Guest moe46 Posted January 30, 2017 #1 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Possibly booking Celebrity Equinox June 11 with San Juan port stop 3:30-11. I've noticed Celebrity is scheduling that for many of the ships. Is that a wasted port stop? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dblane Posted January 30, 2017 #2 Share Posted January 30, 2017 I don't think so. The old city is safe to walk around in. You have time for tours and we usually try to have dinner at one of the restaurants. It is an uphill climb from the port, we usually take a taxi up and walk back, but we are not big walkers now. Enjoy!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jules815 Posted January 30, 2017 #3 Share Posted January 30, 2017 We'll be visiting San Juan in April on Reflection and also have the later port time. Plenty of time to visit at least one of the forts there? Does anyone know how late they're open? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Champagne Cruiser Posted January 30, 2017 #4 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Since we are beach people we feel it is a wasted stop. The good news is that if you stay on board you will have a wide selection of loungers around the pool and no crowds at the bars or buffet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mandream Posted January 30, 2017 #5 Share Posted January 30, 2017 We'll be visiting San Juan in April on Reflection and also have the later port time. Plenty of time to visit at least one of the forts there? Does anyone know how late they're open? 6 PM. https://www.nps.gov/saju/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkjretired Posted January 30, 2017 #6 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Possibly booking Celebrity Equinox June 11 with San Juan port stop 3:30-11. I've noticed Celebrity is scheduling that for many of the ships. Is that a wasted port stop? Always wondered that myself, think it has to do with sailing time from previous destinations. Celebrity and many other cruise lines have been doing this for many, many years. You might be able to catch the fort and just walk around Old San Juan. A lot of people go to the hotels with the casinos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzmund Posted January 30, 2017 #7 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Possibly booking Celebrity Equinox June 11 with San Juan port stop 3:30-11. I've noticed Celebrity is scheduling that for many of the ships. Is that a wasted port stop? Check out the free trolley that runs right from the cruise terminal. There are three different routes and two of them go to the fort. Easy way to see parts of the old city. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GW248 Posted January 30, 2017 #8 Share Posted January 30, 2017 We have a 3:30 stop in San Juan in about two weeks. Is 3:30 local time? Does the ship stay on EST for an Eastern Caribbean itinerary (San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten) or switch to AST? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Click Posted January 30, 2017 #9 Share Posted January 30, 2017 Just be aware that the free trolley gets very very very crowded.....been there done that, ended up walking up to the fort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted January 31, 2017 #10 Share Posted January 31, 2017 Later in the day is fine! It's HOT as hell in San Juan....this timing should relieve you of some of the heat. No worries! Plenty to do there! Lots of restaurants and shopping..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2theship Posted January 31, 2017 #11 Share Posted January 31, 2017 San Juan is a 500 year old city, very European. If you can make it to one of the forts, they're very interesting but you'll have to go right there when you arrive since they close early. There are plenty of great restaurants around San Juan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruzin&Snuzin Posted January 31, 2017 #12 Share Posted January 31, 2017 (edited) We have a 3:30 stop in San Juan in about two weeks. Is 3:30 local time? Does the ship stay on EST for an Eastern Caribbean itinerary (San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten) or switch to AST? From my recent trip: The Ship time is always EST - for FL based cruises. The Dailies, CD and others will always use this frame of reference when stating a time. By Ship time, you arrive at 3:30, but it is 2:30 local time. This also means you leave at 10:30 local time, which is 11:30 Ship time. But definitely not 11:30 local time. The CD urged people to keep their watches set for "ship time" because iPhones and other smartphones may auto-adjust to the new time zone. Disclaimer: I've cruised exactly once, so others may have different experiences or be able to explain this with more detail. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Edited January 31, 2017 by Cruzin&Snuzin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruzin&Snuzin Posted January 31, 2017 #13 Share Posted January 31, 2017 My math was off. 3:30 Ship time (EST) turns into 4:30 local time in San Juan. I have a hard enough time translating PST to EST, I should have just left this topic alone. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddiethekub Posted January 31, 2017 #14 Share Posted January 31, 2017 I can't recall a time in recent memory where ships time was different from local time. They usually have you move clocks forward or backward on the night before you arrive at the next port. I've got 30+ cruises under my belt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fielddreamer Posted January 31, 2017 #15 Share Posted January 31, 2017 We'll be visiting San Juan in April on Reflection and also have the later port time. Plenty of time to visit at least one of the forts there? Does anyone know how late they're open? Old town is open til around 6:00 P.M. ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donaldsc Posted January 31, 2017 #16 Share Posted January 31, 2017 I think that it is a totally wasted port stop. Many of the cultural or historical sites close way before then. Also, it gets dark and in my opinion you want to see a city both in daylight and maybe at night. You get these crazy times or crazy short times on lots of cruises because the ships cruise so slowly to save fuel. Part of their "the customer is always wrong" attitude. DON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Banjo Posted January 31, 2017 #17 Share Posted January 31, 2017 For years Celebrity has done this and we usually occupied ourselves walking around Old San Juan or going out to the castle. Then last week I was on the Reflection with a 330 arrival and I seen they added the Bacardi Rum Distiller tour. We did this and highly recommend it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
north29 Posted January 31, 2017 #18 Share Posted January 31, 2017 Makes a big difference depending on what you want to do. We did the National park rain forest tour in December. It was dark before we got back to the bus after the hike through the forest, kinda unnerving LOL. But all is OK you will not be left on the trail, the park makes sure everyone is safe before closing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hancock Posted January 31, 2017 #19 Share Posted January 31, 2017 3pm DaylightSavingsTime=3PM AtlanticStandardTime. There will be no difference in time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baron Barracuda Posted January 31, 2017 #20 Share Posted January 31, 2017 Asked many years ago why ships depart San Juan so late and was told it was due to an agreement between cruise lines and tourism bureau to support local restaurants and casinos. I know mdr was always half full when we stopped there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruzin&Snuzin Posted February 1, 2017 #21 Share Posted February 1, 2017 (edited) Found this other thread that discusses 'ship' time versus 'local' time. Seems that my Reflection cruise that didn't change to local time was the exception and not the rule. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2448974 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Edited February 1, 2017 by Cruzin&Snuzin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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