Sailing the Summit out of San Juan . . .

[CruzerDeb]

. . . and it doesn't leave port until 8:30.  Can you board early in the day and then disembark to tour the port?

[PhoenixCruiser]

Yes

 

Celebrity uses the Pan Am pier so you would need to take a taxi to go anywhere. 

[jean87510]

Absolutely. Have done it before. Just make sure of the onboard time. Even though ship leaves at 830, onboard could be much earlier.

[sallyb]

Can you drop your luggage before the 3 pm boarding time?

[davekathy]

4 minutes ago, sallyb said:

Can you drop your luggage before the 3 pm boarding time?

Yes. Boarding times also start way before 3:00 PM. We've been onboard as early as 11:00 AM out of SJ. 

Edited October 27, 2019 by davekathy

[ischeer]

For the sailaway, you'll want to be on the starboard side of the ship.

[ozark74]

Boarding will still start about 11:00 am as long as there are no problems. The lifeboat drill is at 4:45. As someone already said you have to use a taxi to go anywhere. Better to board later and stay onboard.

[CruzerDeb]

Sounds like I can just drop off my luggage without boarding and then board later; and need to be on board by 4:00 to get settled in and be on time for muster.  Is that right?

 

Or, I could see if my hotel will hold my luggage while I explore and then do luggage/board later.

 

Thanks for your help!

Edited October 27, 2019 by CruzerDeb

[JustAGirl79]

I've sailed out of SJU on Summit twice and muster has been 7:30/7:45ish - that was in January 2016 and and January 2018.

[CruzerDeb]

2 minutes ago, JustAGirl79 said:

I've sailed out of SJU on Summit twice and muster has been 7:30/7:45ish - that was in January 2016 and and January 2018.

Thanks!

[RichYak]

3 hours ago, CruzerDeb said:

Or, I could see if my hotel will hold my luggage while I explore and then do luggage/board later.

This would get my vote. It's far more efficient than the time spent getting to, then from, then back to Pan American Pier.

[alcpa1]

Muster was at 7:30 - 7:45 on the Summit in January. As it has been on our other Summit cruises from San Juan that left at 8:30.

They also do a make-up muster drill for those who miss the pre-sail drill. 

If you want to just drop off your bags and not check in you can certainly do that as early as 10:30 but you want to make sure your meds and valuables, and especially your boarding docs on not in your checked luggage.

Have a great cruise.

[fleckle]

9 hours ago, ozark74 said:

Boarding will still start about 11:00 am as long as there are no problems. The lifeboat drill is at 4:45. As someone already said you have to use a taxi to go anywhere. Better to board later and stay onboard.

 

I agree.  Much better than wasting your time traveling back and forth just to drop off luggage.

 

For sailaway, be out on the port side of the ship to catch the wonderful panoramic views along the city's waterfront as the Summit slowly backs out of the bay. 

It is really attractive, cruising past the buildings and docks and boats, seeing them all illuminated at night.

 

Then after the ship turns around and starts moving forward, cross over to the starboard side for a glimpse of El Morro  as you sail past it, although lately it has mostly been in the dark as they haven't been doing a very good job of lighting up the fort at night.

 

 

[A Sixth?]

9 hours ago, CruzerDeb said:

Sounds like I can just drop off my luggage without boarding and then board later; and need to be on board by 4:00 to get settled in and be on time for muster.  Is that right?

 

Or, I could see if my hotel will hold my luggage while I explore and then do luggage/board later.

 

Thanks for your help!

I’ve sailed out of SAN Juan dozens of times and if you want to tour this is the best bet.

 

The crazy that is the Pan Am Pier can be for several hours around the start of boarding is legendary

 

By late afternoon Uber or Taxis breeze in 

Edited October 28, 2019 by A Sixth?

[ozark74]

9 hours ago, alcpa1 said:

Muster was at 7:30 - 7:45 on the Summit in January. As it has been on our other Summit cruises from San Juan that left at 8:30.

They also do a make-up muster drill for those who miss the pre-sail drill. 

If you want to just drop off your bags and not check in you can certainly do that as early as 10:30 but you want to make sure your meds and valuables, and especially your boarding docs on not in your checked luggage.

Have a great cruise.

Not this year. We were on for the month of January and the drill was at 4:45 on both cruises.

[CruzerDeb]

Thanks for all the great information!  I'm sooo ready to go!

[MAMAFIX]

9 hours ago, ozark74 said:

Not this year. We were on for the month of January and the drill was at 4:45 on both cruises.

We have a flight by celebrity that does arrive in San Juan til 4:30.  What can we expect?

[CruzerDeb]

11 minutes ago, MAMAFIX said:

We have a flight by celebrity that does arrive in San Juan til 4:30.  What can we expect?

That flight arrival time would make me very nervous. 

[MAMAFIX]

I am thinking that if Flights By Celebrity offered it, they will make it happen

 

[RichYak]

1 hour ago, MAMAFIX said:

I am thinking that if Flights By Celebrity offered it, they will make it happen

 

Yes, if your flight is at all delayed, I'm sure Celebrity will get you to the ship by day 2 or 3. 😬

[PhoenixCruiser]

1 hour ago, MAMAFIX said:

I am thinking that if Flights By Celebrity offered it, they will make it happen

 

 

Have you asked them to look into earlier flights?

[Qwksilver]

We always try to get to San Juan a day or 2 early. Its a great city and it lengthens the vacation. 4 hours before the ship takes off, leaves a lot on the table. Just my 2 cents.

[CruiserfaeFife]

On our January 2018 cruise out of San Juan scheduled departure was 8.30pm but incoming flights were affected by the blizzard further North. We delayed departure by at least a couple of hours (it was a sea day the next day so no time pressure) to wait for some of the flights but some folk only caught up with the ship on day 3.  4.30 does feel tight if there are any hold-ups along the way - and I agree San Juan is an interesting city to explore. 

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

So... Is it Port side or Starboard side to be on for sail away? People have said both on here. (Pondering this ship and itinerary in February 2021.)

[PelicanLvr]

Sailed Summit this past January 2019.  Arrived in SJU a day early and spent departure day on the beach.  Arrived at port around 4pm and breezed on with no wait at all......BUT almost missed the 4:45 muster drill.  

 

Crazy to have it hours before departure!  From the roll call during the drill it was obvious that many were missing.  Ship was in port early for the following 10 straight days....so don't know when the make-up was??

 

Just be sure to know the "Drop Dead" time to be aboard.  Because it's a departure port, customs rules are different than a mid-cruise port.  Be sure to know the all-aboard time, regardless of when you check in.