San Juan Late Departure

[willift]

We're cruising out of San Juan on Adventure this fall and the departure time is something like 8:30PM. We're used to an earlier departure time and we're wondering what activities take place on that 1st day.

 

Do they have a early and late seating in the MDR on departure day?

 

Do they have the traditional evening entertaiment? Welcome Aboard Show?

 

Any input on this late departure stuff would be welcomed

 

Willift

[Canadian Tyler]

We were on Serenade a few weeks ago and it was a late departure as well.

 

They had main seating at 6 as usual, but late seating was 8:45pm due to muster drill at 8 I believe.

The welcome aboard show was later as well, I think 10ish.

[SANDY823]

I love the late departure - board early - by noon - have lunch, relax at pool, or explore ship --- have your luggage by the time you would be sailing on other ships- so its done before you sail.

dinner is 6 pm and 8:45 due to late life boat drill -- and specialty restaurants don't start till 8:30 this first night.

Enjoy - its like an extra sea day if you board early -

[danp]

If you get on board early,you can always check in and then take a taxi over to OSJ and do a tour.There is a free[yes free]Trolley that take you up to the forts and then on the way back takes you thru OSJ.I believe the taxi fare is $10 E/W.You can get the trolley over by Pier 4,across the street and then down about a block.

[Sequim88]

Caution if going over to OSJ by taxi. Don't cut it too close with whatever the cutoff time is for being onboard (earlier than sailing time due to muster drill). Gridlock in OSJ on the narrow streets can add an 30-60 minutes just to get out of that area and over to the Pan Am Pier. I was shocked there is not some sort of water taxi service between that pier and OSJ. With Serenade and Celeb Summit both there until late it could have been kept busy.

 

Week before last we boarded at Noon and went straight to Windjammer while waiting for cabin access at 1-1:30pm. Being familiar with Radiance class we did not need to explore but for others in our group it was a good opportunity. Later met a bunch of CC M&M people at the Sky Bar before heading for our MTD dinner at 6pm. Luggage arrived one piece at a time until 8pm. Muster drill for us was in Schooner Bar area and after we went straight up to watch sailaway. No show that night that can I recall but after sailaway we went to the casino anyway.

 

This was out first night time sailaway and it was really cool to see the lights glide by - especially the lighthouse at El Morro from the starboard side.

[rphamy]

Later met a bunch of CC M&M people at the Sky Bar before heading for our MTD dinner at 6pm. Luggage arrived one piece at a time until 8pm.

 

We sail in three weeks and have the early dinner seating at 6PM. Can you wear more causal clothes (capris and shorts) the first night, as you may not have your luggage by then?

[ncsteeler]

We sail in three weeks and have the early dinner seating at 6PM. Can you wear more causal clothes (capris and shorts) the first night, as you may not have your luggage by then?

 

we sailed last Sept. first night is casual, shorts will be fine in MDR. We had our luggage because we boarded very early, but many didn't have theirs and wore shorts and tshirts.

[mdwbbi]

What is the earliest that Royal Caribbean allows boarding in San Juan, for an 8:30pm departure? Will be going in mid-June on the Serenade, however, our flight arrives 9:30am. I'm hesitant to rent a car for the day as I hear driving there is not fun. We're in a quandary regarding what to do with our luggage all day.

[mdwbbi]

What is the earliest that Royal Caribbean allows boarding in San Juan, for an 8:30pm departure? Will be going in mid-June on the Serenade, however, our flight arrives 9:30am. I'm hesitant to rent a car for the day as I hear driving there is not fun. We're in a quandary regarding what to do with our luggage all day.

[SANDY823]

What is the earliest that Royal Caribbean allows boarding in San Juan, for an 8:30pm departure? Will be going in mid-June on the Serenade, however, our flight arrives 9:30am. I'm hesitant to rent a car for the day as I hear driving there is not fun. We're in a quandary regarding what to do with our luggage all day.

 

 

we usually head over to the pier around 11 - and have been on the ship between noon - 12:30...

maybe have a leisurely breakfast at the airport- then taxi over to the pier-- may have to wait a bit outside- but better than renting a car and dealing with that.

[iamsunnysarah]

We're cruising out of San Juan on Adventure this fall and the departure time is something like 8:30PM. We're used to an earlier departure time and we're wondering what activities take place on that 1st day.

 

Do they have a early and late seating in the MDR on departure day?

 

Do they have the traditional evening entertaiment? Welcome Aboard Show?

 

Just cruised on Serenade out of San Juan May 22. We flew direct from Charlotte, NC day of embarkation- landed about 1:30pm, and were on the ship eating lunch by 3pm. This included baggage claim, taxi, embarkation. I am told I was lucky to be done so quickly.

 

We explored the ship, put our carry on bags in the stateroom, etc. Muster at 8pm; dinner was at 8:45 (we wore our casual clothes that we flew in); and we went to the 10pm show after, very tired though! Ricky Matthews the CD talked and the comedian Carl Banks did a mini-routine. Our bags were in the room after dinner.

[April-in-NC]

Just cruised on Serenade out of San Juan May 22. We flew direct from Charlotte, NC day of embarkation- landed about 1:30pm, and were on the ship eating lunch by 3pm. This included baggage claim, taxi, embarkation. I am told I was lucky to be done so quickly.

 

I will be taking that flight on Saturday. About how long did you have to wait for your bags in baggage claim?

[iamsunnysarah]

I will be taking that flight on Saturday. About how long did you have to wait for your bags in baggage claim?

 

Not long at all! We were some of the first off the plane (Row 9)...ask the attendants when you get off though which baggage claim it's coming to, but check that the location they tell you is labeled for your plane. We were told one location, but it was different from where we should have been; the correct location was labeled in the airport though.

 

I would say 10-15 minutes tops from time plane landed, to when we got our bags.

[enjoymylife1]

we usually head over to the pier around 11 - and have been on the ship between noon - 12:30...

 

maybe have a leisurely breakfast at the airport- then taxi over to the pier-- may have to wait a bit outside- but better than renting a car and dealing with that.

 

have you stayed at a hotel near the pier the day before the departure of ship? any recomendations? thank you

[PhinsAndGills]

have you stayed at a hotel near the pier the day before the departure of ship? any recomendations? thank you

 

http://www.travbuddy.com/travel-blogs/71034/Discovering-Old-San-Juan-day-before-1

Here's a link to my review of our Adventure of the Seas cruise last year complete with hotel stay the night before. We didn't stay in OSJ, but at the Courtyard by Marriott - Miramar and were very pleased (MUCH cheaper than OSJ and an easy taxi ride.) We were on the ahip a bit before noon. My only 'complaint' (haha) was that I was Platnium status for the first time and didn't get to use priority check-in - because we were the ONLY people checking in and there were no lines anywhere! :D

[jst4fun715]

have you stayed at a hotel near the pier the day before the departure of ship? any recomendations? thank you

 

 

We have stayed at the Embassy Suites twice. Very nice hote with the usual "Manager's Special" in the evening and the cooked to order breakfast in the morning. It was about a 3 minute taxi ride. Because the taxis are regulated, I believe the fare was $10 plus $1 for each piece of luggage. There were 4 of us so it was really cheap! The hotel also has a beautiful pool area and is within a couple of blocks of some shopping. We have never done the shopping...just heard about it.

[enjoymylife1]

ty , any good excursions in , st. marteen, dominica, barbados. bvi? thanks again

[cruiseguy1016]

ty , any good excursions in , st. marteen, dominica, barbados. bvi? thanks again

 

One of the best excursions we have ever done was a catamaran cruise with Cool Runnings in Barbados. They picked us up at the cruise pier and brought us to their boat. They served free alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages the entire day. Free food was also plentiful. We made three stops; to swim with turtles, at a shipwreck and at a secluded cove for lunch and snorkeling. They brought us back to the ship after the excursion.

[griffy116]

We stayed at Embassy Suites, as well. It's about mid-way between the airport and pier, so it's easy access to both. We had an incredible day of errors and had missed breakfast and lunch entirely in all the scramble. When we arrived, the smell of the Outback Steakhouse, in their lobby had our stomachs growling so loud that we took our luggage to the room, dropped it on the floor and headed straight to Outback. We had planned on going to a "local" spot, but our need for food was at the point where we were ready to chew our arm off. We ate everthing in sight, service was incredible and we finished in enough time to enjoy at few free drinks at the Managers Reception. It was a nice way to get rid of the stress and anxiety of the day, chill out and get ready for relaxation. The staff was wonderful, rooms clean and we got a good nights sleep. Breakfast (again free) was anything and everything. After another hearty meal, we headed up to the room, relaxed and refreshed a bit, grabbed our bags and headed to the lobby, where the staff had arranged for transportation to the pier. Impeccable service from everyone at Embassy Suites in SJ. It's a good choice. We got to the pier around 11:30 in chill mode.

[Sequim88]

We stayed at the Marriott Courtyard Miramar too and also thought is was very nice and a nice central location. We had rented a car because we came in a couple nights ahead and wanted to drive to Arecibo for a day. Parking was by valet only and wherever they could find room on a street so I was a little worried about that but had purchased full coverage. Driving was really not as bad as I had expected. Yes, the other drivers tended to be a bit aggressive but I just chilled and left lots of space.

 

One small downside to the Courtyard was the two restaurants. The "coffee shop" one (really much better than a coffee shop - more of a bistro) was OK but pretty expensive and the REALLY fancy restaurant was REALLY :eek: expensive. But we figured to taxi to OSJ and eat there anyway.

 

Also, we paid way to much - or I should say my father did since he was paying for it all. Because we were a group we did not do Priceline. I understnad there are ways to selectively (by area and rating) single this one out and get a much better price - check San Juan forum and search threads for Priceline.

[LadyPemberley]

Muster at 8pm; dinner was at 8:45 (we wore our casual clothes that we flew in)

 

We will have late seating meal times on our upcoming cruise. Glad to know we don't have to change for dinner the first night. But with the ship leaving the dock at 8:30 and dinner at 8:45, it looks like we won't get to join in on the sail away activities and watch the ship leave San Juan. :confused: Is this correct?

[April-in-NC]

We will have late seating meal times on our upcoming cruise. Glad to know we don't have to change for dinner the first night. But with the ship leaving the dock at 8:30 and dinner at 8:45, it looks like we won't get to join in on the sail away activities and watch the ship leave San Juan. :confused: Is this correct?

 

I watched for a little while but I didn't want to be late for dinner so I missed sailing past El Morro. Since I had gotten on the ship around 1:00 and had been in San Juan a day early sail away was a little anti-climatic for me. I was excited to be under way, but vacation had already started. LOL