Tender delays are common — plan for them
At Portofino, tender delays are a normal part of port day — not an exception. When two or three ships anchor in the Tigullio Gulf simultaneously, hundreds of passengers compete for the same tender boats. Build delay contingency into your planning from the start.
If your arrival tender is delayed
- Contact your excursion guide immediately — use the phone number on your booking confirmation
- Do not leave the tender queue — you cannot control the delay, but you can control whether you board the next available boat
- Assess whether the excursion still makes sense — if you have lost more than an hour, consider exploring Portofino village on foot near the harbour instead
- Check your all aboard time — a late arrival reduces your margin for the return tender too
If you miss your excursion entirely
Portofino village is worth exploring independently. Walk the piazzetta, visit the harbour, and enjoy a waterfront lunch. You can still reach Santa Margherita or Camogli on a guided tour if time allows — but check your schedule carefully. See our one day in Portofino guide for backup plans.
If the return tender queue is long
This is the most critical scenario. Be at the pier 45 minutes before all aboard — not when all aboard starts. If the queue is not moving:
- Stay in the queue — leaving and rejoining rarely helps
- Alert pier staff or security if all aboard time is approaching
- Contact the ship if you believe you will miss all aboard
- Keep your passport and cabin key accessible
How to reduce tender delay risk
- Take an early tender — first boats have shorter queues
- Book excursions with flexible meeting times where possible
- Choose compact tours on days when multiple ships are scheduled
- Use our cruise planner to avoid over-scheduling short port calls