Aviator of the Seas

22 hours ago, Lookn4Sun said:

I'll also be traveling solo, and while I'm only staying a few days before hand at the beginning of January, I was wondering the same thing.

 

I don't have my flights yet, but hope to have at least an afternoon/evening, a full day, and the morning before a cruise to explore.  I'll be staying near Punta Piedrita. I was thinking of taking ... uber? bus? to Old San Juan - do you have a suggested starting point and possible ways to getting there?

City buses in San Juan are notoriously unreliable. Taxis are cheaper than Uber. To me the best starting point in Old San Juan is Paseo de la Princesa, a promenade along the harbor on the south side of Old San Juan. Walk west from there and through the ancient city gate and you're own the heart of Old San Juan, which BTW, is celebrating its 500th anniversary this year.

20 hours ago, Ptroxx said:

Aviator.   Can you suggest a good fair priced hotel on the beach in San Juan, will be there overnight in January with an 8pm departure.
Marriott is awesome. But a little out of my  range lol.  but something like that

Thanks.  

Sorry, as a local I can't make any specific recommendations. All I can tell you is that the better beaches in or near (within a 15 minute ride) San Juan are at the Isla Verde area, near the airport. An hour drive to the east can get you some nice resorts in the area of Rio Grande near the Rainforest, with good golf to boot.

On 11/4/2021 at 9:40 PM, lieslt said:

Any tour company recommendations to use for rain forest tour?  We will be in San Juan in 2 weeks. Thx!

Sorry, but as a local I can't make any specific recommendations. Just make sure that whoever you ask, that they have permits for the actual U.S. Forest Service-run El Yunque National Forest. Right now those are very, very limited.

Right now your best chance of visiting the actual rainforest is through an unguided visit with your own rental car. Reservations through the U.S. Forest Service required. Or, you can write to your Congressman and demand that the U.S. Forest Service drop the tour vehicle capacity and entry limits so more tour operators can start offering the rainforest tours again.

On 11/3/2021 at 1:54 PM, CruisnDeb said:

 

Thanks for the info Aviator.   We will be visiting by cruise ship in March.  We are in port 7:00 am - 4:00 pm.  We were hoping to eat somewhere in Old San Juan that will have traditional Puerto Rican food for lunch.  Any suggestions for somewhere that will be within walking distance of the cruise port?  Any favorite dishes we should look for?  TIA for your help.

Hi, sorry, as a local I can't make any specific recommendations about restaurants or any kind of business, but overall, the favorite native dishes are rice and beans as a side dish to any meat, chicken or fish. And not just plain old beans. Puerto Rican beans are simmered in a complex mix of cooking ham, olives, sofrito, calabaza squash, cilantro, sazón and any other ingredient grandma would like to throw into the mix. Served usually with white rice. People here make it a competitive sport as to whose family makes the best beans. And then there's of course the mofongo, which has become very popular with visitors. It's fried and mashed green plantains, usually stiffed with meat, chicken or seafood. 

On 11/1/2021 at 3:41 AM, BoozinCroozin said:

As a resident and travel expert there, maybe you can help. We are visiting Old San Juan for the first time on Thanksgiving day. It is an early port day (8AM - 2PM). I know most of the government buildings and forts are closed for tours, but are there other places that may be open for a self-walking tour of the city?

Just walking round the Old City is a tour in itself, even if most things will be closed. I'd start along the La Princesa promenade, just west of the cruise ship docks. Walk up to the ancient Gate of San Juan. Here you can elect to walk all around the base of El Morro Fort, or go through the gate and up to your left to the La Rogativa monument for some great views, then up to the Cathedral. At the top of Cristo street you can also see the recently renovated San José Church. And again, just walking along the cobblestoned streets and the among the colorful architecture is a delight in itself.

10 hours ago, OC PAT said:

Is the Chocolate place still open and its the Trolley running?  

Cortés Choco Bar is open, yes. I haven't seen the trolley running yet.

11 minutes ago, Goldconnection said:

@Aviator of the SeasWe are thinking about a studio apartment post cruise in Condado. Can you offer insight on that area? Shopping, entertainment, night life, etc. Thanks

The Condado area is very popular with tourists but to me it is too congested/overtouristed (if that's even a word). There are many restaurants in the area. A couple of hotels have casinos (The San Juan Marriott and the La Concha). Nearby there's a new entertainment district called El Distrito T-Mobile, but getting there from Condado requires a taxi ride or daring to cross a major highway on foot. If you prefer a quieter stay but close enough to the action, I would recommend the Ocean Park neighborhood. It's just eat of Condado and west of the other tourist strip of Isla Verde. 

1 hour ago, Sea Dog said:

@Aviator of the Seas Thanks for your reply. I would love your input on this. We are staying at Hotel CasaBlanca On Friday night we were thinking dinner at Raices. On Saturday we could take a taxi over to see the Fort Castillo San Felipe del Morro. Then hit spots in Old San Juan such as umbrella street (don't know if umbrellas are up) Pigeon Park, Plaza de Armas, go to Chocobar Cortes for chocolate and Barrachina for a pina colada.

 

Anything I'm missing or should not want to miss?

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Umbrella street/Fortaleza street - Sometimes they have umbrellas, sometimes, kites, sometimes flags, sometimes nothing. 

Pigeon park is closed but pigeons/people gather just outside its gates in front of Capilla del Cristo at the end of Cristo street.

Barrachina is very touristy. There are tons of better bars starting with La Factoría on San Sebastián street.

Just walking around Old San Juan in itself is an experience: the Churches, shops, architecture, nooks and crannies, etc. 

4 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

Looking forward to spending two days pre cruise before boarding Explorer on November 7th. I did hear that there is a police and fire department strike going on. What impact is that having on people visiting and do you think it impact us November 5th when we arrive? Thanks for your help.

Don't worry about that. Even if they did hold a sickout, no one would notice as police here has been very short staffed for years. They barely leave their stations unless there's an emergency. These sickouts rumors had to do with a piece of legislation that would affect their pensions, and the threat was just a pressure tactic, but that's a done deal.

On 10/27/2021 at 8:52 AM, OC PAT said:

Thank you for sharing vital info. to those of us able to visit your beautiful home.  Just to let you know we are on the Rotterdam, HAL who will be on our maiden voyage to the Caribbean. She left the Netherlands and is on her way to Ft. Lauderdale. Turks was dropped from the itinerary and San Juan was picked up for 11/24, Thanksgiving eve  1-8 PM. Any suggestions as to what to do?  We've been to San Juan a dozen times and visited much of the island. Also what pier do you suspect they will use?  We are vaccinated, boostered and wear masks.

Hola,

Most likely you will dock in Pier 4 or 3 right in Old San Juan. 

1 hour ago, Goldconnection said:

We are doing a b2b2b that starts in New York for the first leg. It ports in San Juan for the second leg and we stay on for the third leg after which we we will get off and spend about three days in San Juan.

Wow. That sounds like a great trip. As mentioned in the other thread, you should be fine. No one's going to stop you after you step off your cruise(s). 

1 hour ago, Goldconnection said:

I was told the travel declaration was to be complete only if you are flying into Puerto Rico. Is that correct. We are cruising in.

That's correct.

2 hours ago, quillwercruisers said:

Thanks for the info, but what about cruisers that are going there as a port of call?  Is there any special requirements?

The Memorandum of Understanding between the cruise lines and the Puerto Rico Ports Authority state that only vaccinated passengers can get off the ship during port calls. Once that's met, the only restrictions is masks on all the time in port facilities. Once out of there, no masks required outdoors except in crowds. Good idea to bring your vax card with you if you intend to eat in local restaurants. And then masks required indoors everywhere. The U.S Government-run attractions of the Forts and the Rainforest require masks on all the time. That's it.

Hi all,

I have been away from CC for a while now. I work in the travel industry and after a year+ in the doldrums, we got busy all of a sudden during the summer. And with a shortage of workers, the few of us who actually show up for work are wearing many, many hats, trying to keep travelers...and tourists...pleased.

Anyway, enough whining. Here's a short recap of the current situation in San Juan and Puerto Rico in general.

• Even if Puerto Rico is among the lowest contagion-prone and highest-vaccination-rated U.S. jurisdictions, our always overreacting local government has kept some Covid restrictions in place: complete travel declaration before flying in at travelsafe.pr.gov. Fully vaccinated get a free pass almost everywhere, unvaccinated not so much. Masks required indoors regardless of vaccine status, and outdoors where there's crowding although this is mostly ignored.  The gov requires restaurants to ask for vaccine proof for all patrons. Restaurants that refuse must cut their capacity to 50%. This is also widely ignored but expect wait times and confusion. Hotels also require vaccination or negative tests, and this IS enforced, so plan ahead. Enough about Covid.
• El Yunque Rainforest access is very limited for organized, guided tours. Only a handful of operators have limited permits to go up, and there are many wise ass operators who sell you "rainforest tours" but actually take you to farms and places in the periphery of the actual El Yunque National Forest. If you don't see La Coca Falls, Yokahu Tower and at least the Angelito Trail, you are not in the actual park. Self-guided private vehicle access is fine but require reservations through the U.S. Forest Service internet page. The El Portal Visitors Center is still under reconstruction. Upkeep of the public areas is wanting due to a lack of forest personnel.
• Old San Juan is beautiful as ever. This year we are celebrating the 500th anniversary of the founding of the city so there are many related festivals and activities. As with everywhere else, most businesses, restaurants, bars, etc. are going through a severe personnel shortage, so patience please with those who did show up to work. The forts also suffer from a lack of personnel so they are now mostly DIY (what the heck is wrong with the feds?).
• Cruises, oh cruises. Carnival, RCI and Viking are already doing port calls without incident. Home-porting: RCI starts home-porting with the Explorer in November. Viking starts with the Sea in December. Silversea in November. Regent also in November. Carnival won't home port in San Juan for the foreseeable future. It's all slowly coming together.

That's it for now. I hope to be able to answer any questions. I have like two slow-ish weeks ahead before it gets crazy again.

Thank you for your interest! 

Do you fly into Puerto Rico at all before your cruise or do you somehow get off the ship without flying in?

If you had already flown in before your cruise, and met the requirements for flying in, you don't need to do anything else. Just step off your cruise and be on your merry way.

14 hours ago, SOPOME said:

Thanks so much for the update.  Our family is scheduled for a cruise out of SJ on September 5th.  It's hard to find up to date info on cases and  vaccine progress on the island.  How is it progressing? Do you have supplies of all three vaccines?   If CDC approves US cruises soon, do you think SJ will be ready by the end of the summer to greet passengers??

Puerto Rico has the 8th lowest incidence of deaths per million inhabitants in the United States. Our health system was never overwhelmed. In fact, it has remain underutilized for the last year+. You can compare our case load vs. other states here: https://www.realclearpolitics.com/coronavirus/country/united-states/ (don't shoot the messenger - the data is accurate).

We are receiving all three American vaccines: Moderna, Pfizer and J&J. Available at Walgreens, CVS, etc. The J&J vaccine, along with testing, will be available at the SJU airport real soon.

San Juan will be ready for cruises as soon as the CDC gives the green light. I work in the industry and we're already making deployment plans with our cruise line clients.

16 hours ago, Goldconnection said:

We are planning to complete 3 cruises B2B. Just wondering if San Juan will require us to quarantine as we are planning to end our vacation in San Juan and stay on the island for a few days. We are vaccinated.

Puerto Rico is still ironing out the requirements for cruise ship passengers with the CDC. But you should be okay. Same rules as Miami, Port Everglades, etc. most likely.

New relevant rules announced by the Governor today. Effective May 24 to June 6, 2021:

• To avoid quarantine upon entry, travelers can EITHER have evidence of full vaccination OR a negative molecular test taken within 72 hours of travel, and upload the documentation to the travelsafe.pr.gov portal within 72 hours of arrival, and obtain an "ok" QR code to exit the airport without delays. This is for domestic U.S. flights (arrivals to Puerto Rico from any mainland or territorial United States jurisdiction). International arrivals are still required to present a negative Covid molecular test.
• Curfew is cancelled (previously from midnight to 5:00 AM).
• Vaccinated people can move about outdoors without masks (honor system).
• Restaurant and stores occupancy capacity increased to 50%.
• Restaurants and stores can operate from 5:00 AM to midnight.
• Hotel food and beverage can remain open for registered guests only after midnight.
• Alcoholic beverages allowed at beaches again.
• Short-term rentals (AirBnB, etc.) that do not have an Innkeeper number/certificate from the Puerto Rico Government cannot operate legally.
• All attractions, parks, beaches, venues, etc. open. Check for specific capacity restrictions. 

Any questions, shoot!

The article is in Spanish but the gist of it is that as of today, the Aguadilla/Rafael Hernandez airport (BQN), and the Ponce/Mercedita airport (PSE) reopened to air traffic as of today, one year and one month after being shuttered to route all incoming passengers through the San Juan/Luis Muñoz Marín airport (SJU) as a pandemic control measure. 

The BQN airport is close to the world famous surfing beaches of Rincón as well as many other beaches and regional attractions, and is a 2.5 hour drive from San Juan. The PSE airport serves Puerto Rico's second largest city, Ponce, and is a 1.5 hour drive from San Juan. Both are served by jetBlue.

https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/notas/celebran-el-regreso-de-vuelos-comerciales-a-los-aeropuertos-de-ponce-y-aguadilla/

I am not affiliated with this place (I live in PR and there are rules). Just found it on a search for a family reunion venue.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2302261?source_impression_id=p3_1616014068_NGaqDhIhL%2FlNpZRT&guests=1&adults=1

Since another 5% of the population has caught the bug, we're at least 20% there.

Goal is 70% by the summer.

Spanish-language story here:

https://www.elvocero.com/noticia_rotary/article_b464a81e-72b6-11eb-8a34-47537b9e1290.html

Inbound and out bound travelers can now get their Covid testing done at the SJU airport on a walk-in basis. The cost is $110.00, which may be reimbursed by some insurance companies.

So, one more opportunity to skip quarantine when traveling to Puerto Rico or any other jurisdiction that requires testing before entry.

This article is in Spanish but that's the gist of it:

https://www.elvocero.com/noticia_rotary/article_270c37b4-7065-11eb-bd28-bb59393bbc19.html

On 1/29/2021 at 6:27 PM, Bobbysjack said:

Since we can’t get on a cruise ship, and will very soon have both our vaccine shots, we are seriously considering a trip to San Juan for end of February... any advice would be greatly appreciated! I am looking at booking the Marriott resort & casino... we have been to San Juan once on a ship. 

I can't make any specific recommendations as I am a local in San Juan, but February is a great time to visit. Weather's great. Most attractions will be open. Covid rules will be relaxed further after February 8. Just be sure to check out travelsafe.pr.gov for specific testing requirements before coming down. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recently issued Global Airline Testing Order DOES NOT apply to return flights from Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Specifically, in its definitions, the order states: Foreign Country means anywhere that is not a state, territory, or possession of the United States

As of January 15, 2021, Puerto Rico has the 8th LOWEST death rate per million inhabitants in the United States.

Do note that Puerto Rico requires a negative Covid test for inbound travelers to avoid a self-quarantine. You may take your test within 72 hours of travel to the islands, or procure an on-island test once you arrive.  But you don't need to bother with getting retested to fly back home. This state of affairs cannot change on a whim, so you don't have to worry about getting stuck on the islands if anyone changes their minds. They can't since Puerto Rico travel is treated as interstate travel:

The Jones Act of 1917: Puerto Ricans were granted U.S. citizenship by the Jones–Shafroth Act in 1917; subsequently, the U.S. Congress passed a law (signed by President Truman in 1947) which expressly extended this constitutional clause (U.S. Constitution, Article IV, Section 2, Clause 1: “The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States”) to the U.S. citizens in the jurisdiction of Puerto Rico:

The rights, privileges, and immunities of citizens of the United States shall be respected in Puerto Rico to the same extent as though Puerto Rico were a State of the Union and subject to the provisions of paragraph 1 of section 2 of article IV of the Constitution of the United States.

You can find the full extent of the order here:

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/global-airline-testing-order_2021-01-2_R3-signed-encrypted-p.pdf