San Juan departure-arrive a day ahead/hotel recommendations?

[JTSpitfire]

At the moment we're using Celebrity air arrangements for a San Juan departure this coming December, flying in from the northeast. It's my understanding as CC members we can opt to use custom air and choose to arrive a day before our sailing date.

 

Perhaps this is a silly question, but in years past we've flown the day-of and the day-before for Celeb cruises to different ports of departure and both have worked out fine. Does a San Juan departure for any reason (logistics, ground transportation, etc.) lend itself better to a day-before arrival or does it really not matter and still come down to individual preferences and our level of risk tolerance for bad weathe/aircraft delay possibilities?

 

I have gleaned from the board that if we do indeed arrive a day before we should book our own hotel as the Celebrity packages are on the pricey side. If true, any thoughts on decent, affordable lodging?

 

Thanks.

[darrencantwait]

Celebrity ships generally don't depart San Juan until around 10-11pm. The main concern is flying out of the Northeast in winter. Getting from the airport to the Cruise port is not a problem once you are in Puerto Rico.

 

As for Hotels, I've pricelined twice. Once I got the Radisson (okay) and once I got the Caribe Hilton (nice). Both were $100 on priceline name your own price. Hotels CAN get pricey in San Juan. Most of them are close to the port.

[Joe1690]

I prefer flying in the night before since many of the flights to san juan from the northeast tend to leave at 6:00 or 7:00 am if you want to get to the ship by 2:00pm. In my opinion, you have paid for the first day of the cruise and you will be exhausted if you are up and out of your house at 4:00 am. We usually stay at an inexpensive hotel in San Juan like the Comfort Inn which is only about 10 minutes from the port. It is in the condada section of town and has some decent night life if you are interested. Usually you can get a room for about $70- $90 not including the taxes but it is a very basic hotel. Fine for us though because we usually arrive at 7:00pm in San Juan and really just use it as a place to sleep and leave for the ship around 10:00 am since boarding usually starts by 10:30 - 11:00 and we like to enjoy the pool on the ship, the buffet, and just settling in.

[snowmouse]

we have done four pre/post cruise stays in San Juan. We were underwehlmed by the Condado Plaza and had a problem with either sea lice or bed bugs that we were unable to get resolved during a recent 4 night stay at the Courtyard (also found the air traffic noise to be intolerable). We have had two very enjoyable experiences at the Marriott Stellaris Resort in the Condado area. We will stick with the Marriott in the future.

[muffin]

Think this is a related topic.... we arrive at 7am after our Tran Atlantic cruise in San Juan.... How far is the airport? Best way to get there? time needed for custom? I understand we do american customs in San Juan. In other words I am wondering if we can leave on a noon flight?

 

thx.

[Fblack]

I have flown in early sevrral times. If you stay at a hotel like the Condado Plaza that is right on a very busy and noisy street, be sure to get a room that is not on the road. I had to move to aother room since I got no sleep that first night from all the traffic noises.

[judyfssw]

I've done Priceline four times in San Juan. The first time we stayed at the Caribe Hilton, very nice, the second and forth time at the Normandie, nice, and once at the Holiday Inn Express which was okay for one night and they gave you a breakfast which served until you boarded the ship. I've also stayed at the Marriott which is also very nice. I always like to go a day early so I don't have to worry about weather, etc. It also allows me time to rest up before the cruise.

In any case, have a great cruise.

[suntan]

We always go at least one day ahead at any port of embarkation. It gives the weary traveler time to relax before boarding the ship - also a chance to do some last minute shopping if you forget something.

 

We've only started a cruise in San Juan once and we stayed at the Best Western Pierre Hotel. We had a room by the courtyard and they provide breakfast, they have a pool. We got an added bonus - a lizard paid us a visit - we thought it might have spent the night in the room because we only saw it in the morning after moving a chair.

 

I thank you all for your recommendations as we are looking for a hotel for our Feb. 23/07 cruise on the Galaxy.

[hermang]

We always go at least one day ahead at any port of embarkation. It gives the weary traveler time to relax before boarding the ship - also a chance to do some last minute shopping if you forget something.

 

We've only started a cruise in San Juan once and we stayed at the Best Western Pierre Hotel. We had a room by the courtyard and they provide breakfast, they have a pool. We got an added bonus - a lizard paid us a visit - we thought it might have spent the night in the room because we only saw it in the morning after moving a chair.

 

I thank you all for your recommendations as we are looking for a hotel for our Feb. 23/07 cruise on the Galaxy.

We have arrived a day early on 3 occassions and stayed at what is now the Sheraton Old San Juan - small hotel very convenient to great dining. Second recommendation is El Convento.

 

Restaurant - Breakfast - La Bonbonera - Calle SanFrancisco recommended by Rachel Ray

Lunch Cafe de Puerto Rico

Dinner - Tantra - Calle Forteleza

[wrp96]

We have arrived a day early on 3 occassions and stayed at what is now the Sheraton Old San Juan - small hotel very convenient to great dining. Second recommendation is El Convento.

 

Restaurant - Breakfast - La Bonbonera - Calle SanFrancisco recommended by Rachel Ray

Lunch Cafe de Puerto Rico

Dinner - Tantra - Calle Forteleza

 

We stayed at the Sheraton Old San Juan pre and post cruise a few weeks ago. It was a nice hotel with a good room service offering, a great rooftop pool where you can view the ships in port, and a casino in the lobby.

 

At the recommendation of the bellhops, we tried Cafe de Puerto Rico and can honestly say that this restaurant is great. We tried something different each time (we went back at the end of the cruise as well) at the recommendation of the waiters and it was amazing.

[brrgrr]

Muffin, you should be fine. It's about 20 minutes at the most via cab to the airport. About $20 give or take a few dollars depending on the # of people and bags. At the airport, outside, you first have to send your luggage through the machines for the Dept of Agriculture, I believe, then retrieve them and then check in. A noon flight should be no worry whatsoever.

Carl

[SkystheLimit]

We cruised from San Juan on New Yera's Eve travelling from Atlanta that morning. Our friends travelled the day before. They boarded the ship quite a bit earlier than us and had the benefit of enjoying a full afternoon on the ship.

They spent the night before the cruise at the Sheraton Old San Juan. Thought is nice but were glad that had not paid the going rate--I think they used their Starwood points. Great location. They asked for rooms on the harborside and got up to watch the ships arrive in the early AM.

 

San Juan airport can be an absolute mess on cruise day. I think arrival was definitely easier, although funneling everyone out of one door from baggage claim was perplexing. Hazardous as well. Look carefully and you will probably discover that the other areas are not closed for exit there's just no one directing you that way.

 

We chose to stay an extra day after the cruise as we usually do. It just seems we don't get much rest the last night of the cruise and aren't ready to face a long day of travel. The Hampton Inn Suites near the airport worked out pretty good for us. Most of the hotel has been recently renovated. Make sure you get a renovated room preferably on a higher floor. The staff was very nice when we asked to switch rooms from the one orignally assigned that just was not up to par. Our second room was lovely--living room and bedroom with all new appointments. Early check-in was available and there were several people we met by the pool that had day rooms while waiting for later flights. It's not on the beach but it's walkable.

 

Allow plenty of time at the San Juan airport for security and check-in particularly if there are several ships in port. We waited well over an hour in line for security after waiting in line to check our bags. The entire process took almost two hours. Our friends had the same experience the day before.

 

All that said, we love sailing from San Juan because you are well into the Caribbean. The weather and the sailing were great.

[JimP]

A day early in San Juan is a great idea. Most people really enjoy seeing the city. I recommend a good tour of Old Town. There is much info at the San Juan site on this website. Restaurants are good. Airport close. Suggest you arrange as much as you can on your own. The cruise lines go for high cost - medium quality. Good luck.