San Juan Hotel prior to boarding Freedom

[Jfeasel]

Family has sailed many times from Florida, New York, Vancouver and Hawaii but never from San Juan. We will be flying in the night before so can anyone recommend a hotel that offers shuttle service to the pier or within walking distance as there are 13 of us ages 18 months to 76. Also, when the cruise ends any recommendations for transportation to the airport for this large group? TIA

 

Edited September 26, 2019 by Jfeasel
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[njkruzer]

As far as I know there are no hotels walking distance to the pier.  The piers in old San Juan are for port stops not embarkation.   We've stayed at various hotels in Condado.   Lots of places to walk to, including a Walgreens for the last minute stuff you forgot.   Pick a hotel on the beach.

[Clarea]

10 minutes ago, Jfeasel said:

Family has sailed many times from Florida, New York, Vancouver and Hawaii but never from San Juan. We will be flying in the night before so can anyone recommend a hotel that offers shuttle service to the pier or within walking distance as there are 13 of us ages 18 months to 76. Also, when the cruise ends any recommendations for transportation to the airport for this large group? TIA

 

 

You should also ask this on the San Juan forum: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/80-san-juan-pr/

 

 

[not-enough-cruising]

We cruise often out of San Juan, we always stay at Hilton Caribe

[cruiseguy1016]

I don't know of any hotels in San Juan that offer shuttle service. Taxis are probably the best way to get around. The fares are all preset so you know what you will be paying before you get in the cab. We have stayed in several hotels in San Juan. Our favorite is the Intercontinental. It is near the airport which is about 15-20 minutes from either Old San Juan or the Pan American pier which is where RCI ships depart from.

[BunnyHutt]

My husband overnights at the Sheraton Old San Juan (meaning I’ve never stayed there) and he’s sent me pics where docked cruise ships are *right* there. However, that may be for ships that are just there for the day and not actually starting in San Juan. 

 

https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sjuol-sheraton-old-san-juan-hotel/

 

We had a lovely stay at the Intercontinental when we cruised out of San Juan a few years ago. 

[Ashland]

Freedom will depart from the Pan American pier. We usually stay at the Sheraton Old San Juan...great location in town. No shuttles but the taxi's are pre-set by zone (we usually pay approx $18.00) from hotel to port and these are large van type taxi's. The port is only a few miles away....a quick and easy ride.

[scoodogg]

We stayed at the Hyatt House. Very nice and a good free breakfast. 

 

Uber XL was only $6 plus tip for 4 people and luggage.

[cruiseguy1016]

We stayed at the Sheraton Old San Juan several years ago. I have tried many times since then to book it again but they always want a minimum of 2 nights stay. We usually travel one day early. We have found the Intercontinental to be such a nice place that, next March we'll be flying in two days early just so we can spend an extra night at the Intercontinental.

[Bluemymind]

we like to stay at Hyatt House for the following reasons. Its the closest hotel to the port and there is a Longhorn steak house and Olive Garden behind the hotel that you can walk to for dinner. There is also a Hyatt Place hotel across the street, both hotels are fairly new. If you get a bay front room you'll be able to see your ship in the morning from your room. You could walk to the port but its at least a half mile if not further, its just easier to take a cab with luggage. 

[PhoenixCruiser]

We enjoy the Hilton brand and have stayed at the Doubletree and Embassy Suites and Inn and would recommend both.  This time we are staying at the Caribe and are really looking forward to seeing the newly renovated hotel.

 

Nothing within walking distance and we are not aware of any hotels with shuttles.  You might want to arrange a bus - here is a starting point

 

https://www.puertoricoshuttle.com/sju_puerto_rico_buses

[cgncruiser]

Anything else but certainly not the Embassy Suites.

Extreme loud disco music with unbelievable base until in the morning hours from disco in basement that echoes into the hotel room atrium; unfriendly reception employees

[jptoz]

If you want to stay in OSJ. I recommend the  Decanter Hotel. Beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of OSJ. Close to everything.(Catedral de San Juan right across the street) Try to get to San juan at least  a day in advance. It's such a cool old city to walk around.

[dani negreanu]

No shuttles in PR from airport or to the pier. Taxis are the "way" to go...

We stayed in the Condado area, and I can highly recommend Best Western Condado Palm & Suites. Close to Walgreens, CVS, Starbucks, Casino. Beach and restaurants were all within walking distance. 

I had to change dates several times, and found the manager, H. Neumann, very responsive.

If you're such a big group, I'd suggest to contact him directly for the best rates -- "please feel free to contact me directly at Hneumann@condadopalm.com or 787-648-8834."

[MightyMike]

We stayed at the Best Western Condado Palm. Very convenient. Both CVS and Walgreens are across the street. One block from the beach. It is more reasonably priced than the other chains. Lots of dining options including a Nestle Tool House Cookie store in the hotel. I gave them an excellent review on the Celebrity forum.

 

There is no shuttle, but the front desk will arrange taxis. There are tons of them. One will probably be parked and ready at the hotel already. The port is a short hop away. When we got off the ship, there were more taxis than people needing a ride. Lots more.

[MightyMike]

8 minutes ago, dani negreanu said:

No shuttles in PR from airport or to the pier. Taxis are the "way" to go...

We stayed in the Condado area, and I can highly recommend Best Western Condado Palm & Suites. Close to Walgreens, CVS, Starbucks, Casino. Beach and restaurants were all within walking distance. 

I had to change dates several times, and found the manager, H. Neumann, very responsive.

If you're such a big group, I'd suggest to contact him directly for the best rates -- "please feel free to contact me directly at Hneumann@condadopalm.com or 787-648-8834."

 

We were both typing at the same time so I didn't see that you were also recommending it. I concur on everything. Henry will take care of you.

[dani negreanu]

3 minutes ago, MightyMike said:

 

We were both typing at the same time so I didn't see that you were also recommending it. I concur on everything. Henry will take care of you.

 

Great minds, etc. 😉😁😉😁

[bilyclub]

The road into the Pan Am pier is one lane in each direction  with no sidewalk and is sometimes clogged with traffic in both directions.  We've had taxis refuse to take us from the Caribe Hilton to the pier because of traffic. Most hotels in San Juan are under a 1/2 drive to the pier.

[not-enough-cruising]

1 hour ago, dani negreanu said:

No shuttles in PR from airport or to the pier. Taxis are the "way" to go...

Have to respectfully disagree on the Taxi comment. I find taxi service in San Juan very overpriced and have MUCH better experiences with Uber. YMMV

[dani negreanu]

31 minutes ago, not-enough-cruising said:

Have to respectfully disagree on the Taxi comment.

 

Sorry, my bad. What I meant to stress is that no hotels in PR are offering shuttles from the airport or to the pier -- you'll need to use a taxi, or another means of transportation....

[Ashland]

7 minutes ago, dani negreanu said:

 

Sorry, my bad. What I meant to stress is that no hotels in PR are offering shuttles from the airport or to the pier -- you'll need to use a taxi, or another means of transportation....

Agree...and please don't consider your comment "bad"...Not everyone is comfortable using Uber...Perhaps, those especially from other countries or that don't have the app. 

[dani negreanu]

1 hour ago, Ashland said:

Not everyone is comfortable using Uber...Perhaps, those especially from other countries. 

 

Thank you 😊, exactly my case....

[Underwatr]

Uber from the Marriott on Atlantic Beach is around $6 and a taxi is $10-12. Compared to what you'll pay for a night or two at the hotel in not sure the cost of either is something to worry about 

[dani negreanu]

37 minutes ago, Underwatr said:

Compared to what you'll pay for a night or two at the hotel in not sure the cost of either is something to worry about 

 

We've been in PR 4 days prior to our cruise, and I've found the taxi rates very reasonable. We've also used the public bus from the corner of our hotel into Old SJ, 1.50$ return pp.

 

[MightyMike]

3 hours ago, bilyclub said:

The road into the Pan Am pier is one lane in each direction  with no sidewalk and is sometimes clogged with traffic in both directions.  We've had taxis refuse to take us from the Caribe Hilton to the pier because of traffic. Most hotels in San Juan are under a 1/2 drive to the pier.

 

How long ago was that? We were on Celebrity Summit last spring and there was no traffic at embarkation. The taxi dropped us off right at the line to board. We left the hotel at about 10:45 and before 11:30 we were on the ship. We have never experienced an easier beginning to any cruise.

 

It was more chaotic at disembarkation, but there was no congestion then either. All the taxis were buffered up in a parking lot at the far right side of your picture. They were dispatched as needed from that parking lot to the terminal. Any congestion was pushed back away from the terminal. 

 

Perhaps if the ship arrives late or clearance takes excessively long then things can clog up as those boarding collide with those leaving, but our cruise saw none of that.