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This explains why these port cities are used as seasonal turnaround ports for homeporting (roundtrip itineraries) by many major cruise companies with ship deployments in the Caribbean. In early April 2017 was announced the RCG-Royal Caribbean Group's partnership with Puerto Rico Ports Authority (government-owned corporation) for improving the Port's cruise pier "Pan American Wharf 2". The decision followed RCCL's announcements about homeporting Freedom of the Seas in San Juan (starting May 2018). To needed development investments will optimize the port's cruise docking infrastructure.
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The best Carnival Cruise Line itineraries: 5 great places its ships go - The Points Guy
The best Carnival Cruise Line itineraries: 5 great places its ships go.
Posted: Fri, 14 Jul 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
From its pink sand beaches to its brightly painted estates, every inch of this island is striking. If you’re into history, check out the Royal Naval Dockyard, where the stone structures date back to the 18th century, or Historic St. George’s, filled with four-hundred-year-old forts and homes. You can also stroll past the quaint boutiques and specialty shops through the charming town of Hamilton, founded in 1790, and now home to lots of boutiques and specialty shops selling local wares. If you’re a foodie make sure you try a dish of codfish with potatoes — you can order it the English way, with a hard-boiled egg, or the Portuguese way, prepped in tomato-onion sauce.
San Juan Frequently Asked Questions
Featuring gorgeous beaches, an abundance of culture and history, lots of shopping opportunities and an exciting nightlife, this spectacular island is not to be missed. In late-September 2020, PRPA (Puerto Rico Ports Authority / managing company) issued a request for proposals for Isla Grande's Pier 15 drydock (southeast from the cruise port). The future project includes the facility's repair (overhaul), maintenance and operation.
Things To Do in San Juan
The drydock was originally built (in the early-1940s) and operated by the US Navy, acquired by PRPA in the late-1990s and not used since 2000. The project could generate ~USD 20M (in private investments), ~USD 16M (annual impact) and support ~400 local jobs. The renovated drydock could be used for general maintenance works and refurbishments of various ship types (including cargo, smaller-sized cruisers, ferries, superyachts). The drydock has length ~600 ft (183 m), width 102 ft (31 m) and depth 26 ft (10 m), which allows it to serve ships with max LOA length 400 ft (121 m).
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And, as you’ll see on Carnival’s cruises from Puerto Rico, it’s kept these classical features! San Juan, Puerto Rico is where the old world meets the new — and you can enjoy them both when you choose one of our cruises from San Juan. San Juan cruise port is the largest and busiest in the Caribbean with two separate terminals. Most cruise ships use the main San Juan Terminal within sight of the Old Town.
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Check out the details when you book and save yourself some money. You’ll do more than just pass the time as you sail from port to port. The fun continues when you reach your port — there’s a huge variety of shore excursions to choose from.
Tropical Destinations on a Cruise from San Juan
You may also need to pay for taxi transfers between the airport and the cruise terminal before and after the cruise. San Juan has some beautiful sandy beaches making it a very attractive for combining cruises from San Juan with a beach stay. Hotels right on the beach are very affordable so you don’t need to rent a car to get around. It’s a great way to enjoy a Caribbean beach vacation for just the cost of your hotel and food. Castillos Fortifications is an open-air trolley that covers all the forts in San Juan and the Capitol building.
The cost is around $28 and most taxis accept major credit cards. Most passengers booked on cruises from San Juan arrive by air into the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU). It is one of the busiest airports in the Caribbean and consequently flights from the USA are regular and cheap. Many other cruise lines use San Juan as a port of call, particularly for refueling and loading fresh supplies as part of a Transatlantic cruise. If you love snorkeling and diving, you should definitely make sure you pick a San Juan cruise that has Bonaire on the itinerary. This dazzling southern Caribbean isle is nicknamed “Diver’s Paradise” thanks to its abundance of dive sites (there are 86 at Bonaire Marine Park alone), and its many coral reefs also lure snorkelers from around the world.
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It has four piers and can accommodate up to 7 ships at a time. Across the harbor, the Pan-Am cruise terminal is used by larger mega cruise ships and can accommodate two further cruise ships at the same time. A stop on most San Juan cruises to Baltimore and the New York area, Bermuda is a pastel-colored paradise.
Even if the cruise price is attractive, they can work out more expensive overall than cruises from more popular ports of call in the USA, particularly for US residents. Like all Caribbean islands, Puerto Rico has a tropical climate with warm sunny temperatures throughout the year. It is particularly attractive in winter for those escaping from the cold weather further north. You can count on having the perfect weather for your winter cruise from San Juan as you sail around the neighboring Caribbean islands. The San Juan cruise port is located 8 miles west of the airport and is easy to reach by taxi.
Mardi Gras will not call in San Juan for the coming two years. A Puerto Rico port official stated the move was made by Carnival to save fuel costs. Partly encircled by 16th-century walls, Old San Juan is an enchanting and walkable neighborhood. Brightly colored houses with painted balconies and flower-filled patios line the cobblestone streets, which lead to leafy plazas and 16th-century churches. Art galleries sit side-by-side with cool, boho boutiques, while inviting bars and cafés serve fresh-ground coffee and ice-cold daiquiris. Like many other Caribbean islands, Puerto Rico is affected by earthquakes.
If you are only visiting San Juan for a short time before your cruise, the free Trolley is a good way to get around and see the sights quickly and easily. This service is also very useful for those with limited mobility, or families with children. Old San Juan has over 500 years of history, from the Fort San Cristobal walls near the port to the National Historic Park and Castillo San Felipe del Morro Fortress. All these attractions have modest admittance fees (around $5) and guides speak English as well as Spanish. If you are staying in a hotel before your cruise from San Juan, several hotels offer complimentary transfers to and from the airport.
There are quite a few flights in and out from various destinations and the airport is a short minute taxi ride from Old San Juan and the ports. We flew from LAX to Charlotte and then directly into San Juan. We opted to stay in the popular Condado Beach which is just five minutes from the Carnival Fascination and Old San Jan. It’s a small island, but Grand Turk should definitely be on your list of where to go in the Caribbean.
Leave jewelry and expensive electronic devices in your hotel safe if possible. As with any city, avoid dark alleyways and poor neighborhoods after dark and take a taxi back to your hotel. Apart from that, you can relax and enjoy exploring Old San Juan without worrying about your safety. The national drink is pina colada, made from local rum, pineapple and coconut milk. Locals often celebrate with pitorro, a potent moonshine sometimes mellowed with coffee or fruit juice.
Rates are in USD and valid for US and Canadian residents only. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. Puerto Rico is the third largest island in the United States, so it should come as no surprise that there’s a beach here for every kind of adventurer. You’ll find world-class surfing and plenty of water sports in Rincon on the island’s west side. Secluded shores with crystal clear waters and colorful coral reefs on Flamenco Beach in Culebra. There are so many things to see and do in San Juan, Puerto Rico, you’d never guess it had to bounce back from a hurricane.
Although most of these are minor tremors, it has had a spate of earthquakes in recent times. From December 2019 through January 2020, the island had 11 earthquakes greater than magnitude 5. They can cause loss of power which may affect your cruise departure or flight arrival. Puerto Rico has very little serious crime and most cases are drug-related. Petty theft occurs in the city, but generally only if you leave valuables lying unattended or on top of your bag in plain sight.
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