Land by Tender

A lot of ports require the ship to anchor just off the coast and for the cruise line to ferry their passengers back and forth via the Ships tender boats. Something I always enjoy on my cruise but it can sometimes become quite tedious.

It seems EVERY passenger wants to disembark at the exact same time, there’s queue after queue down every stair way towards the Pontoon and this can become an experience you wish to forget. Especially if you’re on one of today’s larger vessels and are fighting against another 3000 people to get off. But hats off to the cruise lines as they do hustle you on and off as quick as they possibly can, it is a very well executed routine and not as stressful as you would expect if you have never experienced this before.

Once on board the tender it’s a short trip from ship to shore, it is not the most comfortable journey on the planet but its great fun. The smell of diesel fuel and the churning of the waves behind you as the propellers work extra hard to push this little monster through the water. If you’re lucky you might also pass by an expensive yacht or two or even a hundred depending where in the world you are.

I think the journey back to ship is the best. You’ve been ashore and spent money on half a ton of stuff you really didn’t need and are now ready to head back towards the marina to board your little orange friend. If you have left the ship early enough and then head back early enough you might also be privileged to sit upstairs on the tender where you are open to the world. I gasp at the amount of people who will let 5 or 6 tenders pass them by in such blazing heat just so they can be front of the queue in order to sit up top. It’s a small space maybe only big enough for 20 or so people so you need to get there quick.

Once close enough to the ship the tender will decrease in speed, getting ready to shuffle itself into position alongside the ships pontoon where you can safely step off. This is usually a time I advise you to check what you are sitting next too. For example if you are on the end of the seated bench, next to anything metallic or slightly sharp, or anything that could leave a nasty bruise then now is the time to MOVE or adjust yourself accordingly. I have found through experience that these little tenders like to slide alongside the ship then as an evil parting gesture bounce off her at the very last moment, not very pleasant when you hit the flag pole that’s beside you or fall off the end of the seat. You have been pre warned!

Happy land by tender!