Tendering - What's It All About

[@fattymcfatterson25]

I’ve been watching my mobility dwindle for years now and I’ve put all these things on my bucket list on a NOPE list. Thank goodness for your channel! Know my limited mobility will not keep me from cruising! Thank y’all so MUCH for what you do!

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

That is great to hear Lana !! You go for it !!

[@AbuelaYOYo1955]

Lana Del Ayyyye I am in the same situation. I have a rare genetic disorder attacking my spine. I am finally in an electric wheelchair. I thought my traveling days were over until I found these videos. I am going Thanksgiving week on Carnival Vista ! It’s also my birthday! I am so excited! It is so good to know that I can continue doing the things I love!

[@kays749]

This might be the most useful video you have ever done.

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

Thanks Kay !!

[@janiceh8565]

Like the new studio .The background now looks both homey and professional. Love your channel.

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

Thanks Janice !!

[@edf2953]

Excellent job in describing the tendering process. Having mobility issues myself, I found this video to be very informative and useful. Great work!

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

Thanks Ed !!

[@hollysilva7128]

I’m glad you mentioned the issues with some tender boats. I’m able bodied but found the tender boat pretty tight with stairs inside to step down into the boat itself. The water was choppy and everyone was having difficulty getting to their seats in such tight quarters. People having issues with small enclosed spaces might have a problem too. Great information! 👍🏼

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

Thanks Holly !!

[@evonnewhalen9794]

I'm so thankful that I came across your all's channel last year. You have helped me a lot with all of the information you have posted. I feel more confident making my own cruise reservations and telling them what I need and what questions I should be asking as well. Thank you. I hope I get the opportunity to run into you sometime while cruising.

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

You are so welcome!

[@vancouverkris2377]

As a fellow wheelie this vlog was welcome info. Thanks guys!

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

You're welcome !!

[@HeidiSKulesh]

Great tips, guys! I did remember, from my NE/Canada cruise 9 years ago, that Bar Harbor was a tender cruise. But that was before I had mobility issues. Now that I do, I have been working with the Accessibility Dept. at RCL for my cruise, which was supposed to be THIS Sept, but is having to be postponed until NEXT Sept, due to upcoming surgery. They "OK'd" each excursion I wanted to do, one by one, and checked with the vendors (mostly bus lines) to make sure I could do each one. But - you bring up an interesting point - I may bring my Rollator to do Bar Harbor, instead of wondering about he scooter, since I can walk up and down stairs, just VERY slowly, 1 stair at a time. I will plan on just doing the other non-tender ports with the scooter. But - I will also double-check what I'm told in emails and on the phone BEFORE the cruise with the Disability Officer onboard, once I'm there. I would hate to miss Bar Harbor, it was SO cute!! Thank you SO much for the advice!! Thank you both for who you are, and what do you! Hugs!!

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

You're welcome !!

[@gloriaferri2085]

Very informative! Something I didn't know .... thanks! Love all your videos.

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

Thanks Gloria !!

[@johnmathern]

I love the background

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

Thanks John !!

[@rickthibodeau9172]

My first cruise, back in 2000, we had to bypass Costa Maya because the seas were too rough. They hadn't built the dock yet. We went on to Cozumel and spent the night there. It gave us a chance to enjoy the local nightlife.

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

Always fun to be had !!

[@rheamccants2227]

I just love you guys 😘😘

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

Thanks Rhea !!

[@lerouxly67]

Much info I had never thought about before, particularly restrictions for passengers with mobility issues. Thank you.

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

You're very welcome !!

[@sharischmidt4712]

Very helpful advice and information today! My husband and I have been on a tender off the coast of Santorini. Even though it was a beautiful day , the water was choppy and a few unfortunate passagers became a sea sick and had to turn back to the ship. I don't think that happens to often,but some people are more sensitive than others.😊🍁

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

Yes...it can be a really rough ride.

[@debraschaefer1959]

Thank you two for this information. You always brighten my day and you are gifted with your explanations of it all. Keep up the Great job!!!!

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

Thanks Debra !!

[@sharonmacdougall3996]

🇨🇦. Kevin you have a wonderful voice! So your next cruise is to Canada! Whereabouts? I hope you have a wonderful time visiting our beautiful country. My husband and I are going on our first cruise in September! We are going on an Italy and French Riviera 12 day cruise onboard Celebrity Infinity. We leave from Barcelona. We are so excited and to be honest a little nervous. I am catching up on all your vlogs and jotting down a lot of your fantastic tips. Thank you for your great videos! 😃

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

Your cruise sounds fantastic !! Ours is the traditional New England / Canada cruise......Portland & Bar Harbor, Maine and St. John & Halifax.

[@sharonmacdougall3996]

Cruising With Wheels Yours sounds fantastic as well! St.John is in the province of New Brunswick and Halifax is the capital of the province of Nova Scotia. My family roots are in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Sounds like a beautiful cruise. I look forward to the vlog of that trip! Take care 🚢.

[@AdventuresofDavidandAaron]

Great tips thanks for sharing. Sincerely Adventures of David and Aaron.⚓⚓⚓

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

Thanks !

[@debbieserwe2242]

Have been on cruises when we couldn't tender in due to high winds/waves. Ok, I have to ask, in case of emergency, how do folks in chairs and/or scooters get on the life boats? (Hopefully NO emergencies)

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

The cruise ships have crew members assigned to passengers with disabilities, in case of emergencies.

[@debbieserwe2242]

@@Cruisingwithwheels Nice to know thanks,

[@AbuelaYOYo1955]

Have you ever traveled to Belize? Were you able to tender in the wheel chair there? I am going Thanksgiving on the Vista. I am in an electric wheelchair. Thank you

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

Yes...we have...but there are different parts of Belize. Every cruise line is different and your reservation / itinerary should tell you whether it's a tender port or not......and if your cruise line will be able to accommodate you in your wheelchair.

[@dwightlooi]

For all the features and niceties cruise lines put on the newest cruise ships, I'll REALLY like to see a WELL DECK in the back of a cruise ship so they can embark and disembark people at tender ports (easily half of the itinerary) with BIG ASS boats that carry a thousand at a time or (dare I say) a LCAC*? That'll make the entire tendering issue a non-issue. This well deck can also serve as the launching point for exciting new water sports attractions like glass bottom snorkel boats, jet scooters or a SUBMARINE or two. Boarding the tendering vessels or water attractions will always happen in a sheltered space closed to the sea on three sides so it is never choppy or rainny. With the flat transoms of almost all modern cruise ships, implementing a well deck is a piece of cake. -- LCAC* = Land Craft Air Cushion.

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

Sounds awesome...maybe one day !!

[@stephaniedayton]

OMG! Watching that video is making me seasick. I don’t think I would ever want to tender into port. 🤢 Thanks for the tip about the watch. I had a hard time figuring out what time it was when we were on the Bliss (using my phone). I’ll be sure to bring a watch for our next cruise.

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

Glad you enjoyed it ! (apart from the sea sickness LOL)

[@gailparrish1601]

Great information as usual guys. I assume from the previous comment that Bar Harbor is rendered?

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

Thanks Gail !! Yes, every ship that goes to Bar Harbor has to tender in.

[@rickthibodeau9172]

We've actually had a cruise ship run aground and get stuck on a sandbar one year in Bar Harbor, because they came too close to shore. They had to wait until high tide before the ship could leave! OOPS!

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

That's a big oopsy !!!

[@robinpaigeperdue4626]

Would like to disseminate this to as many people as possible: re: Catalina Island. Tendered to Catalina Island December 2018 in scooter on Carnival Imagination. Catalina Operates 3 tenders, and the accessible one is called Catalina Duke. Guest Services escorted us onto the tender and then staff helped when getting to shore. To get onto the shore, the ramp is on a movable platform I had to release the freewheel lever on the scooter to make it up the incline, with assistance from my travel companion. It is not something I could have done on my own. When we were ready to leave the island we did have to wait for the Catalina Duke to come back, so if you are going to tender there please arrive early. Also, when we arrived back at the ship, if we had not had FTTF or priority tendering through Platinum Status or Shrore Ex we would have been waiting for everyone else to push past us because they put the scooter in a corner for the ride. In Avalon, like in the DR, if you are completely confined to a chair or it does no collapse you either cannot go (very far: see edit) or you need to call 310-510-0081 to get para transit visitor status, and then they can pick you up and drive to the bird park or Hamilton cove for between 2-4 dollars. Be sure to allow time for this if it is something you want to do. Most other tours on Catalina require you climb into a bus or trolley or safari like car and do not have space for scooters. :) I hope this helps. Edit to add: some shops and restaurants are accessible, but a lot of them have a step to get in. You can scoot to the beach area and sit on the sidewalk if you would like, I would do this with a fresh battery only. Although a lot of the shops also do not have the turning radius for a scooter or wheelchair most of them are small enough that the owner or staff can come out and assist you, if your travel companion cannot and you are looking for something specific.

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

Thanks Robin for sharing all this great information.

[@juliewilson3237]

It’s sad that wheelchair users etc have to miss out on some ports , can’t let it spoil our fun though lol . Lots of great information 👍.

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

Thanks Julie !!

[@lynnbilodeau4783]

I am so sad your going to miss Bar Harbor

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

Me too !! I hate when it's a tender and i can't go....then i have to stay in the cabin till Kevin gets back.

[@Kdcaswell]

It is so wrong that cruise ships do not have provisions in place for our wheelchair folks. You pay the same as everyone else and deserve to have all the same opportunities for your vacation.

[@Cruisingwithwheels]

Agreed !!