Puerto Rico at night on Seaside

[goldrusher]

Why on earth does MSC have their ships arrive in San Juan at 5pm and leave 8 hours later at 1am?   In the winter it will be dark  when you arrive. Di you really want to walk around Old San Juan in the dark with all the dark alleys and small streets?  What a terrible port time!!  Anybody been during those hours and what did you do?

[puglady12]

We got off the ship. Did a quick stop at Starbucks and Walgreens. Then walked over to see the forts. We walked pretty far but it was May so it was light out and tons of people. We stopped and had dinner but it was dark when we finished and the streets were empty so I was pretty freaked out walking all the way back to the ship in the dark!  Once back by the ship there were tons of people. 
We are doing this same cruise in March so I think this time we will stay closer to the ship!! 

[EMc&DrS]

We had a similar itinerary on Holland America.  They offered a cool excursion to a lagoon on the east end of the island that is filled with microorganisms that glow in the dark when they come in contact with friction.  You kayak from the ocean shore, through the mangroves, and into the lagoon.  The kayak paddles cause the organisms to glow--looks like a lake filled with glitter.  Then you kayak back through the mangroves in the dark.  Sounds creepy, but it was great fun and well organized.  It's called bioluminescant kayaking.  I know there are lots of companies that offer private excursions to the lagoon; not sure if MSC offers an excursion.  I know Celebrity does in addition to HAL.  It's pretty far from the ship, so I'd be careful booking a private company unless I knew there was no way I'd be late getting back to the ship! 

[jdvmd]

Still a lot of things to do when you arrive at 5 p.m.