Is San Juan port a bust?

[teresag]

San Juan is a stop on the Eastern Freedom cruise we're considering. Is there much to do there? Listed in shore excusions is a list of only 10 excursions. It seems to be more of a touring of architecture/fortresses kind of port.

 

Please give us some suggestions.

Thanks

[Sue L]

Old San Juan is wonderful as well as the two forts etc. If you want to go to the rainforest then I would suggest a tour.

[mauimary]

San Juan is wonderful--lots of character and the colors of the buildings are really fun. We did not do an excursion-but instead just wandered up and down the cobblestone streets. We walked the neibhborhood back to the fort. The neighborhoods are fun to walk around and get away from the crowds. Enjoy the ambiance of the city and maybe a sidewalk cafe!!

[zantedeschia]

San Juan is pretty neat. Do consider venturing onshore.

[crock921]

we did the rainforest tour and if are interested in nature, i would highly recommend it. Not sure about other things to do there.

[OHCruisinDad]

Old San Juan is fun. Take a walking tour of the narrow streets and shops. There are the two forts, El Morro and San Christobal, I believe. For excursions, try the rain forest or the bioluminesent bay. I also understand that Vieques island is supposed to be very nice but we haven't been there. Check the threads under ports. There should be a lot of info there.

[emilygrace]

We LOVED San Juan! We did a Duck Tour (not a ship tour) and then walked around Old San Juan, over to the street where Coach and Ralph Lauren are. And then we walked back down to the ship. It was really a lot of fun.

[melsdt]

I have to disagree. I am not a fan of San Juan. It is ok for walking around and exploring, but after going on several cruises many of which have stopped there or left from there, I am tried of it. Just my opinion ;)

[negc]

There are also some wonderful beaches in San Juan. Among the best, and closer to Old San Juan than famed Luquillo Beach, is Carolina Beach which is in the Isla Verde section of San Juan, near the airport. The Bacardi Rum plant also offers a free tour along with samples of their product. You can do this easily and inexpensively on your own by walking to the ferry terminal in Old San Juan (near the piers where most visiting cruise ships dock) and taking the ferry across the harbor to Cataño and then a taxi to the Bacardi plant. If you are there in the evening there are several highly rated restaurants in Old San Juan. Any port of call can seem boring if you visit it enough, but we have usually found different things to see and do on each of our visits.:)

[BILL-WI]

My DW and I are not huge fans of forts, but the two forts in San Juan (El Morro and San Christobal) are wonderful. The views from the forts of the city and the ocean are breathtaking. In fact, we will stop at San Juan on a cruise next year and we will tour both forts, again! I am looking forward to our time there! :D

 

BILL

[Pomperaugrr]

I will have to agree with those that like San Juan. We often sail from San Juan, and go down a day early. The Bacardi factory tour is fun (on your own = less $$$), as is the rain forest tour. If you are not there all day, I would suggest taking a taxi to the forts. Tour them on your own and then wander downhill through the streets of Old San Juan back to the ship. You will not be disappointed.

 

Eric

[KateO]

We are going to San Juan on the Liberty of the Seas and we arrive there at 3:00 in the afternoon so because of the timing we have very few excursions that are offered (afterall, what adventure/beach adventures can you really have between 3:00 pm and 10:00 pm). If you have the same type of itinerary that is probably why there are so few excursions. We have been to San Juan for a full day on a cruise and in answering your question, Yes, there are lots of things to do in San Juan, you just may be limited by the time of arrival. My husband and I are not at all the touring type of people but when we went to San Juan we toured the El Morro fort and loved it. They we walked through the streets of Old San Juan and loved it even more. Because San Juan is such a quaint little town you can tour it all on your own.

 

Oh! a little tip. If you do have a 3:00 pm arrival in San Juan and you want to tour one (or both) of the forts, be sure you go straight to the fort(s) because they close at 5:00 PM.

 

Enjoy!

 

KateO

[cleob]

I am not a big fan of San Juan as a port of call. The Pan American Pier is not near anything at all and when I went on an Eastern Carribean cruise and stopped there getting a cab meant long lines. We did do the tour of Old San Juan which stopped at one of the ports which was a good tour. We also went to the Barcadi factory and although I love rum this was a rather dull tour.

I'm going back to San Juan to leave on the Serenade next March and will do a prenight stay as I'm traveling from New England and need to be careful of the weather. We're staying at the Courtyard Marriot Isle Verde which looks amazing on the website. I'm hoping to do more exploring this time and maybe find things I like better about San Juan.

[Leslie K]

We stayed at the Courtyard Marriott Isle Verde last month. The hotel is very nice, we had a wonderful dinner outdoors, the pool area is beautiful, the room had a beautiful view of the beach from the balcony. The only downside is its proximity to the runway of the airport, literally next to it, so the noise of the planes could be overwhelming at times. But it was convenient and a great way to start off our vacation!

[LABCHICK]

We also did the Duck Tour in San Juan. Had a great time with a bunch off cc friends. Will be sailing out of SJ next year on the southern itin. Going down a day early so we can see the forts and and other parts of Old San Juan. Can't wait.

 

Judi :)

[katiel53]

I am not a big fan of San Juan as a port of call. The Pan American Pier is not near anything at all and when I went on an Eastern Carribean cruise and stopped there getting a cab meant long lines. We did do the tour of Old San Juan which stopped at one of the ports which was a good tour. We also went to the Barcadi factory and although I love rum this was a rather dull tour.

I'm going back to San Juan to leave on the Serenade next March and will do a prenight stay as I'm traveling from New England and need to be careful of the weather. We're staying at the Courtyard Marriot Isle Verde which looks amazing on the website. I'm hoping to do more exploring this time and maybe find things I like better about San Juan.

 

I guess I am surprised when you say you were at the Pan Am Pier. For all my cruises, Pan Am was only used as a starting/ending pier. We went to San Juan on RCI and were docked at the main pier. When we have sailed from San Juan, albeit on Celebrity, but RCI was docked next to us, it was from Pan Am Pier.

 

Perhaps your cruise was more recent thatn ours from San Juan. We were there 2 years ago.

 

I guess it depends on what time you arrive in San Juan as a port. If you arrive at 3 or so, it's kind of hard to do things such as the fort. If you are into casinos, there are a few not far from where the ship docks.

 

No matter, enjoy your trip. There are good and bad points in every cruise.

 

 

Katie

[msraye]

I do not enjoy San Juan and have not done a southern itinerary because it starts there. I have found San Juan to be very dirty and the shopkeepers overly familiar. Do be careful if going to the beach and check the ratings with the CDC. When I checked EVERY beach was polluted.

 

I did like going thru the fort.

[cb at sea]

Not one of our favorite ports--we aren't into architecture or the history of any given island! We did wander about Old San Juan and walked through the fort, but beware--it can be incredibly HUMID--take water!!! At one point, I thought I was going to pass out--and I LOVE heat!!! Having done this once, I would probably stay on the ship and use the pool!

[Nitra]

Been a couple of times, never have found it to be a favorite. I would rather just stay on the ship personally.

[ColumbiaMDCanadian]

We've also gone back onto the ship. Not impressed with the city - or the merchants constantly trying to hustle you.

 

That said, we spent a week at the El Concquistador and had a great time - but we stayed on the hotel property for pretty much the whole week.

[CPT Trips]

we have had only good experiences in san Juan . . . hope it continues as we are leaving from there on May 5th.

If you have a "National Parks card" that is good for all parks - bring it along as the forts are national parks.

[erniesband]

I guess I am surprised when you say you were at the Pan Am Pier. For all my cruises, Pan Am was only used as a starting/ending pier. We went to San Juan on RCI and were docked at the main pier. When we have sailed from San Juan, albeit on Celebrity, but RCI was docked next to us, it was from Pan Am Pier.

 

Perhaps your cruise was more recent thatn ours from San Juan. We were there 2 years ago.

 

I guess it depends on what time you arrive in San Juan as a port. If you arrive at 3 or so, it's kind of hard to do things such as the fort. If you are into casinos, there are a few not far from where the ship docks.

 

No matter, enjoy your trip. There are good and bad points in every cruise.

 

 

Katie

 

We normally sail out of San Juan and leave from the Pan Am pier. We've seen Jewel docked at the OSJ pier as a port of call, but Navigator came into the Pan Am pier for a port of call once while we were there - think it depends on who is at the OSJ piers, and maybe the size of the ship?

 

We love San Juan, but we've never done just as a port of call, only as an embarkation port. We love visiting the forts, and walking the streets of OSJ. I don't know that there's time to do a rainforest tour on an afternoon port of call stop, but that's fun, too.

 

Jodi

[laceyjane]

We love San Juan. The Puerto Rican food is fabulous. Old San Juan is really nice to walk around and the rainforest is amazing.

[texancruzer]

Here's another post in the " we loved San Juan" section.

 

We went down and spent 3 days/2 nights precruise before our Serenade cruise.... we loved it. We walked all over old San Juan - went salsa dancing, and more.....

[nbsjcruiser]

San Juan is a stop on the Eastern Freedom cruise we're considering. Is there much to do there? Listed in shore excusions is a list of only 10 excursions. It seems to be more of a touring of architecture/fortresses kind of port.

 

Please give us some suggestions.

Thanks

 

We went there last year on the NOS. We weren't expecting much since the few people I talked to that had been there didn't have much to say about the place. As a result our expectations were low. Having been there however, I have to say it was a really nice stop. We just walked around old San Juan for the day and it was quite enjoyable. The atmosphere and language differences made for the day I thought. We went into the old Cathedral there and went in a ton of shops. We never did make it up to the fort but I think next year when we go back we will. In the evening we went down to the Casino in the hotel (can't remember the name) and lsot a few $.

 

I have heard the shore excursions are not great there so my vote is to bring your camera and spend the day walking. You'll enjoy it.