San Juan Departure on Freedom

[robptaylor]

This may actually be a better question for a port board but because it is specific to Freedom of the Seas I thought I would start here.

 

Freedom doesn't leave San Juan until 8pm, I don't think we have ever had a ship leave that late before.  Normally we are underway around 5 or 6.  

 

When does RCI start boarding in San Juan?  Does the later departure change the start of boarding time?  We normally try to get to port around 11am and on board by noon but with such a late departure I wasn't sure if boarding time will be pushed back too.

 

We have family in San Juan so no actual rush to board but I would like to know when we should plan on arriving.  Any suggestions for embarking in San Juan would be appreciated.

[Clarea]

Boarding usually starts between 11:30am and noon.

[MA cruisers]

We boarded at 11 and rooms were available at 1:30.  We got lunch and toured the ship.  It is our feeling you've paid for the day why not enjoy it on board.  We wore our suits or carried them on in our carry on and got changed as soon as our rooms were ready to enjoy the pool.

[alfaeric]

We sided with a longer morning with family- not arriving to the ship until about 2:30pm.  

 

There will still be food on board if you wait a few hours to get there.

[DISFANS3]

Thanks for info. We will be on the same cruise next March 2019. You pay for the first day, we always arrive early...

[bouhunter]

We don't board early because we paid for it - but because we enjoy it.

[BobNoxious]

Also the ship embarks/disembarks from Pan American pier.  This is different than the  San Juan Cruise Port terminal in Old San Juan where cruises just stop and visit for the day.

[GBM]

We cruised Freedom in June.  We were on board about 11 AM.  We were the first to see the ships doctor at 4, but that's a different story.  

[mets123]

If you board at noon and have lunch, can you leave the ship for  a couple of hours and then reboard? If so, do I need to recheck in, or just flash my ships id card?

[Clarea]

6 minutes ago, mets123 said:

If you board at noon and have lunch, can you leave the ship for  a couple of hours and then reboard? If so, do I need to recheck in, or just flash my ships id card?

 

You can leave and come back, no need to check-in again.

 

[mets123]

Thanks Bob, my daughter boards her this weekend.

[EeyoreRN]

Just now, mets123 said:

Thanks Bob, my daughter boards her this weekend.

Please let us know how she enjoys her voyage!

[PhoenixCruiser]

We left the Embassy Suites around 11:20 and were on the ship by 11:45, cabins were ready about 1:15.