San Juan boarding question

[trouble1964]

If you are leaving port at 10 pm, what is the earliest you can board? Our flight gets in pretty early in the afternoon, and we have a Carnival transfer from the airport to the ship.

 

Will we have to wait several hours at the airport for a bus to take us to the ship? Or will we have to wait several hours waiting to board?

 

I've never been on a cruise that left this late before. Thanks in advance for any answers.

[Walkenkeg]

Not sure when your transfer will leave the airport but I do have this for checking in / boarding.

 

In Sept. 2012 when sailing out of San Juan, I was doing a B2B cruise with friends joining me the 2nd week. I asked one of the Carnival reps about check in times and here is what I found out.

 

Info on Enbarkation times:

 

You can check your baggage starting @ 10:30am

Check in time starts @ 11:00am

Boarding starts @ 12:30pm

Once you have boarded, you can come and go just like any other port stop.

You must be checked in and back on the ship by 8:30pm

[HawkIVette]

Not sure when your transfer will leave the airport but I do have this for checking in / boarding.

 

In Sept. 2012 when sailing out of San Juan, I was doing a B2B cruise with friends joining me the 2nd week. I asked one of the Carnival reps about check in times and here is what I found out.

 

Info on Enbarkation times:

 

You can check your baggage starting @ 10:30am

Check in time starts @ 11:00am

Boarding starts @ 12:30pm

Once you have boarded, you can come and go just like any other port stop.

You must be checked in and back on the ship by 8:30pm

 

I can confirm this as of last November. Our flight did not land until 2 pm, but when we got on the ship, we talked to several people that had been onboard as early as noon. We took our bags up to the room, then got back off the ship and walked around San Juan for a while and even did some shopping ( bought soda and some supplies) at the CVS right across the street from the port.

If you are looking to kill a couple hours, walk up the hill to the old fortress just north of the port. Self guided tour and only $3 pp to get in. Great view from the top of the sea wall.

[mainescout]

We went to the port a bit after 11 and were on board by noon, drinking by 12:15. Steakhouse first night. First night is open seating in both dining rooms. You will meet table mates the second night.

[BenjiRodney]

If you are leaving port at 10 pm, what is the earliest you can board? Our flight gets in pretty early in the afternoon, and we have a Carnival transfer from the airport to the ship.

 

Will we have to wait several hours at the airport for a bus to take us to the ship? Or will we have to wait several hours waiting to board?

 

I've never been on a cruise that left this late before. Thanks in advance for any answers.

 

We have done the cruise 3 times. 1st time we fly in day of had the transfers and boarded the bus upon landing and was taken straight to the ship.

 

2nd time we stayed in Old San Juan and went to the ship at noon, boarding had already begun by the time we dropped of luggage and went through check in.

 

3rd time this past Nov, we were Platinum and arrived around 1130, dropped the bags, went inside,checked in and we were in the first group to board a few minutes after 12.

[Sfdtiller]

Not sure what you are paying for transfers through carnival, but a taxi from the airport to the port is either 21 or 25, I'm old and forgot, plus $1 per bag. For 5 people add another $5. So 5 people each with one bag is $35, plus whatever you choose to tip. Probably much cheaper for you. Plus when you return, use a porter, they get to use a special customs line so there was no wait for us in November.

 

 

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[Giffer]

This past September when we did the Valor cruise we stayed at the Sheraton Old San Juan and went to the ship right after checking out at 11. We had about a 30 minute wait after checking-in before we boarded. We were zone 4. Once we got to our room at 1, we dropped our bags and went back into town for a while.

 

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[picomullet]

This past September when we did the Valor cruise we stayed at the Sheraton Old San Juan and went to the ship right after checking out at 11. We had about a 30 minute wait after checking-in before we boarded. We were zone 4. Once we got to our room at 1, we dropped our bags and went back into town for a while.

 

Sent from my Samsung Note 10.1 using Forums mobile app.

 

 

How did you like the Sheraton? I am torn between this hotel and one in Condado area.

 

Thanks for your input!!

[trouble1964]

Thanks for the replies!

[Giffer]

How did you like the Sheraton? I am torn between this hotel and one in Condado area.

 

Thanks for your input!!

 

It was very nice. We loved the location. Lots of restaurant s within walking distance. Starbucks one block up and o er. CVS pharmacy two blocks to the west. Nice little casino in the lobby. Was able to walk to the Valor with no effort. We will definetly stay there again when we return to San Juan.

 

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[faroozi]

So can we check our bags in at 10:30, check in ourselves at 11:30, but not actually board the ship, head out and explore a little bit with our non checked bags (a backpack each) and board later? We want to zip line and it looks like the latest are at 2, but most of them are an hour away. I'm scared if we wait to board it will be too late.