise ship tendering?
If you’re new to cruising, you’ve likely heard of tendering or tender boats, but you might be confused about what they are.
What is a tender on a cruise ship? I’m here to explain (and it has nothing to do with chicken).
What is tendering on a cruise?
Some cruise ports — including Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Santorini, Greece; and Sorrento, Italy — don’t allow ships to dock, due to either lack of infrastructure or shallow waters that would cause larger vessels to run aground if they got too close to land.
In other instances, cruise ships will sometimes anchor offshore if ports are crowded and there isn’t enough dock space. This often happens in Juneau, Alaska, which has only four berths but can receive as many as six ships in port on the same day.
In those cases, ships anchor offshore and passengers are required to take a cruise ship tender to land. On a cruise, tendering is the process of using smaller boats to ferry passengers from their anchored vessel to shore.
What is a tender boat?
Depending on the port, the cruise line and any local agreements that might be in place, tenders can be boats operated by people who live in the destinations ships visit, or they can be a ship’s own lifeboats, which are lowered into the water and used to transport cruisers. Most lines refer to the boats as tenders, but some lines, such as Carnival Cruise Line, prefer the term “water shuttles.”
Tender rides are free, but on some larger ships, to keep things orderly and fair, you might have to report ahead of time to get a tender number that will tell you the order in which you can disembark the vessel. Your ship will also let you know what time the last tender boat leaves to return from shore for all-aboard.
Suite guests, cruise line loyalty program members with top-tier status, cruisers booked on early departures of ship-sponsored tours and other VIPs will often be allowed on the first tender boat departures ahead of regular passengers.
Tendering vs. docking on a cruise: Pros and cons
Pros
Tendering allows cruise lines to take passengers to a larger variety of port destinations. Water shuttles can provide access to ports you might not be able to visit otherwise because the water is too shallow or they don't have piers equipped to handle cruise ships.
Additionally, if you're a sucker for a great ship photo, tender boats provide a perfect vantage point to snap that scenic ship shot.
Cons
While cruise tenders allow ships access to ports without docks, the process does have its downfalls. Passengers with mobility issues, especially those who use walkers, scooters or wheelchairs, might have difficulty boarding the boats as they bob in the water. (In most cases, walkers, scooters and wheelchairs are allowed on cruise tenders, and crew members can offer assistance with boarding tender boats. Check with your cruise line for specifics.)
Tendering also takes time, which means the process of getting ashore will eat into the time you have to explore in port. You might have to wait in a long line for your turn to board.
The boats can be stuffy and crowded, which is a less-than-ideal way to end a fun day of vacation. Cruisers who are prone to seasickness often feel queasy in these water shuttles.
Finally, calls on tender ports can be canceled completely for safety reasons due to inclement weather. If the water is too choppy to allow passengers to board the tender boats safely, the cruise line will skip that port of call.
Bottom line
Tendering on a cruise offers a way for passengers to visit ports where docking facilities are unavailable. You can help to set expectations and mitigate challenges for yourself if you understand that tender ports can be canceled or interrupted due to weather conditions, and they can present challenges for passengers with limited mobility.
If you use a walker, wheelchair or scooter, check with your cruise line to see what its policies are for taking those devices ashore in the event tendering is required.
After you book, many cruise lines list on their itineraries whether each port is a tender port or one where your ship will tie up at a pier. If you have trouble locating that information or need it ahead of booking, reach out to your travel agent or cruise line via the accessibility page on its website.
Got more cruise questions? TPG has answers:
- Man overboard: Why do people fall off cruise ships?
- What is baked Alaska, and why is it paraded around cruise ships?
- What are the largest cruise ships in the world?
- What is a gentleman host on a cruise?
- What is the Jones Act and how does it affect cruise ships?
- What is a lido deck on a cruise ship?
- What’s a cruise cabin guarantee and will it save you money?
- What’s the difference between a cruise concierge and a butler?
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.