NYC port debarking in San Juan

[bbn1122]

I am looking for anyone who has cruised to San Juan, PR (debarking). I just book this November 4th cruise on The Dream out of NYC to Bermuda, Tortolla and debarking in Puerto Rico.

I am trying to decide if I should visit San Juan for the day and fly out in the evening or stay till the next day and fly out, as late as possible.
I will be flying back to NJ/NY area and have noticed JET Blue has the most flights home.

San Juan looks like it has a lot to offer. Staying the night is extra money but it would give us time to relax and see more attractions.

Also, what are Disboarder’s feeling on how far out to book your flight. My son, twenty-something, feels prices will come down by summer.

Oh and while I am at it, Tortolla, any advice? And I was pleasantly surprise to see that it’s The Dream sailing out of NYC. I have had the pleasure of sailing on The Magic 3 times out of NYC.

Thanks in advance for everyone’s help and advice.

 

[TBLaube]

I love San Juan. A lot of it is walkable when in the Old Town area. Plus, Uber is readily available and affordable, too. If you can swing it, stay the extra night and enjoy SJ. It is a beautiful area with so much to see and do.

 

[NephieRN]

San Juan has so much to offer. I’d definitely spend at least one night if not two. For Tortola we love jost van dyke. As far as airfare it’s way to early now to buy it. I agree with your son-wait until late summer.

 

[happycamper47]

Also, what are Disboarder’s feeling on how far out to book your flight. My son, twenty-something, feels prices will come down by summer.

That's a peak travel season and as flights fill up prices go up so I wouldn't count on that happening. Not sure if SW has the flights you want, but if they lower prices you get the future credit.

 

[bbn1122]

Thanks for the advice. I agree with the flights.

 

[bbn1122]

San Juan has so much to offer. I’d definitely spend at least one night if not two. For Tortola we love jost van dyke. As far as airfare it’s way to early now to buy it. I agree with your son-wait until late summer.

Jet Blue was under $300 one way. Most other airlines were more with less options.
I will hold off but I get nervous things will go up. Thanks.

 

[auntlynne]

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

I am looking for anyone who has cruised to San Juan, PR (debarking). I just book this November 4th cruise on The Dream out of NYC to Bermuda, Tortolla and debarking in Puerto Rico.

I am trying to decide if I should visit San Juan for the day and fly out in the evening or stay till the next day and fly out, as late as possible.
I will be flying back to NJ/NY area and have noticed JET Blue has the most flights home.

San Juan looks like it has a lot to offer. Staying the night is extra money but it would give us time to relax and see more attractions.

Also, what are Disboarder’s feeling on how far out to book your flight. My son, twenty-something, feels prices will come down by summer.

Oh and while I am at it, Tortolla, any advice? And I was pleasantly surprise to see that it’s The Dream sailing out of NYC. I have had the pleasure of sailing on The Magic 3 times out of NYC.

Thanks in advance for everyone’s help and advice.

We've sailed from San Juan twice now and stopped there for the day on a 7 Night. I would highly encourage you to stay the extra day and experience the island since you are there. On our first cruise, we flew in morning of (San Juan to Miami) and wished we had an extra couple days there on the island. The second time on that sailing we flew in a day early and still wished we had more time.

From our experience, hotels are usually pretty inexpensive, and you can usually find the large brands (Hilton, Marriott, Etc.) there if you prefer those. There are also lots of cute boutique hotels in the Old San Juan area. I would recommend these for the true San Juan experience.

Keep an eye on flights, they tend to fluctuate. Jet Blue likes to put the San Juan flights on Sale as specials here and there so sometimes you can catch a great deal.

Tortola is... Well, one of my least favorite ports on the Eastern Caribbean sailings. This last time we took one of the tours from the port that was rather unpleasant even though it was a good way to see the island. (Lots of fumes, rough terrain, irritating driver, enough said) If we were to stop there again, I would probably just stay on the ship so I'm no help here

 

[happycamper47]

Old San Juan is a fairly concentrated area. I can walk to the top of the city from the bottom (cruise port) and get a nice overview and feeling of the environs.

Unless things have changed DCL uses the Pan American pier and not downtown. You need to.take a taxi.

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

Unless things have changed DCL uses the Pan American pier and not downtown. You need to.take a taxi.

So, Strangely enough they use the Pan American Pier for Embark/Debark, but for just regular stops (Usually Fantasy 7 nights) they typically use the same piers that the Royal ships do which are on the Old Town San Juan side. (Or at least, that was what we did on our sailing on the Fantasy and the way it was explained by security when we were getting off the ship during our stop there)

It was far more convenient for the day than the Pan American Pier would be. Certainly a win for guests who want to explore on their own as the Pan American pier area is not walkable.

 

[happycamper47]

So, Strangely enough they use the Pan American Pier for Embark/Debark, but for just regular stops (Usually Fantasy 7 nights) they typically use the same piers that the Royal ships do which are on the Old Town San Juan side. (Or at least, that was what we did on our sailing on the Fantasy and the way it was explained by security when we were getting off the ship during our stop there)

It was far more convenient for the day than the Pan American Pier would be. Certainly a win for guests who want to explore on their own as the Pan American pier area is not walkable.

Debark is what the OP is doing that is why I mentioned it.

 

[bbn1122]

I can’t imagine being in San Juan and not spending some time there. If only to visit Old San Juan.

You could easily get a “port stop” feel of the city by leaving late in the day. Just need to find someplace to store your bags.

If you stay overnight, you could go to El Yunque Rain Forest on Day 1 and visit the city on Day 2.

Old San Juan is a fairly concentrated area. I can walk to the top of the city from the bottom (cruise port) and get a nice overview and feeling of the environs. If you want to spend more time and dive deeper into details, it would take many hours. (It is easily hot here; I have spent 4 hours of fewer each of the two times my ships visited). And then there’s added time if you want to enjoy the cuisine or drinks of Puerto Rico.

Tortola - ferry to Virgin Gorda for The Baths (includes some up and down walking to large boulders in the ocean) or ferry to Jost Van Dyke for beaches (and famous for its run-based Painkiller. Drinking not required.). That is all I have ever heard people visit. I was fatigued after a TA and just stayed in the ship; I look back and wonder why? - Avoid that feeling and visit every place you stop.

Thanks for the great info!

 

[bbn1122]

We've sailed from San Juan twice now and stopped there for the day on a 7 Night. I would highly encourage you to stay the extra day and experience the island since you are there. On our first cruise, we flew in morning of (San Juan to Miami) and wished we had an extra couple days there on the island. The second time on that sailing we flew in a day early and still wished we had more time.

From our experience, hotels are usually pretty inexpensive, and you can usually find the large brands (Hilton, Marriott, Etc.) there if you prefer those. There are also lots of cute boutique hotels in the Old San Juan area. I would recommend these for the true San Juan experience.

Keep an eye on flights, they tend to fluctuate. Jet Blue likes to put the San Juan flights on Sale as specials here and there so sometimes you can catch a great deal.

Tortola is... Well, one of my least favorite ports on the Eastern Caribbean sailings. This last time we took one of the tours from the port that was rather unpleasant even though it was a good way to see the island. (Lots of fumes, rough terrain, irritating driver, enough said) If we were to stop there again, I would probably just stay on the ship so I'm no help here

Thanks!

 

[auntlynne]

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

Debark is what the OP is doing that is why I mentioned it.

Correct. I went into more detail as most don't realize that there are two pier areas. Or at least, I didn't until the first time we went to San Juan.

If you look at the Pier basically attached to Old Town San Juan and think you are going to be able to walk everywhere, its a big shift to figure out the details. My extended detail was to basically say "You are going to need transportation. Its not the pier you think it is/wish it was."

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

Jet Blue was under $300 one way. Most other airlines were more with less options.
I will hold off but I get nervous things will go up. Thanks.

The one saving grace of a repositioning cruise if you live near a homeport is only having to purchase one way airfare. That's a piece of why we do San Juan to Miami whenever we can. (We Live in Central FL)

I'm hoping to do San Juan to Ft Lauderdale on the Dream this year even though its short. Might do the 7 Night round trip southern Caribbean in front of it if I can get away with that and the pricing is right.

 

[blktauna]

When I do this run I stay 3 or 4 days in San Juan. There's so many fun restaurants to try out and Old San Juan is a beautiful walk.

 

[bbn1122]

Thanks everyone for the great advice and info.

We live in NJ, so we will get a ride to the port and we just have to fly back from PR.
I noticed that a cruise to PR this January, dock right in San Juan, from photos it was the port area where most cruise ships dock. By the Sheraton. that this fall we dock there.

I am going to keep an eye on airfare, I have to remind myself it’s only one way, so watch the pricing.
I think we will definitely stay over one night or maybe two!

 

[AgentMama]

I check airfares often and have noticed recently that flights don't seem to be dropping like they used to. I'm guessing that it's because there aren't as many options as before. I'd be careful waiting too long.

 

[happycamper47]

I noticed that a cruise to PR this January, dock right in San Juan, from photos it was the port area where most cruise ships dock. By the Sheraton. that this fall we dock there.

That is normally only when a port stop, not the beginning or end of a cruise I would plan for the Pan American pier.

Right from DCL:

San Juan Port Terminal​

Address
Pan American Pier, Terminal Isla Grande
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00901

Upon arriving at the port, please follow the signs directing you to the Disney Cruise Line ship and terminal.

Parking
There is no parking at the Port of San Juan. Public parking facilities are located in the area surrounding the port, and are on a first-come/first-serve basis.