Rhapsody San Juan Southern Caribbean. Mostly in Spanish??

[Sandie5]

We're looking at next winter's cruises out of San Juan which has many ports but reviews are saying that 95% of the activities and shows are in Spanish. Most of the passengers are probably Spanish speaking, I guess. We're Canadian, so our Spanish is limited to Nada and Por FaVor. 

 

Is this true, though? 

[njkruzer]

10 minutes ago, Sandie5 said:

We're looking at next winter's cruises out of San Juan which has many ports but reviews are saying that 95% of the activities and shows are in Spanish. Most of the passengers are probably Spanish speaking, I guess. We're Canadian, so our Spanish is limited to Nada and Por FaVor. 

 

Is this true, though? 

In January 2023 we did one and while a lot of guests were Spanish speakers,  but also spoke English,  I don't recall the shows being in Spanish. 

[Norwich Cruiser]

Our experience is that all announcements are made first in English then in Spanish.

 

These are both daily tannoy and at shows etc.

 

 

[scottasp]

We were on the Jewel about 6 weeks ago. I remember all waiters, bartenders, casino staff, and guest services spoke in English at least to us. We watched a show or two and never heard Spanish. It shouldn't be a problem.

[Tlbecker1]

We have cruised out of San Juan and everything is in English along with Spanish announcements.

[doghog]

33 minutes ago, Sandie5 said:

We're looking at next winter's cruises out of San Juan which has many ports but reviews are saying that 95% of the activities and shows are in Spanish. Most of the passengers are probably Spanish speaking, I guess. We're Canadian, so our Spanish is limited to Nada and Por FaVor. 

 

Is this true, though? 

Not true based on our cruises out of San Juan. All announcements in english and then spanish. All shows in english. Some CDs are bilingual. 

[Koohiichan]

Personally, I love cruises out of San Juan. You usually get the ABC islands, and you can start the cruise off in warm weather despite the time of year. Will there be a lot of native Spanish speakers on board? Yes, which makes sense. I don’t speak Spanish, but you don’t need to. You just have to go into it with an open mind and embrace the difference. IMHO the complainers are going through culture shock. Ignore them. Give it a try and find out for yourself. I think you’ll like it.

[alfaeric]

We've done a TON of cruises out of San Juan- English first, Spanish second.  Just like many cruises out of Miami.  Some of the guest performers may do some Spanish in their show, but they would do both.

 

But, for sure, they will certainly play the crowd from Puerto Rico, just like all of the cruises out of Galveston play to the Texas crowd.

[smokeybandit]

They made this change after canceling the Panama canal transits on those itineraries,  therefore many Americans rebooked elsewhere and RC focused on the local passengers to fill the ships.

[Crism]

Onboard Rhapsody now from Colon/Cartagena. I embarked in Colon. Lots and lots of Spanish (music, people, etc) but everything you need to know is also broadcast in English. Most activities they can get away with a both unless it says Spanish or English only. Tours the same way.

 

I've only been onboard for 2 days, but she's in great shape. LOTS of first/second time cruisers. I love the Southern Caribbean itinerary so this was an easy pick. Plus I got a great deal on it.

[Sandie5]

Super helpful comments. Thank you all, It seems like a great cruise for us.

And I hope to learn some Spanish. 😀

[doghog]

9 minutes ago, Sandie5 said:

Super helpful comments. Thank you all, It seems like a great cruise for us.

And I hope to learn some Spanish. 😀

De nada. 😁

[son3cruisers]

16 hours ago, Crism said:

Onboard Rhapsody now from Colon/Cartagena. I embarked in Colon. Lots and lots of Spanish (music, people, etc) but everything you need to know is also broadcast in English. Most activities they can get away with a both unless it says Spanish or English only. Tours the same way.

 

I've only been onboard for 2 days, but she's in great shape. LOTS of first/second time cruisers. I love the Southern Caribbean itinerary so this was an easy pick. Plus I got a great deal on it.

We just got home from Rhapspdy cruise out of Colon. 
We had to use our translator app for our transfers at the airport. No one spoke any English, not the driver or the rep waiting at the airport. Not even the other passengers boarding the bus with us. The bus was an hour late and communicating that to us was a challenge. Not sure we could have made it through the week without the app. 
Onboard, Spanish was always first, then the English translation. Our stateroom host spoke enough that we could communicate our needs/wants but her English was limited. Our fabulous waiter ( Victor ) tried his best as well but our close table mates were all Spanish. We met a few English speaking guests, but often found ourselves saying “English” when we ordered drinks from the bar, or coffee, even shore excursions. It was a wonderful cruise overall, and I would also say there were lots of first time cruisers onboard. The menus in the main dining room ( paper ones on leather holder) were often passed to us inSpanish, but we figured out you could pull the paper out and flip it around. 
Im not sure you will have the same experience sailing out of San Juan.

We have taken many Southern Caribbean cruises starting from San Juan and never encountered a language barrier like this recent cruise out of Colon. The ports are always so beautiful when you sail out of San Juan! 

[Yorkshire Voyagers]

From the UK and sailed  out of San Juan every winter for 17 years - never had a problem and always English spoken first on board.  Just got back from 6 weeks on the Jewel and far less guests from Puerto Rico than in previous years 

[herbQ]

We also just got off the Rhapsody and second what others have said.  I did ask a bartender if it would stay the same, language wise, when they homeport in San Juan and she understood that everything would primarily be in English.

[stobe1]

On 3/17/2024 at 7:12 PM, Sandie5 said:

We're looking at next winter's cruises out of San Juan which has many ports but reviews are saying that 95% of the activities and shows are in Spanish. Most of the passengers are probably Spanish speaking, I guess. We're Canadian, so our Spanish is limited to Nada and Por FaVor. 

 

Is this true, though? 

 

I don't know you from Adam, but based on your post here, I will take your word for it and would venture to say that yes, it is true that your Spanish is limited to those two words.