Triumph PR Port

[dtchem1]

I have read many Triumph Eastern Caribe reviews, but no one say what they did in Puerto Rico from 5:00pm-12:00am. If you don't want to do the casinos, is there anything worth getting of the ship for? This is going to be an R&R cruise, so I wouldn't be too sad staying on the ship, but I don't want to miss something good. Does Carnival have any decent excursions for this port?

[Bunkie103]

We got off and "walked around" and then re-boarded. In our opinion it was kind of a waste. It was dark and incredibly hot and humid in October. People we met took the city tour and were planning to ask for a refund because they found it very disappointing. Good luck!

[palmtre2]

I've asked this question several times on several boards and it seems like no one has ever had this itinerary, I rarely got an answer. If I did, I was given things to do that close at 5 !!! We will have my 10 yr old daughter with us and if we can't get the Bio- bay tour, we'll probably stay on the ship. By the way, take care of the ship for us - we're roughly a month behind you !!!!! :rolleyes:

[jsbern]

We did the same itinerary on the Victory a few summers ago. We arrived in San Juan at 4:30, got off the ship and hired a driver with an air conditioned bus to give us a tour of the city. There were 20 people on board. We each paid $5 per person. It was very entertaining. He dropped us off a few blocks from the ship and we walked back. We spent the rest of the time on board relaxing.

[serene56]

We got off and walked left after we got off the ship. Across the street was a rum place that allowed us all to get a free rum slushie drink to try their rum. We walked a little bit more and there was a tourist center taht had all kinds of information. We walked a little more and came to the ocean. Were able to see the guard towers. Turned right at the ocean and came upon huge doors to the city. These doors had to be 4 stories high. It was amazing. We then strolled along the street vendors.

All in all-it was a nice night. all total= we spend about 2 hours to walk around- we stepped outside after dinner. Out side the pier is liitle horse drawn carriages where theywill take you for rides..not sure of the costs or duration..but they sure did look nice.

[judithdh1]

We were there in March on our first cruise and we pretty much listened to what the Ship Director, John Herald, said, DO NOT TRAVEL ALONE IN THIS CITY.

 

So we got off the ship turned left when we got to the street, looked at a few vendors. Found a grocery store and bought pop, chips and snacks to take

back on the ship and then we turned around and went right back to the ship.

 

We took maybe a hole hour and a half.

 

It may have been different if we was there for a while in the day time. But that was not the case so we went to the store and got back on the ship.

 

Judi Hensley

[Codfish]

Back in May, we just walked around and did a little shopping with another couple we met onboard. The ship arrived in port early as i'm told it usually does, so we had plenty of time to see what we wanted to see then get back for the open seating dinner in the dining room. Some of the shops closed early, but there were many that were open and of course all of the "Carnival Recomended Shops" were open. If you're like a good party, I'm told Senior Frogs is the place to go. One of the best shows we saw all week was while we were in San Juan. It was Wee Jimmy hosting a knoby knees contest in the Rome Lounge. He just knows how to work a crowd.

 

One thing I noticed about Carnival and San Juan. This was the only port they really pushed the shghtseeing and shopping tour. They mentioned several times that Old San Juan was not very safe. Even so I still wouldn't recomend this tour. We didn't take it, but to me it looked like these people were herded like cattle. First to a waiting area then into the busses. In my opinion, if you take there advice and advoid the parts of town they tell you to avoid and travel in a group you will be just fine without the ship tour.

[Tropicalconcrete]

We were on the Triumph last week. Not really much to do in PR and a wasted port stop. You can walk around a bit but thats is. Dirty, lots of beggers and dark in the small streets.

If you must get off, make a left at the end of the dock and walk past the casino. You will find a few vendors with art and other trinkets. There was also a band playing in a little park.

I wish Carnival would take this port out of that route.

[judithdh1]

We were on the Triumph last week. Not really much to do in PR and a wasted port stop. You can walk around a bit but thats is. Dirty, lots of beggers and dark in the small streets.

If you must get off, make a left at the end of the dock and walk past the casino. You will find a few vendors with art and other trinkets. There was also a band playing in a little park.

I wish Carnival would take this port out of that route.

 

Or at least get there sooner for a bit of a longer stay so it can really be enjoyed.

 

I am sure there are some lovely parts, you just don't have time to see them before it starts getting dark and scary.

 

Judi Hensley

[L2J]

We were there in March on our first cruise and we pretty much listened to what the Ship Director, John Herald, said, DO NOT TRAVEL ALONE IN THIS CITY.

 

"Old San Juan," very pretty part of the city. However, just down from the pier, about a mile, you have a few "cathouses" and a project district=rough!!

I'm sure all of SJ is not like this -

[CoachTerry14]

We got off the ship and walked to El Morro Castle. It was closed by the time we got there, but it still was beautiful. My wife speaks Spanish so never had any problems. We saw several police officers. However, the neighborhoods we walked through were very upper class!

Actually, the ship coming into the port with El Morro Castle in the view was unbelieveable. Make sure you have a cabin on the port side with a balcony or at least a window!

[footballmom]

I'll be on the Triumph next week and we stop in Puerto Rico. I'll get off right away maybe so we can be on before dark.

[pholter]

We just got off the ship and grabbed a taxi to take us a few blocks into the center of OTSJ (it was raining). We looked at some fountain which was pretty, got a nice traditional SJ dinner, and did some shopping. Wanted to go into Lazer Disco, but the folks we were with didn't want to pay cover, so we skipped it. It was recommended by the Waitstaff, so it's bound to be fun! Final stop was the Wyndham to donate some $$ to the Casino. We ended up paying for my facial the next day instead :)

[Cruising89143]

In March on the Triumph, we did not arrive until 5:30 and it took an hour to get us off of the ship. It was similar to a cattle call. Of course you have to listen the CD's like John Heald tell everyone that the city is not safe and to take a ships excursion. We got off of the ship, found a place for dinner and then reboarded the ship. A total waste of time IMHO. The ship needs to arrive earlier and it can be done. I am on the Navigator in December and both the Triumph and Navigator leave Miami at the same time and the Navigator arrives to 2:00 in San Juan and the Triumph at 5:00. Does not make sense.

[cjar855]

This port at night was a disappointment to me. I would have like to be there in the daytime to visit the beaches. As many of the others have said, we too just walked around for a bit watched a guy do painting with spray cans ( he was really good) then headed to the ship.Did hit one shop that was giving out Free Drinks ..

[dtchem1]

Thanks for the tips. Sounds like a stay on the ship and relax night, or at least no hurry to get off the ship. I do like rum though, so I may have to find the free rum place and/or Senor Frogs.