If a port isn’t big enough for a cruise ship, then the cruise ship will weigh anchor out where it won’t smash into anything and use smaller boats called tenders to ferry people to and from the port.

On Norwegian’s Pride of America, the tenders looked suspiciously like the lifeboats. I looked around and found a sign:

(The numbers are approximate because I don’t remember exactly)

I got interested in the different capacities for the same boat so I asked a crew member.

The difference was simple enough. When a boat is used as a tender, the cruise line is still in “Let’s pamper these spoiled brats as much as possible” mode so they try to give folks some elbow room. (I’m paraphrasing somewhat)

When used as a lifeboat, the cruise line is in “Let’s squish as many of the bastards as possible onto the darned thing and if the bastards complain, tell them that we’re saving their ungrateful lives” mode. (Still paraphrasing)

Well, at least I thought it was interesting.