Watching the Tenders

The first cruise ship of the season came into port in Amalfi last Friday on a beautiful morning. Oceania Cruises has several luxury cruise ships that stop in Amalfi, including the Insignia that came on Friday. I love to watch the cruise ships arrive early in the morning. Once the anchor is dropped, it’s not long before the tenders are plopped down in the sea and start bustling back and forth from the ship to the port to bring in the first crew, the signs and all the supplies for the welcome booth. Soon the tour guides arrive and are assigned their groups, each receiving a packet with numbered stickers to match the numbered “lollipops.” Once everything is prepared on shore, the tenders make their way back and forth bringing in the groups of tourists ready for their daytrips along the Amalfi Coast. It’s a well choreographed event that’s fascinating to watch.

While waiting for the first boat to Positano, I had some time to watch the tenders bring in all the groups and watch them be led off by their guides to the waiting buses, boats and private taxis. Occasionally, one of the seagulls watching the same morning events in Amalfi would let out a cry that would turn my head their direction to see the excited dances up and down on the rocks. The start of another spring day in Amalfi.