Not Always Docked at the Pier: What Happens When a Cruise Ship Stays in the Open Sea

One of the surprises awaiting cruise passengers is the moment it becomes clear that the ship will not dock at the pier at all. Instead, it anchors in the open sea, and passengers are transferred to land using small service boats known as Tender Boats.

The reason for this is simple: there are ports where the water is too shallow, the piers are not large enough for giant ships, or there are environmental restrictions designed to protect coral reefs and sensitive marine areas. Therefore, instead of entering the port, the ship anchors a short distance from the shore, and the arrival is carried out by a boat ride of about 5 to 20 minutes.

In an average one-week cruise, it is common to encounter one or two ports where disembarkation via tenders is required, although this varies depending on the route.

Among the destinations where this method is often used are Santorini, Grand Cayman, Kotor in Montenegro, Cabo San Lucas, St. Barts, and Bonaire. However, in those same destinations, it is possible that one visit will be carried out using boats, and in another visit, the ship will actually dock at the pier — all depending on the size of the ship, sea conditions, and the state of the port.

How does it work in practice?

In most cruise companies, instructions are provided the evening before or on the morning of arrival at the port. Passengers who booked shore excursions through the cruise line usually receive priority in disembarking, while independent passengers may be required to collect queue tickets before boarding the boats.

It is also worth preparing in advance for the return to the ship. The queues can be long, so it is recommended to arrive at the pier at least 30 to 60 minutes before the last tender time, which usually departs earlier than the ship's departure time.

There are also disadvantages

Besides the longer waiting times, weather conditions significantly affect the process. When the sea is rough or the winds are strong, the ship's captain may decide to cancel the shore excursion entirely for safety reasons.

In addition, not all tender boats are accessible to passengers using wheelchairs or mobility aids. In some ports, it is necessary to cross a large gap between the ship and the boat and even go down stairs — something that may prevent certain passengers from going ashore at all.

However, there are also advanced solutions. On ships of the Edge series by Celebrity Cruises, for example, the Magic Carpet platform is used, which in some cases allows for easier access between the ship and the tender boat. Even there, accessibility depends on the local boat and the port infrastructure.

Therefore, if you are planning a cruise and full accessibility is important to you — or you just want to know in advance if a disembarkation using boats is expected — it is recommended to check this with the cruise line even before the cruise.