Tender ports, explained

How it works

Some harbors are too shallow or too small for cruise ships, so the ship anchors and runs tender boats (often its own lifeboats) to a landing pier. The ride usually takes 5 to 20 minutes.

• Many lines hand out tender tickets or call groups by number. Listen for announcements, and be ready when your group is called.
• Guests on ship tours usually go first, so independent travelers can wait a while on busy mornings.
• Bring your cruise card and photo ID; you will need them to get back on.

What to plan for

• Allow extra time at both ends. Morning lines to go ashore and afternoon lines to go back can both be long.
• Note the time of the last tender back. It is earlier than all-aboard, and it is the time that matters.
• In rough seas, tendering can be slowed or cancelled, and the ship may skip the port. There is nothing you can do about it, so keep plans flexible.

If you use a wheelchair or scooter

Tender boats can be hard to board: there may be steps, and the gap between the ship and the boat moves with the waves. The big lines' policies differ in the details but agree on the basics:

• Some tenders are not accessible at all. Where they are, lines generally expect you to manage a few steps and use a folding manual wheelchair; powered chairs and scooters often can't go.
• Crew can help, but generally won't lift guests or heavy equipment.
• Ship officers decide on the day whether it's safe to transfer, based on the sea, swell and tide. If you can't go ashore, there is usually no refund for the missed port.
• Ask your cruise line before you sail which ports are tender ports on your itinerary and what help they can give; some ports (Cozumel, for example) are only sometimes tendered.