San Juan Excursions on NA

[Rossey]

I just looked at the excursions available on the Nieuw Amsterdam offered by HA for 12/7 and there are only 2. Is that possible?

[BearInStPete]

For some reason excursions are slow in being populated in HAL's system, rest assured that more will added soon.

[sapper1]

A few days ago there was only one showing for San Juan. There was nothing showing for Grand Turk and suddenly yesterday a whole bunch appeared for Grand Turk.

Just be patient and keep checking.

[POA1]

If you want an idea of what the shore excursions will likely be, you can go to this page:

 

http://www.hollandamerica.com/cruise-destinations/ShoreExcursions.action

 

You should land on the page with the Find tab open. If not, click the Find tab.

 

Select Caribbean under Destination (first drop down) and then select San Juan, Puerto Rico (second drop down.) Then, click the green Go button. That should bring up the list of excursions that are normally offered.

 

It's typically these (now with specially handcrafted hyperlinks for your convenience!) --

 

• A Stroll through Old San Juan
  
• ATV Adventure
  
• Bio-luminescent Bay Kayak
  
• El Yunque Rain Forest Day Hike
  
• El Yunque Rain Forest Drive*
  
• Exotic Puerto Rico: A Latin Traditions Show
  
• A Salute to Ricky Martin & Menudo**
  
• History & Cuisine of San Juan on Foot
  
• Old San Juan, Bacardi Distillery Museum & Fortress
  
• San Juan Canopy Zip Line Adventure
  
• San Juan Highlights
  
• San Juan Old & New
  

Notes:

 

 

*

- Nothing says eco-tourism like a drive through the rain forest!

**

- This is not a real thing (the excursion, not Ricky Martin.) I just wanted to see if you were paying attention.

Personal Recommendation:

 

 

It looks like we are scheduled to dock at the San Juan Cruise Port which is very conveniently located, pretty much right at the foot of Old San Juan.

 

 

• Q: We?!? What's this "We" stuff?
  
• A: DW & I are on the Nieuw Amsterdam for this sailing.We didn't even know you were on it when we booked. ;) (Just didn't want to run afoul of the posters over on the "Whatever happened to privacy laws thread.)
  

Anywho... While most of the excursions in San Juan are nice, it really is a good port to explore on your own. As long as you don't mind walking up and down some hills, there is plenty to see. If you want a nice, self-guided tour, there's one at EveryTrail. (You can print it. You don't have to get the app.)

 

http://www.everytrail.com/guide/old-san-juan-puerto-rico/map

 

This walking tour follows pretty much the same path as the cruise ships' walking tours do. (We took the walking tour a few years back as an excursion.)

 

Hope this helps.

Edited June 26, 2014 by POA1

[Krazy Kruizers]

There were 12 offered on our spring Nieuw Amsterdam cruise. I am not in the room where I have that information. Will post it later.

[Krazy Kruizers]

San Juan Excursions on our March/April cruise

1.Exotic Puerto Rico: A Latin Traditions Show -- 2 1/4 hours -- 7:30 PM -- $59.95 per person

2.San Juan Old & New -- 2 1/2 hours -- 1:30 PM -- Adult $49.95, Child $ 29.95

3.A Stroll Through Old San Juan -- 2 1/2 hours -- 1:30 PM -- Adult $4.95, Child $39.95

4.Old San Juan, Bacardi Distillery Museum & Fortress -- 4 hours -- 1:15 PM -- Adult $49.95, Child $24.95

5.Cultural & Botanical Gardens of Caguas - 2 3/4 hours -- 1:30 PM -- Adult $69.95. Child $59.95

6.History & Cuisine of San Juan on Foot -- 4 hours -- 1:30 PM -- Adult $99.95, Child $89.95

7.El Yunque Rain Forest Day Hike -- 5 1/4 hours -- 1:30 PM -- $59.95

8.El Yunque Rain Forest Drive -- 4 1/4 hours -- 1:45 PM -- Adult $49.95, Child $29.95

9.San Juan Canopy Zip Line Adventure -- 4 hours -- 1:30 Pm & 2:30 PM -- $149.95

10.Bio-luminescent Bay Kayak -- 5 1/2 hours -- 4 PM -- $109.95

11.ATV Adeventure -- 4 1/4 hours -- 1:30 PM -- Adult $219.95 per ATV 2 guests

12.Trapeze School New York -- 2 3/4 hours -- Time was NA -- $109.95.

NOW there is no guarantee that these tours will be available for your cruise.

[summersigh]

We didn't take a ship's excursion in San Juan ..... instead we did San Juan Water Tours ( sanjuanwatertours.com ) and then rode the free hop-on-hop-off trolley around town which we caught across the street from the cruise docks. We reserved our trip via email.

 

The boat tour company is about a block and a half down the waterfront from where the cruise ships dock. We enjoyed the view of Old San Juan from a new perspective! Wonderful ride around the bay ... My profile picture was taken on that boat.

 

It's a family owned company. It was a small boat and the owner did a great narration as well as shared some enjoyable conversation. It was a way to get to know San Juan from a local's perspective.

Edited June 26, 2014 by summersigh
addition

[Krazy Kruizers]

There is also the free Trolley if you are not able to walk to El Morro Castle. It can be very crowded at times.

[HokiePoq]

There is also the free Trolley if you are not able to walk to El Morro Castle. It can be very crowded at times.

 

 

You are right. If one is physically able, you can use the free shuttle. You can go to both of the forts and return back to to the port. We have the National Parks senior pass and had free admission to the ports. Great day for no cost!

[CHK]

This company has tours for cruise ship passengers. Not sure how many people on each tour but the prices are about 20% less than the ship's tours:

 

http://puertoricocruiseexcursions.com

 

Carolyn (Earljr's DW)

[CHK]

This company has tours for cruise ship passengers. Not sure how many people on each tour but the prices are about 20% less than the ship's tours:

 

http://puertoricocruiseexcursions.com

 

Carolyn (Earljr's DW)

 

FYI--We just booked the Bacardi Rum Distillery & Fortresses Of Old San Juan COMBO Tour with the company mentioned above for $40pp (deposit of $10pp at time of booking--fully refundable if the ship does not make port)

 

Just the thought of the tasting at Bacardi makes me smile!

[Typhoon1]

Give it time, more should appear between now and your cruise.