7 night from Puerto Rico

[may_baby06]

Looking for any feedback on the 7 night southern Caribbean from San Juan.
How are the stops?
Any hotel suggestions?
Would you do it again?
Anything you want to share! This would be a new one for us but we're really interested. Any info is helpful!

 

[bumbershoot]

We stayed at the Caribe Hilton. But next time we'll stay in OSJ at Hotel el Convento.

If you go to Antigua (we took Royal for Southern, so I'm not sure if Disney goes there), check out Adventure Antigua's tours. We did the Eco-Tour and it was so good.

 

[Melissa S]

It was our second best vacation we ever took (best was our honeymoon in a Fiji). The islands were beautiful! The beaches were perfect (especially in Grenada) and the water was warm. I think I stayed in the water for 6 hours straight in Barbados. Our favorite excursion was the catamaran tour in Antigua with the lobster lunch (very expensive but worth every penny). I would do it again in a heartbeat but not sure if I would do it with DCL. We barely spent anytime on the ship. We were the first ones off and almost the last ones back on. I pay the premium for DCL for the better service, kids club, and character interactions for the kids. We didn't get to experience it that much on that cruise so we'll do it again but most likely on RCCL to save money.

Second the recommendation on Caribe Hilton. We stayed at the Sheraton the night before the cruise (walking distance to port terminal) but did a day pass at Caribe after the cruise before we caught our flight back home. The pools were very nice.

 

[bumbershoot]

We stayed at the Sheraton the night before the cruise (walking distance to port terminal)

Did your cruise leave from the osj terminal? That's unusual. Or maybe that's where Disney leaves from?

 

[MissMet]

We're going in April. So looking forward to it.

Just to clarify, the OSJ port is really only for ships visiting for the day.

DCL now sails out of the Port Pan American for cruises beginning in San Juan. It's about 15 minutes from Old San Juan.

I always recommend staying in OSJ if it's your first visit or a shorter one. So much to do & see right in OSJ, except a beach but you could taxi to Condado for that or just wait for the beaches on your cruise.

 

[jrabbit]

Did your cruise leave from the osj terminal? That's unusual. Or maybe that's where Disney leaves from?

I don't believe that DCL has ever Embarked on a cruise starting at the OSJ port - there is NOT the facilities there for embarkation / disembarkation. Cruises begin and end in the Pan American Port across the bay. I believe that you could walk it - but I would not. I've only paid $20 (that included the tip) for a cab for 3 of us with luggage - which was easy.

From the Sheriton OSJ ...

Old San Juan Day Port - Pier


And the Wonder at the Pan American Port

 

[bumbershoot]

Ah maybe she was talking about another Sheraton. No one ever talks about walking to panamerican, and I only saw a Hyatt place or something like that upon leaving the pier.

But for the sake of others, just in case, I think she's talking about the Sheraton casino and hotel over near the tiny airport and the panamerican pier. Not the Sheraton in osj.

Since I researched for over a year and it was fairly late in the game that I realized that SJU was NOT the airport next to the pier, I like to make sure things are crystal clear.

 

[DizMagic]

This was also our second favorite cruise, behind the Alaskan. We too stayed at the Caribe Hilton (on points) and were impressed. Would love to stay more days pre or post next time, as only had 1/2 day prior and left day we returned. OSJ was awesome. When we got off the ship, there was a van there offering OSJ sight-seeing tours with space to hold luggage. We paid like $30 or $40 (something really cheap) and hopped in. They dropped us at airport when we were done.

 

[SnowWhite2]

The Southern Caribbean from San Juan was tied for our favorite cruise with the Alaskan cruise. We did the last 7 night cruise and then hopped back on board for the trip back to Miami. I would do it again in a heartbeat! We did mostly sightseeing tours as I like to learn about the country and I'm not really a sit on the beach kind of person.

One thing we did that I would highly recommend was the Flavors of San Juan food tour. I'm not a foodie but this was a great tour that mixed local restaurants/foods with a tour of the city. It is highly recommended on Trip Advisor also. It was a small group - maybe a dozen people - some on their way to a cruise, some just finishing a cruise and some just there for the day. It was about 2 1/2 hours and was enough food for a large lunch. We did it while we were in PR a few days prior to the cruise.

 

[rcchello]

In the picture of the Wonder the Hyatt is the building to the rear of Wonder. The Sheraton hotel and casino is the building in the background you see in front of the other ship with the tower and large convention center.

 

[Melissa S]

Yes we walked from the Sheraton Stellaris to Pan American. We are very efficient packers and usually only take a large suitcase and small tote bag. We enjoyed the walk and most of it was through a park/garden. If you have more luggage I wouldn't recommend it