Kikkycat

Here's a pic of Shipwreck Beach Bar taken last week.

If you are sailing on Royal Caribbean, your ship will leave from the Pan American pier and there's a liquor store after you enter the check in building. I don't know how the selection is, however. I always put it securely wrapped in my suitcase and check my luggage on the plane.

There is a liquor store in the same building as check-in so you could get your wine there. I have no idea how good the selection is though. I am in PR now, as I got off Jewel OTS this morning. I can't say I've ever seen a grass mat in any of the souvenir shops. And you might have a hard time with flowers. I know they will confiscate any plants. Not sure if that includes cut plants or not.

Yes, the only casino in OSJ has closed

If you Google "picture of Aruba from shop" and click images, you'll get a good idea of what to expect.

A word of advice if you rent a car: if you're looking for a building near the pier with an office, like you'd find in an airport car rental facility, you'll be looking for awhile. We walked right by all of the rental places twice. They are small booths - think Lucy of "Peanuts" psychiatric advice booth - and set well into the shrubbery along the walkway from the ship. That was in 2009, so it's possible that has changed.

The only time I've seen an excursion, either ship or private, going to Jost van Dyke is from Tortola, BVI.

Embassy Suites is about 2.5-3 blocks from the ocean. There are several restaurants in easy walking distance. Also in the same area, you could consider Hampton Inn and Suites. Their website says they do have suites.

If you decide to go sightseeing in Old San Juan (which I very highly recommend), it's extremely easy to get a cab from your hotel, and easy to find one to get back also. There is also a bus if you want to be more frugal.

Hotels listed in the "Isla Verde" area are the ones near the airport. If you just want to relax on the beach or at the pool, these will work fine. I suggest checking Hotwire and checking on the tab that lists the hotel so you get an idea what's available.

You'll also need to go through the agricultural check, which is no big deal unless you're trying to take home plants and fruits, but there can be a line.

El caldero sabroso

 

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Yelp reports this restaurant is closed.

My sister says seeing monkeys are a must. I know we will see some in the town square just outside the dock, and research says they're at Shipwreck Beach Bar too. Are they regularly seen at Reggae Beach Bar?

Bummer! I was looking forward to watching it from one of the canal-side pubs in a couple weeks.

Sheraton Old San Juan is adjacent to the pier Carnival uses on embarkation, and all lines use as a day port of call. However Adventure embarks from the Pan American pier, and that is not walkable from any hotel.

I'll be staying here pre/post-cruise in late dec & early Jan. Is it close/safe enough to the pier such that walking to the ship from the hotel is feasible? I've looked at it on Google Maps and it looks to be about 1 mile, but it is very hard to tell if there are sidewalks or if traffic would be heavy/dangerous.

 

 

 

Gloob

Despite it being nearby, walking to the ship would not be feasible. The road to the ship(s) (Celebrity Summit also docks at the Pan American pier) is narrow, and is crowded with taxis coming and going. There is no sidewalk.

I've only stayed at Sheraton OSJ and the Hampton Inn. Of those two, I'd probably choose Hampton. The only downside about Hampton is the proximity to the airport makes the pool area very noisy. I didn't notice any airport noise inside. Next door to the hotel is a lovely restaurant called Metropol. There's also a good, cheap diner-type restaurant a short walk away. All restaurants in OSJ are pricier from what I've seen.

I would like to stay at Embassy Suites sometime. My friends who have stayed there loved it.

We're doing the same. I was wondering if anyone knows how much it is to rent a locker, and will it need coins or bills?

Coming into Willemstad in just over three weeks. I've been twice before, but always on the Panamax Adventure OTS. I'm wondering if anyone knows if Jewel will dock seaside at the "new" pier, or if we'll sail up past the Queen Emma bridge and dock in Otrabanda.

The Sheraton Old San Juan is not closed. At least it better not be as I have two nights booked there in just over four weeks. It's right across the street from the docks.

Hello Fellow Cruisers,

 

 

 

My husband and i will be in San Juan on my birthday in January (aboard Anthem of the Seas - 3pm to 11pm). We are looking for a nice dinner venue to celebrate... i have looked into a few of the suggestions here but i am wondering if anyone has tried the Old Harbour Brewery? We love to try different beer and wondered if the food was good here.

 

 

 

Thanks in advance

 

Happy cruising

 

brenna

I wouldn't recommend it for a special event, I'm afraid. We are also craft beer geeks so have checked it out on several occasions. The one time we had dinner there I remember my steak being flavorless (like it had been in the freezer for far too long) and full of gristle. Even the burgers and lunch sandwiches have been so-so. If you want to check out beers you may not have tried, there's a pizza place tucked into El Convento that has a decent selection, and Taberna Lupulo which has a fantastic selection but has odd hours. We haven't eaten there, but based on the ambiance, I don't think it'd be "special".

There are a ton of nice restaurants on South Fortaleza (SoFo). The two I remember most favorably are Dragonfly and 311 (Trois Cent Onze). But you can walk along SoFo and "window shop" their menus to help you decide.

Thank you for sharing this information. We will be staying at the Verdanza on Tartak and were looking for a good recommendation to dine nearby. It looks perfect.

At the end of Calle Tartak where it meets with Avenida Isla Verde, there's a small plaza. In that plaza is a little diner-type restaurant that has very affordable food. We almost always go there for breakfast when we stay in that area. Also on Ave. Isla Verde a few blocks down towards the airport (just past the Hampton Inn and a cock-fighting arena (no joke!) is Metropol. Delicious, although a bit higher on the price scale.

How much is it to rent a chair at Trunk Bay?

Thanks to all previous posters for very helpful information. My sister and I will be traveling on Jewel OTS in November, and I thought I had St. Thomas planned until she decided she wants to snorkel. The beach I had picked out isn't that favorable for snorkeling, so I'm now looking at Sapphire. The other requirements seem to be in place: beautiful, food and drink, chairs, shade, restrooms, and not over-crowded. It looks like a taxi from Havensight will run about $10pp each way, chairs $9 apiece, Banana Cabana lunch mahi sandwiches $14 each, which only leaves the question of what beverages cost - mostly asking about water and the much-anticipated Bushwhackers.

We're alcoholic drinks included in the pass? I know they generally are at those resorts, but I don't want to assume.

On our first trip to St. Thomas, we went on a boat tour and an island within the Virgin Island chain was pointed out to us as Saba. It's quite small, almost more rock than island IIRC, but OP could've been looking at that Saba.