Lines at the San Juan PR Terminal

[Pickels]

we have cruised out of San Juan, PR once, on the BOS. We will be cruising again on AOS in a couple of weeks. We've had VIP status before but not with RCI. On our next RCI cruise we will be cruising with VIP status and I'm asking about the lines at the terminal. I've read here on CC about two lines, one for baggage checkin and one for boarding. How does the VIP category work with RCI. With NCL, we were able to bypass the lines and get checked in at the VIP Lounge. Is there a similar process with RCI? Thanks for your input.

[39august]

Last month and a couple of years ago, there was no priority boarding for anyone at SJ. You just had to get in line with everyone else. AFTER you gain access to the inside of the terminal, there are some priority access lines, but they don't move any faster than regular lines. Yes, you have to line up to check in luggage, then join "after luggage check in" line. If we ever go out of SJ again, I think I'd wait until about 1 PM to arrive, hoping to avoid long lines.

[cruzkitty]

Our one and only Embark/disembark in SJ was a Nightmare! Was it worth it? Yes! I loved the Southern Caribbean!

[kc320]

Last time we sailed from San Juan we were D+ & in a Suite...the Suite seemed to get far more recognition that being D+ did...we got there about 11:15 and were escorted to the front of the line for security... after the doors opened the lines then split with several scanner lanes being open..after security we just got into the suite checkin line & were processed in a few minutes..the ship wasn't ready for boarding yet, so we waited in plastic chairs on the side..they did seperate people according to suite or C&A status...it was our 1st time in a suite and was kind of nice feeling "special"...even if it was only for a few minutes...:)

[sealeggs]

We sailed out of San Juan in May of 08 and we had priority boarding then. We were Platinum at the time. We will be sailing from San Juan again this coming May. I hope they still have priority boarding.

[MIcruiser99]

You just had to get in line with everyone else. AFTER you gain access to the inside of the terminal, there are some priority access lines, but they don't move any faster than regular lines.

 

We found this to be true when we were there in February. We all waited in one lone line (after the luggage line). When we went in, we got in the priority line but saw people after us (in the normal line) were checked in before us!

[cruisenfever]

we have cruised out of San Juan, PR once, on the BOS. We will be cruising again on AOS in a couple of weeks. We've had VIP status before but not with RCI. On our next RCI cruise we will be cruising with VIP status and I'm asking about the lines at the terminal. I've read here on CC about two lines, one for baggage checkin and one for boarding. How does the VIP category work with RCI. With NCL, we were able to bypass the lines and get checked in at the VIP Lounge. Is there a similar process with RCI? Thanks for your input.

If you have booked a JS cabin or above you will have priority boarding with all other suite guests as well as Platinum, Emerald, Diamond, Diamond Plus and Pinnacle Members. This also goes for waiting outside the terminal until the doors open which is usually at 11:30AM.

 

There is no VIP lounge or VIP status with RCI.:eek: You will check your bags with the porters upon arrival and then enter the terminal where you will be directed to the appropriate check-in line. If boarding has begun, you will be directed to the gangway and be allowed to board.

[vickiw0318]

When I cruised on the Adventure in February, there was only one line outside the terminal for all "levels" of passengers as was there for the Serenade last September and in February of 2010. As noted, there "lines" for Platinum and up and suite passengers inside the terminal.

 

Boarding was delayed last September and there was quite a line outside the terminal. One D+ was so sure he deserved priority that he placed himself at the front of the line. Oh, well. Wish I'd had the guts to say something.

[cruisenfever]

When I cruised on the Adventure in February, there was only one line outside the terminal for all "levels" of passengers as was there for the Serenade last September and in February of 2010. As noted, there "lines" for Platinum and up and suite passengers inside the terminal.

 

Boarding was delayed last September and there was quite a line outside the terminal. One D+ was so sure he deserved priority that he placed himself at the front of the line. Oh, well. Wish I'd had the guts to say something.

When we did Serenade last April, there were 2 lines outside the terminal. One for D/D+ and one for everyone else. Maybe it was a new pier rep that was directing people traffic.:)

[FancyTales]

We just got off the Adventure last Sunday. There is a priority( platinum, diamond etc.) baggage station about half way down from the door. This saved alot of time as there was a long line of folks waiting to drop off their luggage. Once inside there was a priority line for check in. We arrived around noon and check in lines were very short.

[SnorkelAway]

We are Diamond Plus. For Seranade cruise February 12, 2011 out of San Juan, when we handed over luggage, a RCI rep told us that we could go right in, bypassing a farily long line of people waiting who had checked in luggage, and so we did, along with another Diamond Plus. who had asked the woman if he could bypass outside line. When inside for security line, we just stood in line with everyone else - but it was short line. Check in was fast.We boarded about 12:15, I think. Sounds like it varies in terms of priority and how it works.

[romnan]

I'm not sure what you mean by VIP category??? Need clarification before I can responsd correctly:)

[Pickels]

I'm not sure what you mean by VIP category??? Need clarification before I can responsd correctly:)

 

Good Morning Romnan

If you go jump on RCI's website and search for "VIP", in the FAQs you will get very detailed information on VIP. I know VIP gets priority boarding but, this can vary from port to port. I was asking CC about the process in San Juan's port.

[Pickels]

I'm not sure what you mean by VIP category??? Need clarification before I can responsd correctly:)

 

ALSO.... go read the previous post; "do you really get VIP treatment in a suite", it has a lot of detail.

[TOlson70]

We just went in February and there was a Platinum/Diamond/Suites baggage drop off. We have no status so we stood in line to drop our bags off, took about 25 minutes, and then walked right in and up to our deck line counter, no waiting. We got to the terminal about 12 noon, on board by 12:30ish.

[cruisenfever]

Good Morning Romnan

If you go jump on RCI's website and search for "VIP", in the FAQs you will get very detailed information on VIP. I know VIP gets priority boarding but, this can vary from port to port. I was asking CC about the process in San Juan's port.

I've done a search over on the RCI website and have found nothing in the FAQ's relating to VIP.......and I'm very familiar with the search function over there.:) If you could provide a link to what you are referencing, that might help.

 

Everyone that boards any RCI ship can be considered a VIP.........but boarding usually goes by C&A level and cabin category.

 

If you have booked the Royal Suite, then yes, you will definitely get VIP treatment starting with an escort onto the ship by a Staff Member. Of course, this can also vary by ship/port.

[diva girl]

Cruised out of San Juan twice but went down a day early stayed at a Royal Caribbean precruise hotel. The next day they pick you up and are delivered to the port where someone takes the suitcases off the bus and takes them to the terminal. We were escorted to a door which was a room filled with plastic chairs and waited to be called the wait wasn't long.

[addicted2]

Just make sure when leaving at the end of your cruise to get a porter to help with your luggage. The lines to go through customs was huge when we went and the porter took us right to the front, he also bypassed the long taxi line and got us a taxi. The same goes for the airport, getting a porter there will bypass the often long lines at the airline check in. I'm sure we saved at least two hours by doing this.

[Pickels]

We just got off the Adventure last Sunday. There is a priority( platinum, diamond etc.) baggage station about half way down from the door. This saved alot of time as there was a long line of folks waiting to drop off their luggage. Once inside there was a priority line for check in. We arrived around noon and check in lines were very short.

 

When you say "folks waiting to drop off their luggage", Don't they have porters to take your luggage and bring it on the ship? You have to carry your luggage to a check-in station? What's this deal? Thanks.:confused:

[kc320]

When you say "folks waiting to drop off their luggage", Don't they have porters to take your luggage and bring it on the ship? You have to carry your luggage to a check-in station? What's this deal? Thanks.:confused:

 

There are porters who will load your luggage on the cart...but they generally don't take it from the taxi..you or the driver has to unload & take the bags to the check in area...sometimes it's crowded and you have to wait until someone is free to take it..I suppose you "could" just walk off & leave it sitting there and someone would eventually toss it on the cart...or not...:eek:

[cruisenfever]

When you say "folks waiting to drop off their luggage", Don't they have porters to take your luggage and bring it on the ship? You have to carry your luggage to a check-in station? What's this deal? Thanks.:confused:

Since Serenade sails out of Pan Am Pier also, I remember when we cruised last year, the taxi's can only go so far into the parking lot. You are dropped off close to the terminal building, the driver will take your luggage out and then you must walk with your luggage up to where the porters are collecting and putting them on carts to be delivered to the ship.

 

If the doors to the terminal are not opened yet, you must wait in line until Security opens the doors and then any carry on gets x-rayed along with going through a metal detector..........just like at the airport.

 

You will then be directed to where you will be checked in.

[Pickels]

There are porters who will load your luggage on the cart...but they generally don't take it from the taxi..you or the driver has to unload & take the bags to the check in area...sometimes it's crowded and you have to wait until someone is free to take it..I suppose you "could" just walk off & leave it sitting there and someone would eventually toss it on the cart...or not...:eek:

 

I don't think so! :D