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Tender Ports Don't Have to Be Stressful (Here's Why)

KirkToriStory
KirkToriStory
🥈Expert
👁️ 348 views📅 4 months ago⏱️ 9:44
What This Creator Said
Creator RecommendsTips & Advice🥈Expert Creator
❤️ Best for CoupleOtherVeteran Cruiser

Source: Our analysis of the creator's lived experience, based on what they said in this video.

Creator's Key Takeaways

On explorer journeys, sometimes it's just you and Kirk.

They do tendering right, but they do everything right.

The worst part of tendering can be the lineups and the waiting.

Tendering is simply using smaller boats, tenders, or water shuttles to get you from your cruise ship to shore when the ship can't dock.

Creator's Tips & Advice

Bring water and an umbrella for shade while waiting in line.
Sit toward the middle of the tender boat, especially if the water looks bouncy.
Always check the last tender time to avoid missing the ship.

🆕New to Cruising? This Creator Addresses:

Fear of rocking or seasicknessSit in the middle of the tender and avoid the splash zone by the door.
Mobility issuesTalk to the crew; they are excellent at assisting passengers.

Questions This Creator Answers

QWhat does 'tendering' mean on a cruise ship?
QHow does the tender process work?
QWhat should you expect when taking a cruise tender boat?

Topics Covered

Excursions2½ Happy BaconPort Destination3 Happy BaconService Crew3½ Happy BaconSafety Medical1½ Happy BaconLoyalty Program1½ Happy BaconCrowd Capacity1½ Sad Bacon

Port Highlights

St. Barts3 Happy Bacon
Santorini
Nanotalic1½ Sad Bacon
How to read the Trip Bacon Score
Happy Bacon — creators loved this aspect
Sad Bacon — creators took issue with this
Meh — no strong opinion either way

Scale: 0–5 strips in half-step increments. 0 = “meh”, 5 = “bacon bliss”. Aggregated from creator-review sentiment, weighted by channel expertise.

About our Bacon Score methodology
YouTube Video Description

Cruise tendering, cruise tender boats, Explora Journeys tender process, and how passengers get off a cruise ship when it can’t dock — today I show real tender footage, what to expect, and how it actually works. If you’ve ever wondered what “tendering” means on a cruise ship, this video walks you through it in a simple, realistic, and fun way. So, what really happens when you take a cruise tender boat? I’m Tori from KirkToriStory, and we’ve been living on cruise ships full-time since 2022. We’ve tendered dozens of times — including on Explora Journeys, where one tender ride was literally just me and Kirk as the only passengers. In this video, you’ll see: • What tendering actually looks like • Real tender boat footage • How the process works • What the ride feels like • Tips for first-time cruisers • What to expect on busy tender days • How to stay comfortable and confident getting on/off the tender 00:00 – What Is Cruise Tendering? 01:09 – Why Ships Tender Instead of Docking 01:48 – Real Cruise Ship Tender Footage (Explora Journeys) 03:00 – What The "Cruise Tender Process" Is Like 04:15 – Real Footage Of Cruise Tender Experiences 04:53 – Why Cruise Ship Tendering Isn’t Scary 05:57 -- Great Perks to Cruise Tendering 06:55 – When Tendering Gets Busy 07:30 – Quick Tips for First-Time Cruisers (Special appearance at 7:41) 08:56 – Final Thoughts About Cruise Tenders Whether you're sailing on Explora Journey, Princess Cruises, RCC, or any other cruise line, or a luxury cruise with tender ports, this guide will help you feel prepared. ➤ Want help booking your next cruise? I’m a licensed travel advisor specializing in luxury, long-term, and back-to-back cruising. Work with me here: vcarter.travelonly.com Thanks for watching — and tell me your tender stories in the comments! HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT OUR JOURNEY! 🚢Watch Until The End. LIKE. COMMENT. ASK QUESTIONS. 🚢Share Our Content With Your Friends And Family, or ANYONE Who Likes Cruising 🚢Use The YouTube THANKS Button (Thank You!) LINKS: 🔗3 Common Questions That Cruisers Ask Us https://youtu.be/podZ7N-IuOM 🔗Playlist of Things To Do On A Cruise https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLi7vAI8bcMKDwk6WooixMC2BmkoUxQN5M 🔗How To Get FREE Stuff On A Cruise https://youtu.be/8rRHHR-gGZU 🔗How To Get FREE Spending Money On A Cruise https://youtu.be/lw0YqAGYTCA?si=i1Y1EVC4L50grRbF 🔗How To Pay Less For A Cruise https://youtu.be/FZMz1pKyzSo?si=P5FVzesbTY1MxR-T 🔗Get Elite Status In 19 Days https://youtu.be/a8R5W-v5Z6s?si=69Ph-NC5_VyQvxJw 🔗Last Minute Cruise Deal Website Search https://youtu.be/gky3UDoq9do ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT BOOKING YOUR FIRST CRUISE WITH PRINCESS? HERE IS A $25 BONUS FOR YOU! https://refer.princess.com/Victoria21!c92e68b1c1!a ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT BOOKING YOUR FIRST CRUISE WITH HOLLAND AMERICA? HERE IS A $50 BONUS FOR YOU! https://refer.hollandamerica.com/xfnbt ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT BOOKING YOUR FIRST CRUISE WITH CUNARD? HERE IS $100 https://refer.cunard.com/Kirk ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT BOOKING YOUR FIRST CRUISE WITH V VOYAGES? Use my link and we both get $150 in free drinks! https://share.virginvoyages.com/vcarter!11ab187b26!n KIRK TORI STORY SOCIAL MEDIA 🔗Blog: https://www.KirkToriStory.com 🔗Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/KirkToriStory ABOUT KIRKTORISTORY: Kirk Tori Story is a channel about Kirk and Tori (their story) about how they sold their house in Canada to live a life of living on cruise ships. KirkTori Story offers great advice about cruising, including sharing experiences with Tips and Tricks, Budgeting for a cruise ideas, cabin tours, ship reviews, cruise port information and more. 🚢 Living the Dream 🚢 We sold our home and now live on a cruise ship! Join us on our journey around the world as we explore new destinations, share travel tips, and embrace life at sea. 🔔 Subscribe to KirkToriStory for more! Don't forget to subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/@kirktoristory?sub_confirmation=1 This Video was made for you by KirkToriStory #cruisetendering #tenderboat #cruisetips #cruisetipsforfirsttimecruisers #explorajourneys