Cruise ships can be tendered for many reasons. In the case of a tender, the cruise ship will send out smaller boats to shuttle passengers to and from shore. This is done for a variety of reasons, ranging from safety concerns to the inability for the ship to dock in certain areas.
When a cruise ship is tendered, it usually means that it cannot dock at port due to weather or structural concerns.
For example, if the port is too shallow or if there are strong winds in the area, then the cruise ship may not be able to make it safely into port. In this case, they will send out smaller boats with passengers on-board and they will be dropped off at shore.
Tendering can also occur when a port does not have adequate facilities for a large cruise ship. This could include limited docking space or limited facilities such as stores, restaurants and other amenities that passengers may require during their stay. In this case, the cruise line will deploy smaller boats to take passengers back and forth between shore and the ship so that they can enjoy their time in port without having to worry about disembarking from the larger vessel.
Tendering is also used when a cruise ship needs to make an emergency stop at an unfamiliar port of call due to mechanical issues or other unexpected circumstances. In these cases, tendering allows them to quickly disembark passengers without having to wait for an available dock or having to find alternate transportation methods.
In conclusion, tendering is a common practice used by most cruise lines when docking into ports becomes difficult due to weather or structural limitations, lack of adequate facilities or unexpected emergencies. By utilizing smaller boats as shuttles between shore and the ship, passengers are able safely move between ports while still enjoying their time onboard.