All Hands-on Deck is one of the memorable missions in GTA Vice City. In this mission, Tommy Vercetti helps Colonel Juan García Cortez escape Vice City after his yacht comes under attack. The mission quickly turns into a large-scale fight involving enemy boats, helicopters, and attackers trying to stop Cortez from leaving.

If you are struggling to protect Cortez and keep his yacht moving, this guide explains how to start and complete All Hands-on Deck with clear steps and useful tips.

How to Start All Hands-on Deck?

To unlock All Hands-on Deck, you need to progress through Colonel Cortez's missions. The mission becomes available after completing the required earlier Cortez missions.

Go to Cortez's yacht at the Viceport area and speak with him. Cortez tells Tommy that he needs to leave Vice City because his situation has become dangerous. Tommy agrees to help him escape.

Once the conversation ends, the mission begins.

How to Complete All Hands-on Deck?

The main objective is simple: protect Colonel Cortez and his yacht until it reaches safety. However, several groups of enemies will attack during the escape.

1. Get Ready on the Yacht

After the mission starts, Tommy stays aboard Cortez's yacht. You should immediately prepare for combat.

The yacht begins moving away from Vice City while enemy forces start closing in. Keep your weapons ready because the attacks come from several directions.

A strong automatic weapon can make the mission much easier, especially when multiple enemies appear at once.

2. Destroy the Attacking Boats

Several enemy boats will approach Cortez's yacht.

Your first priority is to eliminate these attackers before they get too close. Aim at the enemies on the boats and take them out quickly.

Try to watch both sides of the yacht rather than focusing on one target for too long. More boats can arrive while you are dealing with another group.

Tip: Use an assault rifle or another powerful automatic weapon to clear enemies quickly.

3. Watch for Enemy Helicopters

The situation becomes more dangerous when helicopters join the attack.

Enemy helicopters can fire at the yacht and its passengers, so do not ignore them. Aim upward and shoot the attackers whenever they come within range.

Keep moving around the yacht if necessary. Staying in one exposed position can make Tommy an easy target.

4. Defend the Yacht from Attackers

More enemies will attempt to reach the yacht. Some may approach from the water, while others can appear on nearby boats.

Your job is not simply to survive. Cortez must also remain safe.

Focus on enemies that are closest to the yacht and eliminate them before they can cause serious damage.

If you see several attackers approaching together, use your strongest available weapon instead of wasting time with weaker firearms.

5. Use the Yacht's Movement to Your Advantage

Cortez's yacht continues moving throughout the mission. Pay attention to its position and the direction from which enemies are approaching.

You do not need to chase every enemy. Instead, concentrate on threats that can reach or damage the yacht.

This makes the mission more manageable and helps you avoid wasting ammunition.

6. Clear the Final Attack

The final part of the mission brings another wave of enemies. Continue protecting Cortez and eliminate the attackers until the yacht reaches the required escape point.

Stay alert because the mission does not end immediately after the first major attack. Keep fighting until the game confirms that the objective has been completed.

Once Cortez successfully escapes, All Hands-on Deck is complete.

Best Weapons for All Hands-on Deck

Having suitable weapons makes this mission considerably easier.

Assault Rifle

An assault rifle is useful because it provides good range and rapid fire. It works well against enemies on boats and other distant targets.

Shotgun

A shotgun can be useful when enemies get close to Tommy. Its high damage makes it effective during close-range attacks.

Sniper Rifle

A sniper rifle can help you eliminate distant enemies, but it is less practical when several attackers appear at once.

Heavy Weapons

If you have access to a powerful heavy weapon, it can help you deal with groups of enemies quickly. However, automatic weapons are usually more convenient because you need to react to threats from different directions.

Tips to Protect Colonel Cortez

Here are some simple strategies to make All Hands-on Deck easier:

  • Keep moving around the yacht when enemies begin surrounding you.
  • Destroy nearby boats first because their passengers can become immediate threats.
  • Shoot helicopters when they approach instead of allowing them to attack for too long.
  • Use automatic weapons for groups of enemies.
  • Save powerful ammunition for larger waves or difficult targets.
  • Watch Cortez's safety and do not focus only on Tommy's health.
  • Avoid unnecessary movement away from the yacht, since your primary objective is to defend it.
  • Reload before major enemy waves whenever you have a safe opportunity.

What Makes All Hands-on Deck Difficult?

The mission can be challenging because enemies attack from multiple directions. You have to deal with boats, airborne threats, and groups of armed attackers while keeping Cortez's yacht protected.

Another challenge is that the action happens while the yacht is moving. This can make it harder to aim at targets, especially when enemies are approaching from different angles.

The key is to prioritize threats rather than trying to eliminate every enemy immediately.

What Happens After All Hands-on Deck?

After successfully helping Cortez escape, Tommy completes another important part of his relationship with the Colonel. The mission also provides a reward and advances the storyline.

Cortez's departure is an important moment because it marks the end of his series of missions in Vice City.

Final Thoughts

GTA Vice City “All Hands-on Deck” is primarily a defensive mission. Your objective is to protect Colonel Cortez, eliminate the attacking forces, and make sure the yacht reaches safety.

The easiest approach is to stay prepared, use a reliable automatic weapon, eliminate nearby boat attackers first, and watch the skies for helicopters. Keep your attention on Cortez and the yacht rather than chasing enemies unnecessarily.

With good positioning and quick target selection, you can get Cortez safely out of Vice City and complete All Hands-on Deck without too much trouble.