scaper Posted December 24, 2017 #1 Share Posted December 24, 2017 We are booked on the Fascination from San Juan in May 2018. I have read conflicting notes on which pier they leave and return to. Is it the pier in old San Juan or the Pan American pier? Are they close to each other - still looking for a hotel to book for the night before Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeinjersey Posted December 24, 2017 #2 Share Posted December 24, 2017 You will be docked on the Old San Juan side. Carnival's port info here: https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2725/~/san-juan-cruise-ship-terminal-directions-and-parking I'll be going out of the Pan American port on my Royal Caribbean cruise next May and doing a precruise stay at the Sheraton in Old San Juan. It seems to be the only chain/non-boutique hotel in OSJ. I would definitely go with that one for your cruise since you'll be able to walk right to the port from the hotel. It's pretty nice looking hotel, not too expensive and walking distance to lots of great places to eat/drink. I'll be skipping the hotel breakfast and going to Cafe Manolin or the Casa Cortes ChocoBar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmcancruise Posted December 24, 2017 #3 Share Posted December 24, 2017 From my experience Carnival always docks in Old San Juan. It is perfect, because it gives you easy access to Old San Juan and since sail away isn't until late people often check in and then go out to explore. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeinjersey Posted December 24, 2017 #4 Share Posted December 24, 2017 Also, here is some more info on the port: https://sanjuanpuertorico.com/cruises/ Down in the FAQ it confirms that Carnival is the exception and does indeed embark/disembark in Old San Juan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayowl Posted December 24, 2017 #5 Share Posted December 24, 2017 Did that cruise last may definitely old San Juan right by the fort. view from the ship Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scaper Posted December 26, 2017 Author #6 Share Posted December 26, 2017 Thanks all for the great answers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ready2Cruise2014 Posted December 26, 2017 #7 Share Posted December 26, 2017 What day are you leaving? Been trying to find people! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csj092809 Posted February 14, 2018 #8 Share Posted February 14, 2018 We are sailing the May 6th sailing..anyone else? The roll call is really small for that date, but I know the ship is booking up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty dingo Posted February 14, 2018 #9 Share Posted February 14, 2018 The dock is in a very convenient location. The Sheraton is very close... even if you are not staying there, I believe there is a public casino (at least there was years ago when I last visited.) We always flew in the same day. The late departure time gives you a lot of buffer for any flight delays. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeT Posted February 14, 2018 #10 Share Posted February 14, 2018 Old San Juan, there is a CVS drug store, the old fort. Senior frogs Streets to walk around on Restaurants CVS to pick up anything you forgot or running low on New San Juan you need to taxi or bus to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MsSWhite Posted February 15, 2018 #11 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Can anyone tell me how far it is from the airport to the pier? Any transfer suggestions--Carnival, taxi, etc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsglow Posted February 15, 2018 #12 Share Posted February 15, 2018 (edited) Can anyone tell me how far it is from the airport to the pier? Any transfer suggestions--Carnival, taxi, etc? It's probably about 15 miles or so. Taxi to Old San Juan was $25 plus tip. There's a typical 'starters stand' just outside the doors by the luggage carousel. That's how we got to Old San Juan a few weeks back. Do note that we were approached INSIDE the airport by an unscrupulous driver who had skipped the taxi line and offered us a ride. While I'm sure we would have been fine, I knew it wasn't appropriate and said thank you, no. But the big news down there is that Uber now exists in San Juan. I hadn't figured that out when we arrived so I don't know the airport pick-up spot but we did take Uber back to the airport from the exact cruise pier you'll be using and paid under $10. FYI, don't exit the pier and look left to the standard taxi stand. Just walk the opposite direction (east) to get away from all the longshoremen and taxi drivers 'helping' you (no offense, they really are and they are really nice but they are offering the standard, historic service). We just sat down on the oceanfront bench and had our Uber in less than 5 minutes. We LOVE San Juan. The people are friendly, happy as heck that you're there, and frankly need your support as fellow Americans. Enjoy. Edited February 15, 2018 by jsglow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty dingo Posted February 15, 2018 #13 Share Posted February 15, 2018 It's probably about 15 miles or so. Taxi to Old San Juan was $25 plus tip. Does anyone know if Uber or Lyft are active in San Juan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare georgiacat Posted February 15, 2018 #14 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Keep in mind that hurricane Maria (or whichever one it was) may have changed the docking situation this year. Last year 2017 we took the Fascination from San Juan and it was docked at the Pan American pier. The year before, 2016 we stopped in San Juan on the Magic and it was at the Old San Juan pier. It seemed everywhere we went in a taxi last year it was close to $20 (ie from airport to cruise port). Of course Uber or such may be cheaper. San Juan does have a very good regulated taxi system. If you are interested in organized tours, we used Island Marketing both years and had a great time. Highly recommend them. We stayed in a hotel for a couple of days prior (and one after). They picked us up from hotel, toured us and took us to ship. All included in the price. Luggage stayed with us in the van. Enjoy your cruise. Ours was wonderful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsglow Posted February 15, 2018 #15 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Does anyone know if Uber or Lyft are active in San Juan? Umm, did our posts overlap? :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsglow Posted February 15, 2018 #16 Share Posted February 15, 2018 (edited) Keep in mind that hurricane Maria (or whichever one it was) may have changed the docking situation this year. Last year 2017 we took the Fascination from San Juan and it was docked at the Pan American pier. The year before, 2016 we stopped in San Juan on the Magic and it was at the Old San Juan pier. It seemed everywhere we went in a taxi last year it was close to $20 (ie from airport to cruise port). Of course Uber or such may be cheaper. San Juan does have a very good regulated taxi system. If you are interested in organized tours, we used Island Marketing both years and had a great time. Highly recommend them. We stayed in a hotel for a couple of days prior (and one after). They picked us up from hotel, toured us and took us to ship. All included in the price. Luggage stayed with us in the van. Enjoy your cruise. Ours was wonderful. Historic Old San Juan pier I believe. Yes, there's some damage to the skylight windows and it looks like Maria blasted all the paint off the roof but the traditional Carnival pier (I believe it's technically #4) is fully operational. Our Windstar ship used the non-Carnival side of #4 in January. If I recall correctly, when we disembarked a Viking Ocean was using the other side of #4 (the traditional Fascination spot) and a HAL boat was using #3. In Old San Juan you'll have to look pretty hard and know what you're looking for to see storm damage at this point. Celebrity was certainly using the Pan American pier where's she's traditionally docked. That's maybe a mile away. Edited February 15, 2018 by jsglow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty dingo Posted February 15, 2018 #17 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Umm, did our posts overlap? :) Maybe, or I could just be inattentive. Thanks for the info! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsglow Posted February 15, 2018 #18 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Maybe, or I could just be inattentive. Thanks for the info! :) All good. That's how I'd run around town for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ontheweb Posted February 15, 2018 #19 Share Posted February 15, 2018 The Sheraton near the port also for a small fee allows you to store your luggage. That's what we did when we explored after out cruise when we had a lot of time before our flight home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty dingo Posted February 16, 2018 #20 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Another post-cruise option, if you have a group, is to hire a tour operator to take you on a tour and drop you off at the airport afterward. We had a mini-bus and they kept the luggage on that while we saw the sights and hit the beach for a bit. As I recall, the per-person amount for the tour was not much different than what a taxi would have cost for one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ready2Cruise2014 Posted February 18, 2018 #21 Share Posted February 18, 2018 We are sailing the May 6th sailing..anyone else? The roll call is really small for that date, but I know the ship is booking up. I'm may 6th as well! My husband and I!:D:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
csj092809 Posted February 19, 2018 #22 Share Posted February 19, 2018 I'm may 6th as well! My husband and I!:D:D I am anxiously waiting for this first cruise to be over so someone will post a review on the upgrades, lol. Wondering if they stopped people from smoking by the pool bar now that it will be receiving a lot more traffic as a food venue. Also hope that Mama Maria is still in the YTD room. She is my favorite. I know Jay Jay is on another ship now, so really hoping the Entertainment director is good. Jay Jay and Mama Maria made our last cruise on Fascination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carnivaladdix120 Posted February 19, 2018 #23 Share Posted February 19, 2018 I am anxiously waiting for this first cruise to be over so someone will post a review on the upgrades, lol. Wondering if they stopped people from smoking by the pool bar now that it will be receiving a lot more traffic as a food venue. Also hope that Mama Maria is still in the YTD room. She is my favorite. I know Jay Jay is on another ship now, so really hoping the Entertainment director is good. Jay Jay and Mama Maria made our last cruise on Fascination. I'm anxious to hear how the first sailing is as well! We sail on 3/18 and we are so ready! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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