Do an excursion or just do our own thing?

[cruizinmama]

We are going in Jan. and will be there from 7:00a.m.-2:00p.m. and RCCL only has 5 excursions to offer.So is there anything to do When we get off the ship(walking distance) or should we take a cab somewhere?We do like to lounge on the beach & shop,is there any beaches & shopping right when you get off the ship?We will be visiting San Juan,Puerto Rico 7a.m.-2p.m.-Nassau,Bahamas 7a.m.-1p.m.-Charlotte Amalie 8a.m.-6p.m.- Labadee,Haiti 8a.m.-4p.m. So if you've been to any of these ports any suggestions for must do things-snorkling,nice beaches etc.?

[countryside]

In the case of San Juan there is so much to do in the old city, so walk around but if you need more options check out www.***** click on sightseeing and then expert

[orquidia]

Historic sightseeing, restaurants... - San Juan

Beach - Charlotte Amalie

Beach - Bahamas

about Haiti i do not know.

[wrp96]

Labadee is purely a beach day since it is RCCL's private island, although they do have a native market where you can purchase things.

[Jan_In_Maine]

We got back from our cruise last Sunday and did the RCCL old and new San Juan tour - and it was horrible! Very expensive ($54 per person, I think) it was on a large bus that in the new section just went around in a circle without stopping - some narration on what buildings cost a lot of money to live, what ones were for "poor" people - then to one fort and drop off in town - it was the worse excursion that I have ever taken - I'm really sorry that I didn't walk around the old section. Or take a tour with either Debbie or Victor.

 

Because of the RCCL tour was so bad, I have no good memories of our day in San Juan - which I had been so looking forward too and had spent 18 months looking at different information.

 

I will take that back - we had a few nice things - the fort was lovely - very interesting hand dryers in the rest rooms, and we spent 5 minutes in a casino played a nickel slot and walked out with $100. Really enjoyed the "butterfly people" store and found some nice items to purchase.

 

I need to go back and really explore, but next time I will not take a ship tour. Jan

[orquidia]

Sorry to hear that Jan. I do not recommed those large bus tours at all. Expensive also, you can rent a car for less than that or have your own ride in a taxi, that is less expensive and more joyful.

[Thorhillcruiser]

We will be in San Juan 2 days pre cruise in Dec. On Saturday renting a car from Charlies and driving to the rain forest. Will spend Sat evening in OSJ.

On Sunday will return car and the rental company provides a shuttle to the cruise pier. Pretty good dollar saver.

[Island Annie]

mamma,

 

There's TONS of shopping in OSJ.

 

As you exit your ship, it all starts right there. Just walk up to the cobblestone street just ahead and choose which direction you'd like to go. (I usually go to the left). You can litterally roam the cobblestone streets of OSJ for as long as you'd like to. Every street is lined with shops. (everything from PR suvenior items, to fine jewelery & fashion). Depending on how much time and energy you have, you can do a LOT of shopping, but I doubt you'll be able to hit them all.

 

There's a nice stretch of beach located near the El San Juan Hotel that's open to the public Look for a high-rise hotel on the beach with the initials "ESJ" at the very top. (rather easy to spot).

 

My favorite reataurant in OSJ is the Parrot Club on Calle Fortaleza. It has a very tropical decor and serves some EXCELLENT Caribbean & spanish inspired dishes, and yummy cocktails.

 

After lunch, there's a nice plaza located just around the corner to the right with benches to sit, a fountain and a view of El Moro (the old fort that sits at the entrance into San Juan. I like to take a break there and then go back for more shopping and/or find another place to have a desert before heading back to the airport.

 

You'll want to check with your cruiseline to ask where you'll be docking in San Juan. "Most" ships will dock at the main pier that I just explained to you, but there is another fairly new pier called the Pan Am pier that's located on the other side of the bay which you would need to take a taxi from to get into the shopping area I mentioned. Just call your cruiseline & ask them which one your ship will be at and they'll be able to tell you.

 

Here is the site for the Parott club I mentioned earlier:

http://oofrestaurants.com/parrotclub/home.htm

 

Enjoy!

 

Annie

[55J5-5]

Thorhillcruiser, couple questions if you please.......where did you stay? was renting the car worth it and which company? Did you do the rainforest on your own or with a guide?

My family is going on Dec 30 and we are searching the sites for info. Hubby is thinking he wants to stay at Caribo Play beach....... i'm not sure.....:confused:

 

We like the rainforest idea but not sure it is worth it.

Thanks to all that can help.

[Thorhillcruiser]

Thorhillcruiser, couple questions if you please.......where did you stay? was renting the car worth it and which company? Did you do the rainforest on your own or with a guide?

My family is going on Dec 30 and we are searching the sites for info. Hubby is thinking he wants to stay at Caribo Play beach....... i'm not sure.....:confused:

 

We like the rainforest idea but not sure it is worth it.

Thanks to all that can help.

 

We'll be in San Juan on Dec 15 for 2 nights pre cruise, staying at Holiday Inn Express. We're going to the rainforest on our own ( 2 couples). The forest website gives lots of info including maps ow walking tours. All in all, the car rental is inexpensive for our use. We have purchased disposable rain coats as well.

Marty

[orquidia]

daily cultural activities can be found here: www.distritoculturalpr.com , click for english on top right hand corner

[garfield747]

Really enjoyed the "butterfly people" store and found some nice items to purchase.

 

You wouldn't happen to remember the real name or location of said store? Going to SJ in Dec, and would love to find it.

 

Thanx.

[55J5-5]

Will be doing a tour of the Rainforest before the cruise. We are staying one day after the cruise also, so the butterfly people sound fun for then. We will have loads of time to fill once off the ship till we can check into the hotel.

[Jan_In_Maine]

garfield757 - that is the real name of the store - check out their website:

 

http://www.butterflypeople.com/

 

Enjoy! Jan

[Oaktree]

Thorhillcruiser, couple questions if you please.......where did you stay? was renting the car worth it and which company? Did you do the rainforest on your own or with a guide?

My family is going on Dec 30 and we are searching the sites for info. Hubby is thinking he wants to stay at Caribo Play beach....... i'm not sure.....:confused:

 

We like the rainforest idea but not sure it is worth it.

Thanks to all that can help.

Stayed at the Caribe Playa for a week several years ago. Very clean, but

out-of-way location. The ocean is rocky and rough surf. Don't want to be

putting the place down as the owners were so nice, but if you are short of

time, might consider a location closer to the action.

[countryside]

To Jan, sorry about the bad tour experience. I can understand what you mean but sometimes tours go right and sometimes go wrong,. the same can happen with a private tour but chances are that it will not.

Thanks for the nice word concerning Debbie and "me".

 

To Thorhillcruiser, sounds like a great deal,

 

To 55j5-5, you should stay in the north east area of the island if you are going to the rain forest.

The tour can be on your own or with the rangers there or a tour guide

 

To Garfield, the Butterfly store is on Cruz Street between Fortaleza and Tetuan in old San Juan not far from pier #1

[Shoequeen]

My husband and I will be on the Navigator of the Sea for New Year's and one of our stops will be San Juan. We were there last year, also, and I have to say I wasn't very impressed. We just kind of walked around old San Juan on our own and didn't feel that there was much to see or do. I've been reading everybody's posts and it still doesn't seem that there is much going on, and those that have taken tours haven't been too impressed with them. What about the other side of the island where the hotels and beaches are? Is that too far to go? We are in port from 2p.m. to 10p.m., so we have quite a bit of time to do something. Anybody have any suggestions?

Thanks for the help,

Marilyn

[Oaktree]

Go to http://www.travelmaps.com/SanJuanVicinity.htm to see what is in the area.

If you are looking for something more like Miami, with big hotels on the

beach, restaurants and bars, etc. Isla Verde might suit you. It is near the

airport, about 25 minutes from the cruise piers. The best beaches

in Puerto Rico are in the southwest, three hours or more from San Juan.

[orquidia]

right, the historic district (old san juan) is less than .1% of Puerto Rico. The closest beach is Condado or/and Isla Verde, both in the metropolitan area if you are looking for some beach and hotels with casinos. These are pretty beaches but are not the most stunning beaches of Puerto Rico,though,for gorgeous beaches you need to travel outside san juan.

If you want to see the regions (East, Mountain, West, South, Vieques, Culebra)you need a car and days to spent. Puerto Rico is not a small island (about the same size as Jamaica),has a wide big mountain range that goes from west to east, has two islands in the east coast and a rainforest, it is not that easy to get around sometimes and way too much traffic, you need to plan ahead. one week is good to see and experience it all.