A tender, a term used throughout cruising, is a boat used to transfer passengers from a larger ship to land and vice versa. A smooth boat “takes care” of the boat. Once the tender is pulled along the ship, they board through a small passageway. This is generally stable, but the tender may move slightly during embarkation and disembarkation. Guests with mobility issues are encouraged to take this into consideration when choosing a sailing using a tender port.
Most smooth trips are fast. It's usually less than about 20 minutes, but you should keep this travel time in mind when returning to the ship at the end of the day. You don't want to miss the ship's departure while waiting for the tender boat.
“Disney Cruise Line in a Jiffy” is an offshoot of the “Disney in a Minute” series. Both are little nuggets of information that can help you better understand Disney terminology or planning topics. Do you have questions about unfamiliar DCL terminology? Make suggestions for upcoming segments here.