So we get to Princess Cays about 7AM. This is a tender-only port, which means they lower a number of lifeboats and use them as shuttles back-and-forth from the island. It is also a short day in port – approx. 8:00AM to 2:30PM. Of course you’ve already figured out the potential for chaos as hordes of oiled-up humans rush the boats in order to get dibs on the best loungers. But the way the staff handled it was great – ahead of the tenders being ready, you show up at a lounge and grab a number ticket…first come, first serve. Then when the tenders are ready they call off groups of numbers and off you go. The first 5 – 6 boats require this procedure, after this there are enough boats running back and forth that it’s just walk up. The loungers that go first at the Cays aren’t the beachside ones – frankly there isn’t a bad lounger in the house based on view. No, it’s the shady ones that go first, as there are only a few little shade structures on the beach. As always, the saving begins immediately so if you want a shady lounger, be on one of the first tenders – or send out an advance party to hold them for a larger group. Great snorkeling is available here, as is equipment if you need to rent it. The snorkeling area is divided into two sections – an entry area and then a reef. The staff is very good about watching out for idiots that try to stand up on the reef or otherwise trash the place –they’ll pull you out of the water if you don’t look like you can handle it. Basically respect the reef by not touching anything, don’t stand unless you are on sand, and you’ll be fine. Avoid snorkeling in the entry area as it’s full of first-timers flailing around. Just swim around to the right of them, around the lifeguard shack, and into the reef – it’s about a 100 yard swim. Then there are few people, lots of fish, and a relatively healthy reef to view. Lunch starts at 11:15AM, which consists of a full barbeque (chicken, ribs, hot dogs, sausages, hamburgers) and all the trimmings. It’s staffed by the ship’s staff. **Soda stickers don’t work on Princess Cays – you pay for all drinks. It’s $2 a soda, by the way. Whether you want to carry some of your bottled water to the Cays (see my previous tips above) or not is up to you and your wallet. After lunch we took a Catamaran lesson and then got to sail around on our own for a while. That was fun – we paralleled the tenders a couple of times and tried to race (just kidding). By 1:30 I had had enough fun and sun so I headed back to the boat, while my wife and our friends stayed on. There was a line to get back at 1:30, which I waited in for maybe 10 minutes. Last tender is at 2:30. Everyone makes it back to the ship - no castaways.