Aviator of the Seas

On and off there are local artisans displaying their wares along Paseo La Princesa, just west of the docks.  If they're not there during your POC, there's a store on Fortaleza street called, literally, Puerto Rican Arts and Crafts.  There are many other stores, but this one serves as sort of an outlet for many independent local artisans, so it is not like I am recommending a specific business (I am a local and CC rules forbid it).

 

Overall, shopping is great around Old San Juan, and by exploring Fortaleza, San Francisco and Cristo streets you will find many opportunities.  It is all perfectly safe.

 

And yes, you will also find many tourist traps that sell junk made in the orient, so be on the lookout for that.

Yes, there's a duty free store for beverages inside the Pan Am pier terminal.

The general sales tax is 11.5% except for prepared food which is 7%, and 1% for uncooked food items (produce, meats, rice, etc.).

 

Just be prepared to miss the commercials.  Here they usually show different ads than in the States.

On 8/25/2019 at 1:46 PM, grod19 said:

Does anyone know of a playground near the port?  We are traveling with an 18 month old and he loves the swings and slide and we would like to let him run around a little when we get to port.  We are stopping at:

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

PHILIPSBURG, ST. MAARTEN

ST. JOHNS, ANTIGUA

CASTRIES, ST. LUCIA

BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS

BASSETERRE, ST KITTS & NEVIS

 

And would love to know if there is a park near any of those piers.  I will post the same message on those boards as well 

If it's not too late to answer, there's a toddler/children playground reconstructed by Carnival after the 2017 hurricanes.  It's located along Paseo de la Princesa, just west of the cruise ship docks.

On 8/27/2019 at 8:41 AM, grammyprf said:

Thinking of PR and praying that the people and island are safe from this next hurricane! Godspeed!

Thank you for that.  One more week for our peak of the hurricane season to be over!

I've been to Old San Juan since the protests fizzled and I can say that everything's up and running and in fact looks more spruced up than before the protests.  As around any government executive headquarters, there will always be some sort of protest around or near it, but you shouldn't be concerned.  

Hi all,

 

Everything is piping down in greater San Juan, and particularly in Old San Juan, after the governor announced his resignation and the sometimes raunchy celebration afterwards.

 

The governor is set to step down August 2 to allow for an orderly transition.  Slated to replace him according to the succession order is the current Secretary of Justice, unless a Secretary of State is found and confirmed by then.

 

I have very personal and contrarian opinions about what went through (I seldom go with the flow), but apart from the few late night riots (3 over a three week period), there were NO deaths or serious injuries or major property damage.  San Juan remains a safe destination and we've already had several port calls like then Seaside, Allure, all of Carnival's, etc.  The home porting ships have come and gone as scheduled without incident.  

 

Please come down without fear.  We desperately need you.  And thank you all for your concern.

 

 

23 minutes ago, alfaeric said:

If you want to see the protests, there are quite a few news reports that you can find. 

 

However, many of the lead with the teargas in Old San Juan- which is just a tiny part of what happened yesterday.

This Miami Herald news report shows the gross majority of what happened- 

 

Lots and lots and lots of people slowly walking and talking.  My wife watched a song sung by Olga Tanon, which made her cry (she's always torn between Puerto Rico and the US).  Virtually all of what happened was both peaceful and respectful of everyone (except Governor Ricky, I suppose).  

 

Aviator- do you see this lasting too long?  With the ministers that have already resigned, and the total lack of support by anyone else- I can't see how he can continue to govern.

Most level-headed and reasonable leaders are asking for a "few weeks" while a capable  Secretary of State can be named and confirmed, so he/she can take over after the Governor resigns.  If he doesn't resign, well then, it's gridlock until the end of 2020, which is not necessarily a bad thing.  You see, after the hurricanes of 2017 we survived and did well enough with no functioning government for a long while, and the people realized that maybe we didn't need so much government at all. 

28 minutes ago, njhorseman said:

It's really a shame, particularly after all the suffering brought on by Hurricane Maria.

 

We love Puerto Rico and have been regular visitors for over 45 years. it feels like a second home  to us. The likely reason our son is a Spanish teacher is because he spent so much time in Puerto Rico as a child and started to learn the language at a very young age. 

Thank you for your kind words.  Puerto Rico will be okay.  Hurricane María and its aftermath had a big ol' silver lining.  Puerto Ricans as a society performed remarkably well.  It awoke a sense of community that people who are focused on the rat race (me included) had forgotten about.  We survived, we managed and we were thriving until our childish governor brought on this man made disaster. But it ain't half bad, I swear.  Literally, it is a small bunch of trouble makers who taunt the police late at night.  Too many kids out on vacation looking for "fun".  The police have actually been very patient and restrained.  If cruise ships would go to the Pan Am pier instead of Old San Juan, and informed their passengers to enjoy the island but avoid the area around the governor's mansion late at night, everything would be perfectly safe.  Protests elsewhere are announced well in advance and are sensibly organized.  The highway that was closed yesterday was not a take over.  It often happens that this section is chosen often because of its accessibility and because it is the perfect setting to show a headcount.  Otherwise, it felt like a holiday around San Juan yesterday.

 

Anyway, again, I appreciate your love for the island and your concern.

14 hours ago, njhorseman said:

Is that "yutes" as In "My Cousin Vinny"? 😉

 

Sorry about that...i know the situation in Puerto Rico is not a laughing matter.

Yutes, Vinny, yes.  Don't worry too much.  We pretty much laugh at the whole situation ourselves.

Today's protests are taking place in midtown San Juan, well away from the tourist areas of Old San Juan, Condado and Isla Verde.

 

Aside from the usual yutes who like to disrupt things at the end, protest have been peaceful.  Puerto Rico is a civilized society.

I'm with you, sir.  There's a resurgence of travel agencies because of scams like this around the world.  I'd rather have my travel agent vet and pre-select reputable operators, than me having to do research and risk ruining my trip.  I knwo many people are DIY, but I think a good travel agent is totally worth it.

An additional tip.  The online brochure that the OP points to had a big red flag.  It shows the rooftop terrace of some condo or maybe a hotel near the beach.  I cannot recognize it but from the distance to the water it is not even a beachfront hotel, condo or building, but one across the street form the beachfront condos, hotels and buildings.  In fact, actual beachfront condos and hotels block 80% of the view of the beach from the street in the Isla Verde area, so very likely, from this "beach club", you would have to go down an elevator, across a street, through some alley between the buildings to get to the actual beach.

 

One of the few things that are credible in the responses is that all Puerto Rico beaches are in fact public beaches, and surprise, there is not a SINGLE beach-beach club in San Juan.  Well, there is only ONE, but it actually sits on land leased from the Carolina Public Beach (Balneario de Carolina - a gated, fee access beach with facilities run by the Municipality of Carolina, which is the immediate neighbor of San Juan to the east, where the SJU airport actually is located).  This club is the only beachfront private facility in the area.  They do sell packages through some cruise lines, I believe, but they also sell memberships to locals, and have concerts there and what not.  The beach in front of it is not the best, although the views are stunning.  That's it.  Any other beachfront facilities are probably run by a resort or a hotel, from which you would have to buy a day pass and very few chain hotels participate in that market, reserving their facilities for their guests.

 

Word to the wise.  

Everyone be advised, the Puerto Rico Tourism company, which is the Puerto Rico government agency tasked with overseeing certain aspects of the tourism industry, has a list of vetted, licensed and qualified destination management companies, tour operators and tour guides, which you can contact directly.  There are many "international" companies that provide the booking technology for sightseeing tours, but they are not really local, experienced operators.  They just subcontract and bundle packages from different local suppliers, and market them over the internet.  They really have no presence on the island except for maybe a marketing and service agreement with several venues and independent tour guides, who feed off of their system.  Your key is, if certain outfit claims to have operations in more than one destination, most likely it is not a local expert.  Many times they are not even based in the United States (in Puerto Rico's case) or anywhere you can sue them at.

 

I cannot make any recommendations as a local, but I can assure you, that no local, well established sightseeing company or operator in Puerto Rico has operations in Cozumel, Cancún, Roatán or even the US or British Virgin Islands.  Again, if a company advertises itself as one having operations in more than one destination, that should be your cue. 

 

https://www.prtourism.com/dnn/Tourism-Oversight-Services

 

 

The physical place is open, but under a new owner and new name.  The Parrot of Old San Juan.

 

https://www.facebook.com/TheParrotOldSanJuan/

 

 

13 hours ago, SugarStar00 said:

Which dock was it?

 

Pier 3 East.

On 2/8/2019 at 2:52 PM, CCWineLover said:

 

Thank you so much for your local knowledge!  We are boarding the Viking SEA in San Juan on Feb 17.  Nice to know that we can rest easy.   As to location, I just found this today on Marine Traffic web site, showing how close the Viking SEA is docked right today Feb 8th, ahead of its next cruise.  We look to be very close to the Old Town.   As a local, do you know if the Fort will be closed?  I heard it might due to Government shutdown Feb 15 (anticipated). 

You'll be right in Old Town.  As to a possible new shutdown after 2/15, no one can say for sure, but as noted here already, the local government helped the feds keep the forts open during the last shutdown.  Even if the forts close, there's plenty to see outside of those and around Old San Juan.

2 minutes ago, Gnoelj said:

 

Thanks for your information. That puts our mind at rest.

 

As you are a local in San Juan,  may we ask you please, we are staying at the Casa Sol in Calle del Sol before the cruise.  To get from the B&B to the cruise Pier where Viking docks, is it very far away?  Can we take the tram, or a taxi, or is it so close by we can actually walk there?

Hi,

 

Calle Sol is six or seven blocks from the pier.  If it's walkable or not depends on your mobility.  It's all downhill, literally, but over narrow sidewalks and cobblestone streets (500 year old infrastructure), so even rolling luggage could be a challenge.  I've seen some AirBnBs and such that have golf carts to help their guests around the Old City.  Not sure if yours has any.  If you don't want to go through the challenge mentioned above, your best bet is probably to take a taxi or Uber.  The free trolley that goes around the city does not have luggage capabilities.  it's just for sightseeing.

 

Hope this helps.  Anything else, shoot.

Hi, I am a local in San Juan and am very familiar with the scene at the docks.  There's no renewed talk of another work stoppage.  The December union action was not a strike per-se.  More like a one-day walkout, in which management took over operations.  That walkout only affected operations momentarily at the PanAm pier.  Viking's operations never were affected, and we do not expect that they will be affected for the rest of the season.

 

Leave your worries behind and enjoy your cruise.

U.S. Citizens do not need a passport on closed loop cruises out of San Juan.  HOWEVER, if something happens along the way, it would be difficult to fly back to US soil without one.  This should be both stated on the cruise documents somewhere.

San Sebastián Street Festival map legend English language translation:

 

Estacionamiento = Parking (most private vehicles, including rentals, won't be allowed in, anyway)

Reciclaje = Recycling station

Centro de Salud = Medical aid station

1. Centro de Información Turística = Tourist Information Center

2. Teatro Tapia = Tapia Theater

3. Plaza Colón = Columbus Square

4. Plaza la Barandilla = Barandilla Square

5. Casa Alcaldía = City Hall

6. Plaza de Armas = Spanish-era Parade Ground/Square

7. Capilla del Cristo = Child Christ Chapel

8. Parque de las Palomas = Pigeon Park

9. Calle San Sebastián - San Sebastián Street (Festival epicenter)

10. Museo de San Juan = Museum

11. Cementerio Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis = Cemetery

12. Plaza V Centenario = 5th Centennial Square

13. La Perla = Not Kansas

14. Capitolio = State Capitol

Parada de Guaguas = City Bus stop (good luck with that)

Taxi = Taxi (Probably best way in and out of Old City, in high demand)

Baños = Restrooms (Port-a-Potties in many cases)

Old San Juan map, with San Sebastian Festival references/sites:

 

11 hours ago, aquidneck1 said:

Do you know whether the roads in Old San Juan will be closed on the 16th in the evening?  Thanks

Yes.  past the bridges/causeways into Old San Juan, the only vehicles allowed will be public or collective transportation (city buses, taxis, tour vehicles, NOT Uber), emergency vehicles and commercial delivery vehicles.

This is the Fiestas de la calle San Sebartian schedule (in Spanish - I'll try to translate to English in red where appropriate:

 

Calendario de actividades: (Activity schedule):

Miércoles 16 de enero (enero = January)

Plaza Colón (Columbus Square)

7:00 p.m. - 8:10 p.m. Pedro Colón y su Grupo Somos Bomba (Typical Afro-Caribbean music)

9:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Mahya y su trauma (Caribbean Hip Hop)

 

Plaza de Armas (Square in front of City Hall)

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. DJ Metro (Dance music)

9:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Carlos Jomar (Reggae in Spanish)

 

Plaza La Barandilla (Square off San Francisco street)

7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Tata Cepeda y su grupo Gracimá (Typical Afro-Caribbean Music)

9:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Los Pleneros del 5to Olivo (Puerto Rican typical festival music - Plena is the signature music of the Fiestas)

 

Jueves 17 de enero

Plaza V Centenario (5th Centennial Square)

5:00 p.m. Comparsa del Municipio de San Juan 

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Pleneros del Más Allá (Puerto Rican typical festival music)

7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Victoria Sanabria (Puerto Rican country music)

9:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Pirulo y su Tribu (Puerto Rican pop/dancehall music)

 

Plaza Colón

7:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. Yubairé (Puerto rican folk music)

9:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Orquesta La Oferta (old time Salsa music)

 

Plaza de Armas

7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. DJ Ment (Dance music)

9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Algarete (Puerto Rican raggae)

 

Plaza La Barandilla

7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Conjunto de Bomba y Plena (Puerto Rican/Afro-Caribbean festival music)

8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Viento de Agua (Puerto Rican/Afro-Caribbean festival music)

10:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Juan Vélez (Puerto Rican pop/romantic/balads)

 

La Perla 

8:00 p.m. Ultra Corillo (Reggaetón)

9:45 p.m. Henry Cole (Drummer, urban)

 

Viernes 18 de enero

Plaza V Centenario

5:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. Danny Díaz y su Tripandero Tributo Ismael Rivera (old school Salsa music)

7:15 p.m. - 8:45 p.m. Milly Quezada (Merengue music)

9:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Pedro Capó (Puerto Rican pop/Rock en Español)

 

Plaza Colón

5:30 p.m. - 6:45 p.m. Bomba con trovadores del taller de Palenque (Afro-Caribbean)

7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Giselle (Merengue music)

9:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Orquesta El Macabeo (Salsa music0

 

Plaza de Armas 

5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Publixa DJ (Dance)

7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. DJ James (Dance)

9:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Gomba Jahbari (Reggae in Spanish)

 

Plaza de la Barandilla

5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Atabal (Afro-Caribbean music)

7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Tuna Estudiantina de Cayey (Typical Puerto Rican Christmas music perform by a tuna or a lively choir)

8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. A Son de Guerra (Juan Luis Guerra tribute band/Dominican music)

10:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Ilé (female latin rock/urban alternative music)

 

La Perla (Former slum turned celebrity neighborhood by the Despacito music video)

8:00 p.m. Sebastián Otero (Puerto Rican rap)

9:45 p.m. Ilé (SAB)

 

Sábado 19 de enero

Plaza V Centenario

2:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Pleneros de la 23 (Puerto Rican festival music)

4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Plenéalo (Puerto rican festival music)

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Oscarito (merengue music)

7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Vico C (reggaetón)

9:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Sonora Ponceña (Classic Salsa Music)

 

Plaza Colón

2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Imbuyé (Bomba) (Afro-Caribbean)

3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Los Oquen2 (Salsa/reggaeton mix)

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Tambores Calientes (Salsa music)

6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Salsa Metro

8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Los Parranderos de Loíza (Typical Puerto Rican festival music)

9:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Manolito Rodríguez y su Orquesta (latin/Salsa Music)

 

Plaza de Armas

2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Boohype (DJ/Dance)

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Dj Velcro

7:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Xtassy (DJ/Dance)

10:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Los Rivera Destino (Rock/Pop en Español)

 

Plaza La Barandilla

2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Bomba Evolución - Rústico (Afro-Caribbean)

3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. San Juan Habana (Cuban/Puerto Rican Tropical Music/Salsa mix)

5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Roy Brown (Puerto Rican folk music)

7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Choco Orta (Salsa music).

 

9:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Lissette - Trayectoria

 

La Perla

3:30 p.m. Andrea Cruz

5:30 p.m. Lizbeth Román 

8:00 p.m. Yubá Iré 

9:45 p.m. Alegría Rampante

 

Domingo 20 de enero

Plaza del V Centenario

2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Plena Libre

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Yolandita Monge

5:30 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. Iris Chacón

6:45 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. Olga Tañón

8:45 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. La India

 

Plaza Colón 

2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Renacer Campesino

4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Julito Alvarado del Norte al Sur

6:15 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. Grupo Mambo

8:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Willie Rosario

 

Plaza de Armas

2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Emil Cedeño

5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. DJ Joaquín Opio

9:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Misa E Gallo

 

Plaza La Barandilla

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. El Cascanueces

2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Los Segreles

4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Manolo Mongil

6:15 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. D’Latinos

8:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. José Nogueras

 

La Perla 

3:30 p.m. Grupo Fuete

5:30 p.m. Fofé y los fetiches

 

Teatro Tapia

2:00 p.m. Ismael Miranda y Chucho Avellanet

4:00 p.m. El Topo

 

Parque de Las Palomas

11:00 a.m. Taller de máscaras, banderas y elementos con Agua, Sol y Sereno. Pinta Caritas.

2:00 p.m. Taller de bomba con niños y jóvenes de la Fundación Folclórica Cultural, Rafael Cepeda

3:00 p.m. Los Mocosos

4:00 p.m. Comparsa de niños en las Mini Fiestas