San Juan Excursions - The DIS Discussion Forums

Fadog · 11-14-2012, 06:50 PM

Does anyone have some feedback on excursions that you have taken in San Juan? I know that the Fantasy just started going there, but we have to book ours in a few weeks, so any information would be helpful.

floridaminnie · 11-22-2012, 11:30 AM

Hmmmm....anyone?

SunshineCruiser · 11-22-2012, 11:52 AM

Last year we went zip lining for the first time in San Juan when we were there for the first time. We had a great time (ages 9 to 41). We also went to San Cristobal (sp?) and did a self tour after the zip lining, and that fort was within easy walking distance back to the ship. There are dungeons and wall drawings there that are really cool. There is lots of shopping within walking distance from the ship. I would have loved to have gone to El Morro if we would have had time, but that fort is too far to just walk to from the ship for most people.

What I like about going on a tour outside the port area is that you get to see more of the "real" way of life such as housing and local stores and people going about their daily life, but you could easily just walk off the ship and enjoy the Old San Juan area without an excursion.

FriendOfFanatic · 11-22-2012, 02:33 PM

We did the Fortifications Segway Guided Tour. It was a bit pricey for only 2.5 hours ($105), but was fun. After learning how to maneuver a Segway we were off to the wall around the city and through a few of the cities streets. The guide stopped every so often to tell us about the history of the old city. We went out to El Morro and walked around the fort. The stop was pretty brief, and then we were back on the Segways and returning to the port. We took the full 2.5 hours, and it was great. The guides let you take pictures on the way, unlike the Segway tours at WDW. We took the first tour and got back in time to eat lunch on the ship, and spend the afternoon doing a self guided walking tour of the old city. Bottom line, it was pricey (but not compared to Alaska excursions), but I would recommend it.

jd99 · 11-23-2012, 10:26 AM

We did ours on our own. Took a taxi to the Marriott on Condado Beach and bought day passes ($150 for a family of four) which gave us full use of beach chairs, umbrella etc., pool, waterside. Had lunch at our beach chairs. had a great day. Then we taxi'd back to the port where the family went back on the ship and I went into old san juan, visited Morro and had a great walk around. Really nice day.

sassysocks · 11-23-2012, 12:26 PM

I know this was posted before but I can't find the thread. Does anyone have directions to the fort closest to the ship? Also, how much was the cab ride to the Marriott beach and is their an hourly rate? Do you have to purchase to use their beach area?

Hollywood Glitter · 11-23-2012, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sassysocks

I know this was posted before but I can't find the thread. Does anyone have directions to the fort closest to the ship? Also, how much was the cab ride to the Marriott beach and is their an hourly rate? Do you have to purchase to use their beach area?

As soon as you get off the ship you can hop on the free trolley and it will take you to the fort. The trolley stop is right in front of the cruise terminal

sassysocks · 11-23-2012, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hollywood Glitter

As soon as you get off the ship you can hop on the free trolley and it will take you to the fort. The trolley stop is right in front of the cruise terminal

We were thinking about walking. Do you know how to get there on foot and how long it takes?

Hollywood Glitter · 11-23-2012, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sassysocks

We were thinking about walking. Do you know how to get there on foot and how long it takes?

About 20 to 30 minutes through the town. A lot of the road is cobbled and part of it is uphill. If it's not to humid it's a nice walk. Bring water. The trolley takes about 10 to 15 minutes and passes by a log of sights also. What time of year are you going?

sassysocks · 11-23-2012, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hollywood Glitter

About 20 to 30 minutes through the town. A lot of the road is cobbled and part of it is uphill. If it's not to humid it's a nice walk. Bring water. The trolley takes about 10 to 15 minutes and passes by a log of sights also. What time of year are you going?

We are going next Sat. I heard that it may take awhile for the trolly to come by. Is it humid there now? We also want to get a bite to eat somewhere. We were thinking about Raices but not sure how to get there as well.

What is your thoughts about visiting the Marriott hotel?

SrisonS · 11-23-2012, 03:56 PM

We didn't have any excursions booked, so we were just gonna walk around a bit. But as soon as we got off the ship, there was a tour company offering an hour tour for $10 a person. So we just ended up doing that. So you got to see a lot of the main spots, and get out a few times to get some pictures. Definitely worth the $10.

scootch · 11-23-2012, 04:39 PM

We got off the ship and there were several taxi operators there.... one guy offered our group of 10 to do whatever we wanted for $20 per person. He drove us to the fort, came back in 40 minutes.... then took us to a beach. He gave us his card and the beach he dropped us off at was really more like a lagoon with very small waves. Some of our party thought it was ideal, but my girls really wanted waves and a larger beach... so we called him back and everyone decided to go. He took us to the Marriott Stellaris beach. We were going to get day passes for the pool, but instead just rented beach chairs for $3 per person. The taxi guy came back and got us when we asked.. and took us back to the port where we just walked and did a little shopping. We didn't pay him until we got back to port and the taxi was a small airconditioned bus. Was well worth the $20 we paid him. He was really willing to take us wherever we wanted.

sassysocks · 11-23-2012, 06:44 PM

Does anyone know what pier we are docking at in Old San Juan?

quickcat · 12-09-2012, 01:10 PM

Has anyone done the San Juan Family Beach Day? I was just wondering if its worth the price?
Thanks!

amyngary · 12-09-2012, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jd99

We did ours on our own. Took a taxi to the Marriott on Condado Beach and bought day passes ($150 for a family of four) which gave us full use of beach chairs, umbrella etc., pool, waterside. Had lunch at our beach chairs. had a great day. Then we taxi'd back to the port where the family went back on the ship and I went into old san juan, visited Morro and had a great walk around. Really nice day.

How did you book the day passes?

11-14-2012, 06:50 PM	#1
Fadog Mouseketeer Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newtown, PA Posts: 75	San Juan Excursions Does anyone have some feedback on excursions that you have taken in San Juan? I know that the Fantasy just started going there, but we have to book ours in a few weeks, so any information would be helpful. __________________ Magic 1998 Magic 2001 Magic 2003 Magic 2004 HA Oosterdam 2008 Fantasy 2013 (we will be Golden!)

11-22-2012, 11:30 AM	#2
floridaminnie WDW is my 2nd home and working on DCL being my 3rd! Give me a foot massage andI'm yours! Friends don't let floridaminnie grade papers drunk from too many margaritas! Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 5,974	Hmmmm....anyone? __________________ Suzanne 7/27/02 7-Night Western Caribbean Cruise Stateroom 2019; 3/23/03 4-Nigh Bahamian Cruise Stateroom 7503; 7/17/03 3-Night Bahamian Cruise Stateroom 2605; 12/27/03 7-night Eastern Caribbean Cruise Stateroom 2105; 07/08/04 3-Night Bahamian Cruise Stateroom 6094; 07/04/09 7-Nigh Eastern Caribbean Cruise Stateroom 5020

11-22-2012, 02:33 PM	#4
FriendOfFanatic Waiting for vacation Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NH Posts: 159	We did the Fortifications Segway Guided Tour. It was a bit pricey for only 2.5 hours ($105), but was fun. After learning how to maneuver a Segway we were off to the wall around the city and through a few of the cities streets. The guide stopped every so often to tell us about the history of the old city. We went out to El Morro and walked around the fort. The stop was pretty brief, and then we were back on the Segways and returning to the port. We took the full 2.5 hours, and it was great. The guides let you take pictures on the way, unlike the Segway tours at WDW. We took the first tour and got back in time to eat lunch on the ship, and spend the afternoon doing a self guided walking tour of the old city. Bottom line, it was pricey (but not compared to Alaska excursions), but I would recommend it. __________________

11-23-2012, 10:26 AM	#5
jd99 DIS Veteran Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 6,059	We did ours on our own. Took a taxi to the Marriott on Condado Beach and bought day passes ($150 for a family of four) which gave us full use of beach chairs, umbrella etc., pool, waterside. Had lunch at our beach chairs. had a great day. Then we taxi'd back to the port where the family went back on the ship and I went into old san juan, visited Morro and had a great walk around. Really nice day. __________________ Upcoming:Spring Break at AKV: Aulani at Christmas, Fantasy Nov.3,Dream June 2011, DCL Med 2010 & 2011, DCL 3 night April 09, DCL Western Aug. 06, Nov. 08, 09, 10, DCL Eastern Nov. 06, 07, 11, DCL Mex Riviera Aug08/YC (x2), BCV (x6), Poly (x3), GF Concierge (x5), BC Concierge, YC Concierge, DL, PO, VWL, SSR, AKV, BLT (x3), Offsite (x3) Disneyland (too many times to count)

11-23-2012, 12:26 PM	#6
sassysocks Earning My Ears Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 34	directions I know this was posted before but I can't find the thread. Does anyone have directions to the fort closest to the ship? Also, how much was the cab ride to the Marriott beach and is their an hourly rate? Do you have to purchase to use their beach area?

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11-22-2012, 11:52 AM	#3
SunshineCruiser Mouseketeer Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 76	Last year we went zip lining for the first time in San Juan when we were there for the first time. We had a great time (ages 9 to 41). We also went to San Cristobal (sp?) and did a self tour after the zip lining, and that fort was within easy walking distance back to the ship. There are dungeons and wall drawings there that are really cool. There is lots of shopping within walking distance from the ship. I would have loved to have gone to El Morro if we would have had time, but that fort is too far to just walk to from the ship for most people. What I like about going on a tour outside the port area is that you get to see more of the "real" way of life such as housing and local stores and people going about their daily life, but you could easily just walk off the ship and enjoy the Old San Juan area without an excursion.

11-23-2012, 03:56 PM	#11
SrisonS ... and that's 'ess-ryzun-ess' (play on my name) ;) Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 3,591	We didn't have any excursions booked, so we were just gonna walk around a bit. But as soon as we got off the ship, there was a tour company offering an hour tour for $10 a person. So we just ended up doing that. So you got to see a lot of the main spots, and get out a few times to get some pictures. Definitely worth the $10. __________________ Disney Fantasy Nov.3-10,2012 Trip Report!!!! Beach Club Trip Report - Oct 2011 Check my Profile (under Contact Info) for link to my Disney Pics!!!!

11-23-2012, 04:39 PM	#12
scootch DIS Veteran Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,432	We got off the ship and there were several taxi operators there.... one guy offered our group of 10 to do whatever we wanted for $20 per person. He drove us to the fort, came back in 40 minutes.... then took us to a beach. He gave us his card and the beach he dropped us off at was really more like a lagoon with very small waves. Some of our party thought it was ideal, but my girls really wanted waves and a larger beach... so we called him back and everyone decided to go. He took us to the Marriott Stellaris beach. We were going to get day passes for the pool, but instead just rented beach chairs for $3 per person. The taxi guy came back and got us when we asked.. and took us back to the port where we just walked and did a little shopping. We didn't pay him until we got back to port and the taxi was a small airconditioned bus. Was well worth the $20 we paid him. He was really willing to take us wherever we wanted. __________________ ~Amy~ ~~WDW for ONE day in 1980(it was 105 degrees!!) ~~Nov 2004 Polynesian with my 2 princesses , ages 2 1/2 and 5 ~~Nov 2005 Contemporary ~~November 2006 Contemporary/POFQ Making memories with my 21 year old niece with cancer Sweet Lindsey passed March 2007 ~~November 2007 WL ~~Nov 08 VWL ~~Nov 09 WDW BLT DiscoveryCove SeaWorld and DCL Wonder ~~April 2011 B2B Disney Dream ~~Nov 2011 WDW/BLT ~~Nov 2012 VWL/ Eastern Fantasy ~~Going to CALIFORNIA DL/CA here we come

11-23-2012, 06:44 PM	#13
sassysocks Earning My Ears Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 34	Does anyone know what pier we are docking at in Old San Juan?

12-09-2012, 01:10 PM	#14
quickcat Mouseketeer Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 204	Has anyone done the San Juan Family Beach Day? I was just wondering if its worth the price? Thanks!

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