Departing from Port of San Juan Tips Trick an hints please!

[scomar]

We will be departing for our 7 day S. Caribbean cruise on the Jewel in mid December from the port in San Juan. We are coming in the day before the cruise departs. We have been to San Juan as a port of call before and had a great day there, but this is our first time to sail out of San Juan.

 

What tips, tricks and hint do you have for us to make our first time sailing out of San Juan a pleasant one?

 

Thanks in advance!!!

 

PS I am not sure if this is a port of call question or Royal Caribbean question so I posted in both.

[DragonOfTheSeas]

We will be departing for our 7 day S. Caribbean cruise on the Jewel in mid December from the port in San Juan. We are coming in the day before the cruise departs. We have been to San Juan as a port of call before and had a great day there, but this is our first time to sail out of San Juan.

 

What tips, tricks and hint do you have for us to make our first time sailing out of San Juan a pleasant one?

 

Thanks in advance!!!

 

PS I am not sure if this is a port of call question or Royal Caribbean question so I posted in both.

 

The San Juan board is very quiet.:eek:

 

You will get more answers here. . . .and I would be interested in the answers, too.

[leith]

OMG! San Juan is awesome to sail out of!! We did it once before and used the day of sailing as a day to run around. We did the old fort, shopped, got caught in the rain, went to a local bar and had so much fun!! Then got on the ship to sail away.

 

We loved it so much this time we are going in a day early. I am accumulating a list of things we can do, but I am not sure that is what you are looking for. If so, I am happy to share.

[scomar]

OMG! San Juan is awesome to sail out of!! We did it once before and used the day of sailing as a day to run around. We did the old fort, shopped, got caught in the rain, went to a local bar and had so much fun!! Then got on the ship to sail away.

 

We loved it so much this time we are going in a day early. I am accumulating a list of things we can do, but I am not sure that is what you are looking for. If so, I am happy to share.

 

Thanks for your input. I know, San Juan was a great place. We had so much fun while there on a port of call stop a few years ago. We did the rainforest and you have got to check out the beaches there, they are beautiful.

 

I guess to clarify my question, I want to know any tips on departing from San Juan. Such as a good hotel to stay the night before, best way to get to the port, easy of going through the check-in process, how easy is it to get through the terminal to get on the ship, you get the idea. Basically if you have sailed from the port/terminal at San Juan what would make it the best experience possible.

 

Thanks,

 

Scomar

[printingchick]

I'll be staying at a little bed and breakfast in historic Old San Juan the night prior to my 2014 Jewel cruise. It's called Villa Herencia and it's very well recommended both here and on Trip Advisor. They sell out as far as a year in advance, so if you decide on that location, book early! We want to do a walking tour of the old city before boarding the ship and everything is within walking distance of the inn.

 

Other Tips:

• When you claim your luggage at the airport, step outside to the kiosk where you request cab service. Cabs are a set fare based on destination and number of suitcases. If you can find someone in line going to the same place, you can share the fare, saving money.
  
• For those traveling during daylight savings time, Puerto Rico does not observe that time change. Expect it to be an hour earlier there.
  
• When flying back out of San Juan, be sure to have your bags inspected by by the Dept. of Agriculture. If you forget, you'll have to go to the back of the line.
  
• My first cruise out of San Juan, I had a very early morning departing flight which I had no issue catching. However, my last cruise out of San Juan had a typical return flight time and the airport was an absolute ZOO!! Expect long lines!
  

[mtu_huskies]

I was surprised at how easy it was to use Priceline for a San Juan hotel per-cruise. After a little reading you'll know what zones and hotel level to bid on to get a good price.

 

Also, knowing about the Ag inspection line at the airport is a good tip. Would hate to stand in the airline check in line only to be told to go back and put my bags through the Ag scanner.

[paylady]

I suggest you first decide in which area of San Juan you'd like your hotel to be located. You will then get more suggestions on hotels. Like printing chick, I like staying in Old San Juan (OSJ), mostly because we love to walk around everywhere in that area. However, you may decided you like Condado or Isla Verde. Many folks ask about hotels close to the Pan Am Pier. There isn't any hotel where you can roll your luggage from hotel to the pier in San Juan unless you leave from the other pier, which RCL does not. The only hotel "close" to the Pan Am Pier is the Sheraton San Juan (not to be confused with the Sheraton Old San Juan). Even at this hotel, a taxi is required to enter the port so the attraction of this hotel for a pre/post cruise traveler would be the newness, price or the pool. This hotel is right by the convention center.

 

Once you narrow down your choice of location, it will be easier to obtain suggestions.

[DonnaK]

Now that RCI allows two bottles of wine to be carried on, where can we buy some between the airport and the pier?

[printingchick]

My thought behind choosing Old San Juan was based partly on the fact that we're staying only one night, pre-cruise. While a beach-front hotel with an amazing pool might be great for a longer stay, I'm not going to want to swim in the morning, when I have to check-out by 11AM or noon. Not enough time to enjoy a beach and then get cleaned up and dressed. I also don't want to board the ship carrying my wet bathing suit.

 

Most hotels will hold your bags for you post-check out, to allow you time to do some sight-seeing before boarding. I dont' expect to need to change clothes after a walking tour of OSJ, so it's a bit more practical from a logistical perspective. And I'll be seeing a LOT of beaches on my cruise, so having having access to one during my pre-cruise stay wasn't really a consideration.

[crisndeefromde]

Our first b2b last year we stayed in the Condado section at the Comfort Inn. This february we stayed in the Isla Verde section which is closest to the airport and stayed at the Embassy Suites. Next year we are already booked for the Radisson in Condado. The beaches are awesome in Isla Verde and the area very clean and very nice. Crime has risen quite a bit and our flight attendants warned us to be more vigilant and we were. There are more police especially on bikes as they want to keep tourists coming and keep everyone safe. Beaches in the Condado section are far from nice but you do have plenty of sand. There are casinos in both areas. As some have already mentioned there isn't a hotel that is walkable to the Pan Am Pier. Now we did see many walking to the ships but appeared to be crew members and not folks with luggage. Its a beautiful area with a small airport next door and also a large marina with some very very nice looking yachts.

 

There are plenty of food choices in both of the sections that we have stayed in previously. We just decided this trip to try a different resort and the price was great. We just want a clean place to put our head! No mold no nasty room. Sometimes that is hard to find!

 

We love walking around old san juan. Just remember that even tho your ship is scheduled to sail at 830...all aboard is usually or it was in our case on the Adventure at 5 pm. So if anything check in early with your luggage and go do your thing but you have to be on board and participate in muster and remember it is also DAY 1 of your cruise and you have paid for it!!!!!

[Deatsch]

We found that San Juan is a GREAT place to sail from.

 

We always stay at the Courtyard Isle Verde.

 

You'll be able to get on the ship at about 11:30 or so.

 

Do NOT miss being on deck for sailaway, it's great with all the lights on shore.

 

When we get back to the airport, we use a porter, they work hard and do everything for you. It's a good deal, yep.

 

hth,

 

Jim and Judy

[karen11g]

Now that RCI allows two bottles of wine to be carried on, where can we buy some between the airport and the pier?

 

I can't answer this exact question, but there is a duty free liquor store with wine in it at the pier. We were in San Juan for three days before our cruise, so bought two bottles of wine near our hotel and brought it to the pier.

 

Just after we entered the building, a man from the store came up to us and told us about the duty free store. We told him we already had our wine with us. He said after we boarded the ship, we could go back and buy more.

 

The way it worked two weeks ago was this: After dropping off our bags outside, we walked into the building with our carry ons. There was a security check immediately inside the entrance. At that check, if you had bottles in your bag, they attached a plastic tie to it. Then you went to the desk to do the normal check in & get Sea Passes. After that, just before you went up the escalator, there was a small table set up. If you had a tag on your bag, you had to stop at that table so they could remove the tag and check your two bottles of wine. They were not keeping any records. The whole process took about 15 minutes form arrival at 11:30 am to boarding the ship.

 

A couple of hours later my husband and someone else from our group went down to the duty free shop and each bought two bottles of wine. They thought the wine selection was fine and decently priced, though we didn't have a particular wine we were looking for. They stopped at the second table and had their purchases checked, then came back on board, no problems.

[Familygoboston]

CKRobyn has just done an extensive review, with B2B from SJ. Also she started a great general Adventure Thread, both have excellent info about locations of hotels and how to book, tips for navigating the port

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1788318

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=691783&highlight=adventure

[LDR]

We stayed at the Radisson the last time we were there and really like it. Ashford Avenue was a neat place to walk around in the evening. This year we are looking to stay at a Marriott property-the Stellaris or out in Isla Verde.

 

The airport has improved each time we have been there and I am hoping that continues:) Make sure you eat breakfast before you leave the ship, back in 2004 my DH stood in line to get snacks out of a vending machine-I kid you not! There were no places to eat where we were in the airport at that time. In 2008, we managed to find some lunch:).

 

San Juan is a neat place, I can't wait to get there in July!

[audome78]

I

[*]For those traveling during daylight savings time, Puerto Rico does not observe that time change. Expect it to be an hour earlier there.

 

Just one small note here, as we were in San Juan 2 weeks ago when Daylight Savings Time went into effect. It is correct that San Juan does not change their clocks. However, they are on the same time during DST, and 1 hour earlier during EST.

 

The rest of your tips are right on- especially about the Ag inspection. It is NOT marked very well (at least in the Jet Blue terminal), and if you aren't paying attention, you can miss it. We saw MANY people get all the way to the head of the security line with their carry-ons and had to double back thru Ag Inspection AND then get in the back of the security line.

[DonnaK]

I can't answer this exact question, but there is a duty free liquor store with wine in it at the pier. We were in San Juan for three days before our cruise, so bought two bottles of wine near our hotel and brought it to the pier.

 

Just after we entered the building, a man from the store came up to us and told us about the duty free store. We told him we already had our wine with us. He said after we boarded the ship, we could go back and buy more.

 

The way it worked two weeks ago was this: After dropping off our bags outside, we walked into the building with our carry ons. There was a security check immediately inside the entrance. At that check, if you had bottles in your bag, they attached a plastic tie to it. Then you went to the desk to do the normal check in & get Sea Passes. After that, just before you went up the escalator, there was a small table set up. If you had a tag on your bag, you had to stop at that table so they could remove the tag and check your two bottles of wine. They were not keeping any records. The whole process took about 15 minutes form arrival at 11:30 am to boarding the ship.

 

A couple of hours later my husband and someone else from our group went down to the duty free shop and each bought two bottles of wine. They thought the wine selection was fine and decently priced, though we didn't have a particular wine we were looking for. They stopped at the second table and had their purchases checked, then came back on board, no problems.

 

Thank you very much. This answers my question perfectly! We will pick up our wine at the duty-free shop at the pier.

 

Where exactly is the store? Is it clearly marked?

[prayfordaylight]

Just one small note here, as we were in San Juan 2 weeks ago when Daylight Savings Time went into effect. It is correct that San Juan does not change their clocks. However, they are on the same time during DST, and 1 hour earlier during EST.

 

It's an hour later in Puerto Rico during EST. If it's 9PM on the east coast of the US, it's 10PM there.

[LuvBNatC]

I read somewhere (probably here on CC) that if you leave your debarkation luggage tags on your suitcase when you leave the ship, they let you SKIP the agricultural inspection at the SJ airport.

 

Has that changed, or was it never the case?

[LarryL]

I read somewhere (probably here on CC) that if you leave your debarkation luggage tags on your suitcase when you leave the ship, they let you SKIP the agricultural inspection at the SJ airport.

 

Has that changed, or was it never the case?

 

That would not make any sense because USDA doesn't do predeparture inspections on the ship. They are required to put the bags through an xray machine at the airport and then place a sticker on the baggage to verify to ticketing/TSA that the inspections have occured. There would be no way to verify that from a ship.

[prayfordaylight]

Do the USDA inspection first thing when you get to the airport before anything else. I've rarely had to wait more than a few minutes.

[Sunebeach]

Thanks for all the info on here...heading out in roughly 20 days...

[ibcnusoon]

As someone else mentioned, get a porter to help you when you get to the airport AFTER your cruise.

 

When we got out of the van at the airport, a porter came up to us to help. Since we had alot more bags than we could possibly carry, we took him up on it. The porter then told me to go inside and get in line for boarding passes and he would take my husband to the agriculture inspection. When DH was done, he came back with the porter and our luggage, DH got his boarding pass and we walked with the porter over to where the luggage is put on the conveyor belt and we were done.

 

No sense standing in 2 lines, split up if you need to but I think it helps ALOT if you get a porter to move you along quicker.

[kcdancerkc]

great job - keep them coming!

Any reasonable hotels with pool and hot tub

near terminal / airport / old san juan? THANKS:D

[LuvBNatC]

That would not make any sense because USDA doesn't do predeparture inspections on the ship. They are required to put the bags through an xray machine at the airport and then place a sticker on the baggage to verify to ticketing/TSA that the inspections have occured. There would be no way to verify that from a ship.

 

Thanks, Larry. What you say makes sense. I thought it sounded too good to be true. :)

[emmac25]

I can't answer this exact question, but there is a duty free liquor store with wine in it at the pier. We were in San Juan for three days before our cruise, so bought two bottles of wine near our hotel and brought it to the pier.

 

Just after we entered the building, a man from the store came up to us and told us about the duty free store. We told him we already had our wine with us. He said after we boarded the ship, we could go back and buy more.

 

The way it worked two weeks ago was this: After dropping off our bags outside, we walked into the building with our carry ons. There was a security check immediately inside the entrance. At that check, if you had bottles in your bag, they attached a plastic tie to it. Then you went to the desk to do the normal check in & get Sea Passes. After that, just before you went up the escalator, there was a small table set up. If you had a tag on your bag, you had to stop at that table so they could remove the tag and check your two bottles of wine. They were not keeping any records. The whole process took about 15 minutes form arrival at 11:30 am to boarding the ship.

 

A couple of hours later my husband and someone else from our group went down to the duty free shop and each bought two bottles of wine. They thought the wine selection was fine and decently priced, though we didn't have a particular wine we were looking for. They stopped at the second table and had their purchases checked, then came back on board, no problems.

 

 

I hope it still works this way in 65 days! Taking 2 bottles per person would be nice.