Embarkation from San Juan

[ad922]

I have a cruise booked of Adventure of the seas in Dec and scheduled to arrive via Southwest around 3:45pm on the date of embarkation. With the ship departing at 8:30pm, will that be enough time to collect bags at rush straight to the port and what's the latest time Royal would let you get on onboard if the flight is delayed...

thanks!

[Clarea]

You must be checked in at least 90 minutes before scheduled deparutre time.

[ColoradoGurl]

If possible, I would change your ticket and arrive the day before, or at the very least, as early in the morning as possible. My experience a couple weeks ago when flying into and out of San Juan was a huge reminder to me that delays can and do happen. My flights each way we're delayed by 3 hours, and then 12 hours, with a guaranteed rebooking only guaranteed 2 days later. The only reason we even made the 12 hour delayed flight was because we were on stand by and another incoming flight was delayed, causing others to miss their connection and allowing us to take their seats. The rebooking line at the Miami airport was so long both times that it took almost 2 hours just to get through the line and get on another flight; so many people miss connections due to delays that I will never take the risk of flying in the day of. We flew in the day before, but if we hadn't, we would have missed our cruise. We saw 14 people left behind on our last delay, and since we were the last flight of the day, they had no chance.

[george35]

Can you recommend any hotels to stay in the day before??

 

george35

[ColoradoGurl]

Can you recommend any hotels to stay in the day before??

 

george35

 

We stayed in the embassy suites which was a good choice for us because of th free breakfast and because our friends were traveling with kids and each room has a separate living room and bedroom area, making it easy for families to stay in one hotel room & still have privacy and space. It's close to the airport (5 min drive) and about 20 min from the cruise port. If you find a good deal on a place in old san juan I might suggest doing that instead though because it will cut down on cab fare if you plan to hang out and tour the city.

[Clarea]

Can you recommend any hotels to stay in the day before??

 

george35

Marriott Stellaris is a beautiful property.

[love2cruise56]

Everyone has their favorite place to stay. Pick something that fits your budget and has amenities that you want.:)

[Cruising Lions]

Better hope there is no delay

[Cruising Lions]

Marriott or la conchs

[karena1]

Can you recommend any hotels to stay in the day before??

 

george35

 

There are tons of hotels in the area. We love Plaza de Armus but they are getting expensive. I think next year we are just doing a bid on Priceline. Cannot really go wrong with any hotel in the OSJ area which is where we always stay.

[golf43]

Can you recommend any hotels to stay in the day before??

 

george35

 

We Stayed at The Embassy Suites. Awesome hotel that has free drinks in the evening. An Outback Steakhouse is located just off the lobby. Free breakfast. It also has a casino that is non smoking.

[davekathy]

We Stayed at The Embassy Suites. Awesome hotel that has free drinks in the evening. An Outback Steakhouse is located just off the lobby. Free breakfast. It also has a casino that is non smoking.

 

Agree. Also around the corner there is a Pueblo super market. They sell wine and anything else you may need.

[derekmcsd]

Caribe Hilton is very nice and the price just dropped quite a bit.

[swingphi]

Please follow the advice of the earlier post. You will have a much better time arriving the day before. The airport can be very hectic and the line to procure a taxi long. We stayed at the Marriott and loved it. Enjoy your cruise.

[SilkySal]

I have a cruise booked of Adventure of the seas in Dec and scheduled to arrive via Southwest around 3:45pm on the date of embarkation. With the ship departing at 8:30pm, will that be enough time to collect bags at rush straight to the port and what's the latest time Royal would let you get on onboard if the flight is delayed...

thanks!

 

I see you are new to CC, so suggest you visit the San Juan info page. Just go back to forums, click on ports of call for the Caribbean and click on San Juan, PR for more info.;) I too suggest you arrive the day before your cruise at the latest. We personally are cruising out of San Juan next March and elected to stay at the Tres Palmas Inn @ 2212 Park Blvd, which is across the street from a beautiful beach!:cool: Note that all hotels are NOT within walking distance to the Pan Am pier, which RCCL uses to sail out of, so pick a hotel within your budget, take a taxi to your hotel and then to your ship, and have fun! Taxis are usually $15-$20, depending on the distance, not bad.

 

Here's the San Juan forum site:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=131

Edited August 24, 2015 by SilkySal
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[vegas7df]

Another recommendation for Caribe Hilton, very nice property.

[ad922]

thanks for link. I have gone ahead and rebooked for an earlier cruise during the thanksgiving week to allow for earlier arrival in San Juan.

[kruise runner]

Hi

This seems like your first cruise out of San Juan. We did our first cruise out of there in Nov . Our advice would agree with other posters . If possible fly in the day before. Our hotel was the Holiday Inn Express . Which was price reasonable, clean and Staff very helpful . And lots of restaurants near by and a very adequate free breakfast too. We had time to do the Rainforest Excursion before going to the ship, very enjoyable. Airport to hotel and to the ship we took a Taxi. RCI Terminal is about a 20- 30min ride to the Pan American Pier. Taxi are zoned in price BOUT $25. TO HOTEL AND $3O. +tip to Terminal . About the same on return to airport . Just make sure you go through the Agriculture Checkin first upon arriving at airport. Happy cruising:D

LOOKING TO CRUISE

kruise kat:cool:

[tuliplvr]

Our first cruise we flew down the same day.. plane delayed and almost didn't make cruise.... Next cruise we flew down the day before.. luggage lost... only had clothes on my back... spent the morning buying clothes in Miami in case luggage didn't show up (thank Goodness it did a couple hours before sail).. Now I only fly down the day before and bring a carry on bag with enough clothes to get me through if my luggage gets lost!!

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

If possible, I would change your ticket and arrive the day before, or at the very least, as early in the morning as possible. My experience a couple weeks ago when flying into and out of San Juan was a huge reminder to me that delays can and do happen. My flights each way we're delayed by 3 hours, and then 12 hours, with a guaranteed rebooking only guaranteed 2 days later. The only reason we even made the 12 hour delayed flight was because we were on stand by and another incoming flight was delayed, causing others to miss their connection and allowing us to take their seats. The rebooking line at the Miami airport was so long both times that it took almost 2 hours just to get through the line and get on another flight; so many people miss connections due to delays that I will never take the risk of flying in the day of. We flew in the day before, but if we hadn't, we would have missed our cruise. We saw 14 people left behind on our last delay, and since we were the last flight of the day, they had no chance.

 

So many times THIS!

 

Especially with that airline. The past two times I flew them, I was stuck at the airport for 5 and 6 1/2 hours respectively because of something they electively decided to do. Not emergency maintenance. Not weather-related delays. Not a computer malfunction. THEY decided they wanted to rearrange their aircraft, leaving us stuck for 5 hours. Then THEY decided to electively change something (which since they noticed it before taking off from the city before us clearly was NOT something that impacted flying or they wouldn't have even flown to us) and broke a screw, resulting in a 6 1/2 hour wait until they could "find" a plane to give us. The best part is the second flight was bought using the voucher they gave us for the first one. I flat out refused the voucher they offered for the second one - to their faces, and I told them why.

 

If I was ever forced to fly them again, I'd make sure it was a) on the first flight out of the day and b) no less than one full day before I needed to be somewhere.

[bonvoyagebites]

In regard to a hotel suggestion.. A few years ago, we took our first cruise out of san juan, and stayed at a cool place called "Da House" check it out if you like nifty little places.

[bonvoyagebites]

Also, there is a shop in the terminal (or there was in 2012, anyway) where you can purchase your wine for the trip... It's just near the entrance to security.

[happymanitee]

When I took this cruise in June of this year, all-aboard was at 5:30 pm, even though we didn't sail until 8pm. So, you probably want to see when you have to be on the ship. With that being said.... as we were standing outside for the muster drill at 5:45, SEVERAL people were still boarding the ship. So, I guess they didn't stick to the 5:30 all-aboard rule after all. But, I still wouldn't risk it.

 

Also, on this same trip, we were supposed to fly in the day before and spend the night at the Embassy Suites. But, there was a mechanical issue with the plane and no other available flights to San Juan, so they got us leaving the next day (morning OF the cruise). On that day, there was a small fire in the airport, causing them to evacuate the terminal and we almost missed our connecting flight. But, we made it! We arrived in San Juan at 11:45am, took a taxi to the port, and got on board pretty quickly.

 

I loved our cruise. I wish I could go again!! Have fun!!!

[LuvBNatC]

Caribe Hilton. Lovely property and one of the nicest hotel rooms I've ever had, with gorgeous ocean view. And the price was right.

[cjdixon4]

We stayed in the embassy suites which was a good choice for us because of th free breakfast and because our friends were traveling with kids and each room has a separate living room and bedroom area, making it easy for families to stay in one hotel room & still have privacy and space. It's close to the airport (5 min drive) and about 20 min from the cruise port. If you find a good deal on a place in old san juan I might suggest doing that instead though because it will cut down on cab fare if you plan to hang out and tour the city.

 

Like you, hubby and I stayed at the Embassy Suites in May for the same reasons. We were there 3 days prior, and it was fantastic.