San Juan Embarkation Process

[Milford]

We would appreciate any information that can be provided regarding the embarkation process from San Juan.

 

We will be doing the Galaxy on April 16th, 2007. Moved there because they drydocked our other boat.

 

In any reagrd, the ship departs at 10PM from San Juan, I assume the Pan Am Pier. Does any one know what time boarding truly begins and whether or not they will feed us a welcome aboard buffet sort of thing so we don't have to be rooting around for food before we board.

 

Any help is appreciated.

 

Milford

[wah382]

Hi Milford,

 

We've sailed on the Galaxy twice out of San Juan and once on the Constellation. Our experience has been similar each time.

 

You can get on the ship earlier than the published boarding time. There normally is a light lunch available.

 

Remember, that your cabin may not be ready, as the crew works frantically to clean after one boat load leaves and you and others arrive. I think the last time we were to board at 3pm, and we got on around 2pm.

 

As you board, you will be given a ticket identifying what time your dinner is that night. Normally we prefer 2nd seatings. The last time when we came on board we ate at close to the normal first seating time. After leaving San Juan, we then were at the normal seating for us.

 

If you want to verify time to board, call Celebrity. There will be food available whenever you get on board.

 

Regards,

 

Wayne and Jini

[m steve]

As you enter the pier there is a duty free liquor store so you can buy some booze and then you go thru security and they take it away from you.You board when you want to around lunch time, check out the cabin, wander around the ship, buy drinks at the bars and go to the pool or go back into San JUan as you're close to Old San Juan. Have dinner, do the life boat drill and eventually leave so you get to StT in the morning.

[valandjerry]

Milford,

Are you sure you are on the april 16th 2007 cruise on Galaxy? That was the original date of our cruise and we were bumped off because the ship was chartered, both the 16th and the cruise before. you might want to check with your ta.

[imacruizer]

What about disembarkation in San Juan? Do people usually leave the ship later there? What time do they usually start disembarkation? We are sailing on the Galaxy in January.

[chessbriar]

What about disembarkation in San Juan? Do people usually leave the ship later there? What time do they usually start disembarkation? We are sailing on the Galaxy in January.

They should have everyone off the ship by 10:00. There is not much available past the buffet in the morning and they want you out of your room by 8:00.

[newmexicoNita]

As you enter the pier there is a duty free liquor store so you can buy some booze and then you go thru security and they take it away from you.You board when you want to around lunch time, check out the cabin, wander around the ship, buy drinks at the bars and go to the pool or go back into San JUan as you're close to Old San Juan. Have dinner, do the life boat drill and eventually leave so you get to StT in the morning.

yes, they take it away but will return it the night prior to the end of the cruise.NMNita

[newmexicoNita]

Boarding will start around noonish. If your cabin is ready you can drop your carry on items off and away you go to enplore the ship, listen to the sales pitches from the spa etc and just have a really good time. We usually head for lunch the first thing. Of course just seeing the cabin and unpacking the few items you have brought on will take a few minutes. Many do disembark and spend some time in San Juan. Dinner will be open seating the first night or always has been when sailing out of San Juan. Debarkation on the last day will be early, with the last people off the ship about 10 or so. the biggest problem we had was, with 3 or 4 ships in port at once the lines for taxies was herendous. (spelling) I do believe we were at the airport by around noon or 12;30pm.

 

Nita

[VPGPH]

Even though officially embarkation starts later you can embark earlier. We were sailing from San juan in Feb (official time was 11pm, on the constellation) and we arrived around 1pm. There was no problem getting on the ship at that time and our cabin was ready. We went to out cabin and then we went to eat at the Buffet. After that, there was plenty of time to go walk around Old San Juan. It was very nice. Enjoy your cruise....

[Milford]

Yes we are on the Galaxy the 16th. We were bumped off the Constellation sailing in April and they gave us as one option the Galaxy with some ship board credit and room upgrades, so we took it.

[Milford]

No, I'm sorry I lied. We are on the March 16th Sailing, but were supposed to originally go on the Constellation in April. Thank you for the correction.

 

Regards,

Milford

[Milford]

Thank you all for your information, we appreciate it. We will be getting into San Juan three days prior to the cruise so we can truly explore the beautiful island. I have had San Juan as a port of call two times before, however, the arrival was like 4 PM so we have never seen El Morro when it was open or visited many of the things Puerto Rico has to offer.

 

We have always sailed from Ft. Lauderdale before and this is our first time useing San Juan as an embarkation/debarkation point. So we are quite unfamiliar with the process here.

 

Regards,

Milford

[02143]

Our Constellation cruise had a stated embarkation time of 2:00 PM for a late evening departure. We arrived around 12:30 and found a long line had formed outside the door. Fortunately most of the line was in shade and it did move quickly.