Cruise tender ports and what they mean for excursions
In a tender port the ship anchors offshore and you ride a small boat to land. That adds a queue on the way out and, more importantly, on the way back, so independent tours need a bigger buffer.
| Port | Tender landing | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Belize CityWestern Caribbean | Fort Street Tourism Village (tender) | Ships anchor offshore and tender guests to the Fort Street Tourism Village. Leave extra time for the tender line on the way back. |
| Grand CaymanWestern Caribbean | George Town tender landings | Grand Cayman is a tender port. Stingray City boats leave from the north side, about 20 minutes by road from George Town. |
| Cabo San LucasMexican Riviera | Cabo San Lucas marina tender pier | Cabo is a tender port. The tender pier is in the marina, where most boat tours also depart. |
| Catalina IslandMexican Riviera | Avalon tender landing | Ships anchor off Avalon and tender guests to the waterfront. Everything in Avalon is walkable. |
| KonaHawaii | Kailua-Kona pier (tender) | Kona is a tender port. Volcano tours are much easier from Hilo if your ship calls there too. |
| Bar HarborCanada and New England | Bar Harbor town pier (tender) | Bar Harbor is a tender port with daily passenger caps. Acadia's loop road starts about 10 minutes from town. |
| SantoriniEurope | Fira old port (tender) and Athinios | Santorini is a tender port and the cable car back down from Fira is the bottleneck. Tours that drop you at the old port avoid it. |
| KotorEurope | Kotor pier and tender landing | Only one or two ships can berth, so larger ships often tender. The walled Old Town is right by the landing. |
Tender status can change by ship and by day, so check your cruise planner a few days before the call. Where a port is a tender port, the shore excursion desk on board also announces tender ticket times for independent guests.
Questions
What is a tender port?
A port where the ship anchors offshore and passengers ride small boats, called tenders, to the pier. It adds queues in both directions.
How early should I be back in a tender port?
Aim to be in the tender queue 90 minutes before the ship departs. The last tender usually leaves 30 to 60 minutes before departure and the final runs fill up.
Which cruise ports are tender ports?
Among the ports we cover: Belize City, Grand Cayman, Cabo San Lucas, Catalina Island, Kona, Bar Harbor, Santorini, Kotor. Some ports switch between docking and tendering depending on the ship and the day.