Past Destiny Cruisers - Please Confirm Boarding in SJU

[Hawaii697]

Hello all. I'm planning my group cruise next and one of things I like to give my group is a booklet with all the info they need regarding ship, exercusions, port info, etc. With this particular group, their will be a lot of first time cruisers. Although I've sailed the Destiny back in 2001, my brain is a bit fuzzy on some of the boarding details. Below, is a paragraph I need to confirm. Please feel free to add anything I've forgot or if anything has changed since my last sailing out of SJU. Thanks for your help in advance.

Arriving at the Pier

 

For you first time cruiser, oh joy what an experience. Just be prepared to be patience and remember this is your vacation for the week. When you arrive from SJU airport, you will be dropped off in front of a barracks/warehouse looking building (think Gomer Pyles home) via bus. Your luggage will be taken care of. If you take a cab from the airport, a porter will handle your luggage and you will need to tip.

 

Depending on what time you arrive, you will have to stand in line outside this building (past cruisers, does this bring back memories) and believe me, its going to be hot. Dress as light as you possibly can, wear a hat, visor, etc. Have bottle of water with you if possible. However, the line does move fairly quickly. Make sure you have all documents filled out correctly and signed. Make sure you have your license/birth certificate or passport ready to produce to the agent once you board the ship. Once you are inside the "barracks", you luggage will be scanned. You will continue onto another line where you will pick up your sign and sail cards. They will also give you a little sheet of paper that will tell you which seating you will have for dinner that night only. Your requested dining times and dining room will be on your "Sign & Sail card" (hopefully requested). Your Sign & Sail card for this cruise is: your ID, room key, notification of when and where your evening dining will take place, your drink purchases and any purchases from the many shops on board.

 

Ok, now you have your "Sign & Sail" cards, you will proceed to get your first of many Carnival pictures taken. "Say cheeze"! Once your picture is taken you then proceed to the ship. An FYI to some folks. At this point, there is a duty free shop ABC shop. You may make these purchases no taxes, but sometimes they may be confiscated once you board the ship. You will receive these purchases back the day before you arrive back to SJU. It's the luck of the draw on this one. There will also be free samples of rum offered just before you board the ship.

 

Now, time to board. Unfortunately, boarding the ship in SJU is not a first great impression. You have to board through the Zero deck. (Most piers, you board through the Main Deck which is where the Atrium lobby is). However, don't let this disappoint you. When you get to the entrance of the ship, security will need your Sign & Sail card. They will stick it in a machine and take your picture. (no funny faces yall, they made me retake mine). Hop on the elevator and proceed to Lobby Deck. You will then be directed to the Palladium Theater. This is where you will wait to have your Sign & Sail card processed along with showing proof of citizenship. Again, patience is needed but you will be about 1/2 hour before you start your vacation. Once the process is done, you can head to your room, head to the Lido deck for lunch and enjoy the start of what should be a great vacation. Happy cruizin' and enjoy!

 

Again, any suggestion or changes, I do appreciate. I really do appreciate this board with all its good advice.

 

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Cruisin' Southern Caribbean August 2005

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[micdee]

I was on the Destiny in Feb..The ship now docks at a new pier. The barracks have been replaced with a new building. There is a long canopy outside to keep the sun from beating down on you while you wait. Carnival did have a table set up outside with water and lemonade.

The duty free shop is located to the right as you enter the building,before you go through security and check in. We did board the ship on deck 0, but I was told that in the future you will board on deck 3, lobby. Hope this helps.

 

 

 

Triumph 7/01/00

Destiny 2/24/02

Destiny 2/02/03

Destiny 2/29/04

 

 

 

[Vidimom]

Your letter is very detailed and accurate. You may want to let them know that their cabins may not be ready when they finish processing in the lounge and just be flexible. I remember the cabins on deck 7, 8 & 9 (balcony) were actually processed in our cabins. This made it alot easier.

 

As far as bringing liquor back on, we just walked right pass the table where you are suppose to drop off the liquor and we just went up the elevator back to our cabins.

 

You may also want to let them know that they can leave the ship after they are settled . We were told to be back on board by 8pm. If you board very early like we did, it leaves alot of time and we left and went around San Juan for several hours. There is a casino across the street at the Wyndham if any of your group want to gamble and they have a nice bar there also.

 

If some of your group are taking cabs, they ran us around $15.00 from the airport to the pier plus tip.

 

This is a wonderful cruise and hope everyone in your group has as great of time as we did. We cruised on the Destiny the week of 911 and even with all the tight security and the disaster, we will never forget how wonderful the staff was to everyone!

 

Sensation 9/98 10th anniv.

Big Red Boat 5/99

Ecstasy 10/00

Destiny 9/01 The week of 911

Victory 10/01

Imagination 12/20/01

Imagination 2/4/02

Zuiderdam 9/6/03 - 15th anniv.

Carnival Legend 11/27/04

Happiness is being on a cruise

with the one you love!

 

Legend Here We Come 11/27

 

 

[GroupCruiser]

They took our picture a year ago inside the building, not at the security station on the ship.

 

By the way, it's Sail & Sign, not Sign & Sail.

 

Other than that, this looks pretty good.