Which Ports are Tender Ports? Full List for Every Cruise Line!

June 17, 2024

Hello my beautiful cruise lovers, today we will talk about a quite interesting topic: tender ports.

You may think I am a little crazy, but I like tender ports. They give me that feeling of adventure and exploration that I love so much.

However, if you are not familiar with this topic I will explain, in a simple way, what tender ports are. Following that explanation, there’s a complete list with all the tender ports for each cruise line.
I am sure it will be useful to you.

Table of Contents

What is the meaning of tender ports?

Tender Ports are ports where cruise ships cannot dock directly at a pier due to different reasons. The most common are shallow water depth, the port’s size being too small for large cruise ships, or environmental and preservation concerns.

To solve this, and to allow passengers to still reach land, cruise ships anchor offshore and passengers are transported to and from land via smaller boats known as tenders or water shuttles.

Very often these tenders are part of the cruise ship’s own lifeboats or can be provided by the local port authorities.

This type of disembarkation requires a more rigid organization. For big cruises, passengers are usually assigned to groups and given specific tender times to avoid overcrowding and ensure a smooth transfer.

The pros

As I was saying at the beginning of the article, the use of tenders adds an adventurous element to the cruise experience.

I like it, and I think it is an interesting experience for children as well. The journey between the ship and the shore, although short, can offer unique views and a closer look at the sea and the local marine environment.
It’s almost like it’s an integral part of the excursion experience.

The cons

However, as with most things, there are also downsides. One of the most evident and most frequent among passengers is seasickness.

The boats used for this transfer are quite small and are greatly affected by wave movement.

Moreover, I don’t like that this method is not 100% accessible to passengers with disabilities. Usually, cruise lines offer assistance to people in need but passengers who use assistive devices may not be able to get on or off the ship.

Royal Caribbean's tenders — Royal Caribbean’s tenders

List of tender ports

Destinations that require tendering often include hidden gems. These kinds of places usually offer more intimate and exclusive exploration opportunities.

There are many tender ports around the world, so let’s start by discovering them all based on the different cruise lines.

Royal Caribbean

Airlie Beach, Australia
Ajaccio, Corsica
Bali (Padang Bay), Indonesia
Bar Harbor, Maine
Bay of Islands, New Zealand
Belize City, Belize
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Buzios, Brazil
Cabo Frio, Brazil
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Cannes (Monte Carlo), France
Champagne Bay, Vanuatu
Corfu, Greece
Cozumel, Mexico
Denarau, Fiji
Edinburgh, Scotland
Esperance, Australia
Exmouth, Australia
La Spezia (Florence, Pisa), Italy
Geiranger, Norway
George Town, Grand Cayman
Hanoi (Halong Bay), Vietnam
Icy Strait Point, Alaska
Ilha Grande, Brazil
Ilhabela, Brazil
Ilheus, Brazil
Isle of Pines, New Caledonia
Jeju, Republic of Korea (South Korea)
Kailua Kona, Hawaii
Kotor, Montenegro
Lahaina (Maui), Hawaii
Lifou, Loyalty Island
Lombok, Indonesia
Malacca, Malaysia
Moorea, French Polynesia
Mykonos, Greece
Mystery Island, Vanuatu
Naples (Salerno), Italy
Nha Trang, Vietnam
Villefranche (Nice), France
Ouvea (Wadrilla), Loyalty Island
Phuket, Thailand
Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
Port Douglas, Australia
Port Vila, Vanuatu
Portbelo, Brazil
Punta Del Este, Uruguay
Rockland, Maine
Samana, Dominican Republic
Santorini, Greece
Split, Croatia
St. Peter Port, Channel Islands
Ushuaia, Argentina
Visby, Sweden

Carnival Cruise Lines

Belize (limited availability of accessible water shuttles)
Bermuda (water shuttles are sometimes required, accessible water shuttles may not be available)
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Catalina Island, California
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (limited availability of accessible water shuttles)
Half Moon Cay, The Bahamas
Icy Strait Point, Alaska (water shuttles are sometimes required, accessible water shuttles may not be available)
Juneau, Alaska (water shuttles are sometimes required, accessible water shuttles may not be available)
Ketchikan, Alaska (water shuttles are sometimes required, accessible water shuttles may not be available)
Kona, Hawaii (no accessible water shuttles available)
Nanortalik, Greenland
Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada (water shuttles are sometimes required, accessible water shuttles may not be available)
Princess Cays, The Bahamas
Qaqortoq, Greenland
Sitka, Alaska (water shuttles are sometimes required, accessible water shuttles may not be available)
Skagway, Alaska (water shuttles are sometimes required, accessible water shuttles may not be available)
St. Anthony, New Foundland and Labrador, Canada
Andalsnes, Norway
Douglas, Isle of Man, UK
Dublin (Dun Laoghaire), Ireland
Edinburgh, Scotland
Grundarfjordur, Iceland
Heimaey, Westman Islands, Iceland
Holyhead, Wales, UK (water shuttles are sometimes required, accessible water shuttles may not be available)
Isles of Skye, Scotland
Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, UK (water shuttles sometimes required, accessible water shuttles may not be available)
Kotor, Montenegro
Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland
Mykonos, Greece (water shuttles are sometimes required, accessible water shuttles may not be available)
Portimao (Algarve Region), Portugal
Santorini, Greece
Seydisfjordur, Iceland
Stornoway, Scotland
Airlie Beach, Australia (no accessible water shuttles available)
Bay of Islands, New Zealand (no accessible water shuttles available)
Benoa, Bali (no accessible water shuttles available)
Bora Bora, French Polynesia (no accessible water shuttles available)
Cairns (Yorkey’s Knob), Australia
Conflict Islands, Papua New Guinea (no accessible water shuttles available)
Dravuni Island, Fiji (no accessible water shuttles available)
Isle of Pines, New Caledonia (no accessible water shuttles available)
Kiriwina, Papua New Guinea (no accessible water shuttles available)
Kitava, Papua New Guinea (no accessible water shuttles available)
Komodo Island, Indonesia (no accessible water shuttles available)
Lifou Isle, New Caledonia (no accessible water shuttles available)
Lombok, Indonesia (no accessible water shuttles available)
Mare, New Caledonia (no accessible water shuttles available)
Moreton Island, Australia (no accessible water shuttles available)
Moorea, French Polynesia (no accessible water shuttles available)
Mystery Island, Vanuatu (no accessible water shuttles available)
Port Arthur, Tasmania (no accessible water shuttles available)
Port Denarau, Fiji (no accessible water shuttles available)
Port Douglas, Australia (no accessible water shuttles available)

Norwegian Cruise Lines

La Digue, Seychelles
Luderitz, Namibia (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Mossel Bay, South Africa
Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Praslin, Seychelles
Richard’s Bay, South Africa (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Astoria, Oregon (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Catalina Island, California
Juneau, Alaska (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Ketchikan, Alaska (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Santa Barbara, California
Sitka, Alaska (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Bar Harbor, Maine
Charlottetown P.E.I., Canada (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
Newport, Rhode Island
Rockland, Maine
Saguenay, Canada (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Sydney Nova Scotia, Canada (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Basseterre, St. Kitts (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Castries, St. Lucia (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Cozumel, Mexico (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
George Town, Cayman Islands
Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas
Harvest Caye, Belize (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Ocho Rios, Jamaica (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Road Town (Tortola), British Virgin Islands (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Huahine, French Polynesia
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Ile des Pins, New Caledonia
Moorea, French Polynesia
Hilo, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Kahului (Maui), Hawaii
Kona, Hawaii
Nawiliwili (Kauai), Hawaii
Papeete, French Polynesia
Raiatea, French Polynesia
Buzios, Brazil
Castro, Chile
Ilha Grande, Brazil
Puerto Chacabuco, Chile (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Puerto Montt, Chile (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Punta Del Este, Uruguay
Stanley, Falkland Islands
Augusta, Italy
Bar, Montenegro (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Cannes, France
Dubrovnik, Croatia (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Katakolon, Greece (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Korcula, Croatia
Kotor, Montenegro (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Monte Carlo, Monaco (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Mykonos, Greece (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Nafplion, Greece
Nessebar, Bulgaria
Paros, Greece
Patmos, Greece (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Praia da Vitoria, Portugal
Santorini, Greece
Sorrento (Capri), Italy
Split, Croatia (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Varna, Bulgaria
Villefranche, France
Cobh (Cork), Ireland (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Dun Laoghaire, Ireland
Eidfjord, Norway (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Geiranger, Norway
Guernsey, Channel Islands, United Kingdom
Hellesylt, Norway
Invergordon, United Kingdom (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Isafjordur, Iceland (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Kirkwall, United Kingdom (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Nanortalik, Greenland
Newhaven, United Kingdom
Nuuk, Greenland (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Nynäshamn, Sweden (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Olden, Norway (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Qaqortoq, Greenland
South Queensferry, United Kingdom
Stornoway, United Kingdom
Ullapool, United Kingdom
Ulvik, Norway
Visby, Sweden (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Benoa (Bali), Indonesia
Coron, Philippines (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Hanoi (Ha Long Bay), Vietnam
Ishigaki, Japan (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Hirara (Miyakojima), Japan
Kanazawa, Japan (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Ko Samui, Thailand
Komodo Island, Indonesia
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Muara, Brunei Darussalam (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Naze (Oshima island), Japan (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Nha Trang, Vietnam
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russian Federation
Phuket, Thailand
Sabang, Indonesia
Airlie Beach, Australia
Akaroa, New Zealand
Albany, Australia
Bay of Islands, New Zealand
Cairns, Australia (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Cooktown, Australia
Dravuni, Fiji
Geraldton, Australia (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Gisborne, New Zealand (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Kangaroo Island, Australia
Lautoka, Fiji (ship can dock or anchor, varies by call)
Mystery Island, Vanuatu

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Which Ports are Tender Ports? Full List for Every Cruise Line!