When would passengers typically use a tender for transportation?

Passengers typically use a tender for transportation when the larger ship cannot dock in shallow or crowded harbors. Tenders are smaller boats that ferry passengers between the ship and the shore when the larger vessel is unable to get close enough to a dock due to various reasons, such as water depth or harbor congestion. This situation is common in many popular cruise destinations where ports might not have the infrastructure to accommodate large cruise ships.

In contrast, docking facilities are specifically designed for larger vessels, which would make the use of a tender unnecessary. The ship's capacity does not impact the need for a tender, as it's primarily related to physical docking limitations rather than passenger numbers. While traveling to nearby islands often involves ferries or smaller vessels, in the context of cruise ship operations, it is the specific inability to dock that necessitates the use of a tender.