pdc2013

Very easy, get a GPS if your phone does not work in PR.

Hi Fl-girl,

We've got a group of 11 on Harmony on 6/24. Is that your date? We're celebrating our 50th anniversary and are also looking for a tour that will interest everyone down to the age of 3 1/2. The other 2 ports will be beach days and the beaches aren't that great in PR. We've done the forts on previous visits, but haven't ventured much beyond that. The rain forest keeps coming up as a suggestion. Any tour provider recommendations?

As was said above i used island marketing for their Rainforest tour. I just came from their website and seems that they have new tours up that i had not seen before. The private beach for the day looks interesting, they now also have a walking food tour which is super cheap in comparison to others.

Wonder if anyone has done it yet?

Hello!

 

This will be our first time cruising Celebrity and our first time in San Juan. We would love any advice on the following, as I've struggled to find any recent posts on these questions:

 

1. The cruise-sponsored 12 mile bike tour. Is it worth it? At $109 pp it seems quite high, but we haven't found more preferable options for touring the city that don't involve being squished onto a tour bus or van. I tried to book with this bike company privately before learning that they have been booked out entirely to our cruise ship that day!

 

2. We'd love to see the rainforest, but won't be docking until 3:30 in the afternoon. Is this too late to go?

 

3. Are there any tour companies you would recommend from personal experience? I've scoured Trip Advisor, but the reviews are pretty mixed. I'm not too keen on paying so far in advance with a no refund policy, period.

 

4. Are there any must-see places on the island we can get to during this time frame?

 

Thank you so much for any advice! This is my first post on CC, and I look forward to hearing from you!

Maybe it would be better to walk around on your own if you don't mind the heat and being active. You can do a Private tour of San Juan and the forts not to be with others.

With your time in port i would stay in Old San Juan, I do not think their is time to go to the rainforest. You have time to enter 1 fort keep in mind they close at 6:00PM.

I have not used Charlie but have used Island Marketing.

I did their Rainforest tour and their San Juan Tour privately and was very happy.and very reasonable and one of the least expensive out their.

Maybe this will work for your group https://puertoricocruiseexcursions.com/excursion/san-juan-highlights-country-island-tour/

I would suggest San Juan tours first if this is your first time in Puerto Rico.

Some of our group have a 1:30 flight out of San Juan on a Sunday. Should we give up any chance of doing something after getting off the ship? I'm not sure of the timing. Thanks for the input!

You would have to leave for the airport by 11:00am

So really depends when you get off the ship.

Thank you for the quick reply. We will be there late Feb of 2018. We have cruised out of San Juan but it has never been one of our ports of call. So I was assuming we port at the same place we would leave from.. It appears that we may port in Old San Juan, but unsure of how to verify this, or is that actually where the main port is? If that is the case, that will be a bonus. We do not have a tour planned and we were just thinking of doing our own walking tour. This is the first cruise for the wife's parents and we want to have it easy going for them. Any reason to worry about walking around after dark?

No Problem with my experience after dark at all. Of course taking the same precautions like any big city.

If you want it real easy maybe you should look into a tour.

We are flying in on the same day as our cruise on the Adventure of the Seas and are due to arrive in San Juan at 2:00 pm. How long does it usually take to get your luggage? Once we have secured our luggage we will be trying to get a taxi to the port. Do we do this ourselves or is there a concierge to help with this and the pricing of the ride to the pier?

 

 

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San Juan Airport is like any other airport, should not take long. There is a taxi stand outside, not sure which terminal you will arrive in. Price is about $20-25 depending on luggage and amount of people.

You are arriving early enough enjoy the Old City before your cruise!

Good Morning!

 

We will be in San Juan this January on the Disney Wonder, and will spend the night after disembarking. I am considering Sheraton OSJ, but check in isn't until 4pm. Has anyone here had experience leaving luggage at the hotel, exploring for the day, then coming back to check in at the appropriate time?

 

We don't need the room right away, just a place to leave our stuff.

 

Thanks in advance!

 

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I want to say that all hotel will hold your luggage for you and a Sheraton even more. But email them and get the info right from them.

That is correct, we are not porting in San Juan until 3:30pm and depart @ 11pm. We didnt catch that when we booked the cruise, but it is what it is. We really wanted to walk around old San Juan, but not sure we would have enough day light. Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do with that time frame?

Even though you do arrive late you still can enjoy Old San Juan. If you are not taking a tour walk directly to the forts to get that with light, they close at 6:00PM. Not sure the time of year you are there but try to be at El Morro during sunset it is really beautiful!

Then walk around you will love it.

Awesome thank you so much! I'm new to the forums and trying to figure out how to navigate through them!

 

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If you have the time renting a car is a great option. Plenty of Private tours out there as well.

Just a quick read of the tours, sounds like full day trips. We'll be in Port from 1 pm to 10 pm. Don't think those tours would work....boooo.

 

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With a 1:00 pm arrival time you have plenty of time to see the Rainforest, if that is what is important to you.

I know you can book with the concierge in your hotel but i think they will be overwhelmed that day. Just guessing being a very busy weekend.

If you can and are happy with a tour book in advance.

If you can get the price the sheraton is a great choice! El Convento must be great but when i checked pricy.

I stayed in SJ suites, inexpensive at the time, another one is Casa Blanca right on Fortaleza.

Trying to figure out what to do in San Juan for the late afternoon and evening. Its our first stop on the Jade 10 day cruise

You have plenty of time to enter one of the forts with a tour or just walking around on your own.

I agree about the cocktails but i would stay closer to El Morro in some of the other local bars since you are in port so late. Lots of fun walking around in the evening!

I was at the ME last month, part of my Ensenada and PV tour. I liked the ME and was exactly what i wanted that day. We had relaxed enough and was ready for something different.

I did see some teens there and which just blended in. I was at the beach, do not like lying pool side. When i was ready for a little bit more fun i walked over to the pool bar. Food was good so were the drinks!

We did walk down the beach and saw other locations, i was glad i chose the ME because it was more the vibe i was looking for. I could relax and walk over to the pool bar which worked for me!

Hope this helps.

I was trying to browse the forum but it seems faster just to ask. We will be taking flying in from the states to Puerto Rico to port there. If our flight arrives in PR at 3:45p and we have to be onboard the ship by 8:30p at the latest, does that allow enough time if we take a taxi?

 

Also, are there any rental car companies right at the port? Once we arrive after the cruise, I am considering renting a van to drive our large family to our hotel in Humacao. Any concerns on driving a rental in PR?

 

Thanks!

Plenty of time, you are only 10-15 minutes away.

Driving in Puerto Rico is like driving in any major city in the U.S.

Thank you for that reply pdc2013..that is helpful....yes, i think thing to do might be to do the private Island Marketing tour and then as you said have time after to have lunch at a delicious place in OSJ...and walk around a bit more then back to ship...:) Were there certain restaurants you enjoyed for lunch? Authentic and we could try some of the Puerto Rico specialties? Thanks!

As per the link that Crewsweeper provided you in her previous response I was taken here for coffee and pan. basically bread with butter

La Mallorquina - 207 Calle San Justo.

And this one i found on my own great local lunch spot!

El Jibarito - 280 Calle Sol.

Our guide told us about, i think it is called cafe puerto rico right at the plaza Colon but i didn't like it as much.

Hope this helps, I just got back from my trip so i am jealous...... have a safe trip.

Hello..can't decide between these two tours in the Old San Juan area! There are 7 of us, so if we did the Island Marketing Old San Juan/Fort tour we would do that private since it's not a considerable difference..Then after they would drop us off in Old San Juan to eat and shop before boarding the ship (we are in port from about 7 to 3).....Sounds fun to see some of the forts and history of the area...Or the Spoons Tour also looks really interesting and is a walking and eating tour which could be really cool and then I believe you get some history bits from the guide while you are walking on the tour..Maybe a little more off the beaten path....we are all in our 50's/60's and everyone is healthy and can walk well...None of us have toured San Juan yet so all of it would be new to us.....So decisions, decisions....which to pick??? :confused:

I did the tour from island marketing. I had the luxury of staying a few days and was glad i was shown around first. I chose to be toured because i have found that it works best for me. In the past when i have walked around on my own in different locations i have visited, i found i missed many things. It was a great to get toured and then finish walking around on my own. If you do not get a little lost, you do not see it all....lol

I have not done the food tour but only because i preferred to go to restaurants that i finally choose. For coffee and a pan, as they say in Puerto Rico and then finally a local lunch.

Hi everyone I was wondering to save on several cab fares back and forth to Old San Juan if there were any other means of transportation?

If you have not booked yet, why not stay in Old San Juan instead?

Looking for a shore excursion for 2- 60 yr olds, 1-40 yr old, 1-32 yr old and a 12 & 6 yr old.

We would like to sight see but also a nice beach. Is there a private tour that you would recommend?

I have not done this tour but seems it is what your looking for

https://puertoricocruiseexcursions.com/excursion/old-san-juan-city-tour-beach-escape/

On my first trip i would either stay in the Old San Juan or stay at the beach. I guess that all depends how often you go to Puerto Rico

I'm traveling with my three boys ages 9, 9, 7. Looking for something fun to do. We have never been to san juan. Any absolute must dos in this port?

Other than the forts - beach, zip line or rainforest

The ship departs on Sat @ 2030 and we plan to just fly in from either Tampa, Orlando or Miami on Sat. How long of a cab/bus ride is it from SJU to the pier where the cruise ship is? We've been to San Juan numerous time and don't want to spend any time walking around the old city just plan to fly in and go right to the ship. So based off of how long it takes I'll start looking for flights.

 

Cheers!

should not be more than 10-15 minutes

Cruising on the Adventure from San Juan in November. Staying one night post cruise and wondering if anyone has had luck with early check in to any of the hotels. We just want a place to stay where we can rest before our early morning flight the next day. We're already staying 2 nights pre cruise to explore San Juan. Thanks!!

 

 

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As you may know early check in depends on availability, most hotels will allow you to check in early if they have rooms available.

Im looking for a family beach with calm water, can be touristy, within 20 minutes from the port

 

Any suggestions?

 

Thank you

 

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Totally agree with isla verde, ocean park is a good option too.

Thanks for the reply! Luckily mom's knees are still fairly good as far as I know. The taxi seems like the best bet but then I worry we will miss out by not exploring. Plus I'm not sure just wandering around an old fort is going hold her interest for very long. We might consider taking a taxi there and maybe wandering back. I'm still debating a tour company but I don't know if we want to be on someone else's clock so to speak either.

Why not take a short private tour and then wonder around. If not wanting to spend the money taxi up and walking back down also works.