Puerto Rico

[Debs Hill]

For those of you who visited the Rainforest can you tell us what that was like? Did you see any wildlife?!! Would it be suitable for a 12 year old?

Are there any beaches close to Port? Or suitable for a day trip?
Debsx

 

[tmmalave]

For those of you who visited the Rainforest can you tell us what that was like? Did you see any wildlife?!! Would it be suitable for a 12 year old?

Are there any beaches close to Port? Or suitable for a day trip?
Debsx

I have not been on the Disney excursions, but have lived in PR all my life. El Yunque is definitely suitable for a 12 year old. Unlike other "rain forest" experiences, El Yunque is usually cooler than the rest of the island. Its a Mountain Range just off the coast, gets a lot of cool breezes, and rain forms! Depending on the time of year, the can be lots of rain . I would recommend that you bring hiking shoes (Keens are great) or some shoe with good traction, because even though there are good trails, they can get slippery.

http://www.discoveringpuertorico.com/2011/11/big-tree-trail-el-yunque/

There are also beaches within driving distance. The Ocean Park beach is pretty close, as well as the Isla Verde/Carolina public beach. They would be a 20-30 minute drive and are pretty nice. Much closer to Old San Juan is the "Escambron Beach Area". Smaller and not as nice, but very close to the ports and has a park right across the street. Not many options to shelter from the sun at the Carolina Beach, at Escambron there would be a lot more shade.

http://www.discoveringpuertorico.com/2009/02/escambron-beach-san-juan/
http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/escambron-beach/
http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com/balneario-carolina/

Have fun on your visit.

 

[cloudnut220]

I'm not sure I would pay for a Disney excursion in San Juan--It's America!! As someone suggested earlier, if you Google, there are tons of companies that offer day trips off of the San Juan pier, both to the Jungle and through Old San Juan.

 

[Tolson70]

I'm not sure I would pay for a Disney excursion in San Juan--It's America!! As someone suggested earlier, if you Google, there are tons of companies that offer day trips off of the San Juan pier, both to the Jungle and through Old San Juan.

Its a US Territory, just like St. Thomas or St. Croix, plenty of people book excursions through DCL on those islands as well. Just be careful and understand that if you book a private deal and something happens and don't make it back to port, the boat will leave. DCL booked excursions are a guarantee that they will wait for you if something happens on the excursion and you are late.

 

[cloudnut220]

Its a US Territory, just like St. Thomas or St. Croix, plenty of people book excursions through DCL on those islands as well. Just be careful and understand that if you book a private deal and something happens and don't make it back to port, the boat will leave. DCL booked excursions are a guarantee that they will wait for you if something happens on the excursion and you are late.

I personally think the "you could miss the boat!" line is a scare tactic all cruise lines (Disney isn't the only one guilty of this) use to sell more of their excursions. If you go with a reputable tour company that you check out on message boards and on Trip Advisor the chances of you missing the boat are very, very small. Those companies survive based on internet word of mouth and cruise business. If they had a group of people miss the boat, they would be dead. We actually discussed this with a tour operator in Mexico, and she was telling us about all of the back up plans they have in case of a car breaking down or other emergency.

I've personally taken all day non-cruise line excursions in Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico. A close friends has done them in Russia, Alaska, Helsinki, Turkey, Greece. In all of our cases, the private companies were one of the first all day tours back to the boat. They don't want to take ANY chances!

 

[Dream_2011]

I'm native from Puerto Rico, went we saw that Disney is going to stop in San Juan, I was saw excited because I know that Puerto Rico have so many unique stuff in our island. Like el Morro, El yunque, florence bay, beautiful beaches, caverns. So many thing.we book for next year and our day in San Juan will be fun active and fun , my suggestion are stay in San Juan is a lot to do and is close the walk to almost everything I will walk the princess walk they have a lot of puerto rico art, walk to the moro make sure to take a kite to fly at this place the kids will enjoying, headed down stop at the bird plaza and feed the bird entrance is free and just pay for the bird food.enjoy the enchanted island.

 

[wmharley]

Puerto Rico... La isla del encanto!!!! Is great living here

Except the the heat, the traffic and the crime lately, Oh, the frequent water and power shutdowns due to strikes, etc.

j/k

I would wager all the biggies will be included:
El Morro - No trip to PR is complete without the fort.
Walking tour of Old San Juan
El Yunque - Rainforest
Bacardi
Arecibo Observatory - Watch the movie Contact, you will see it
Cave exploring in Camuy
Probably some golf in Rio Grande (NE coast) or Dorado (NW)

Maybe a trip to Ponce on the SW coast or visit to Taino Indian ruins. Maybe a surfing trip and probably some fishing/scuba trips.

 

[JodyTG]

We will probably just do a walking tour of Old San Juan to see the forts and such on our December cruise. It seems very interesting.

 

[Tolson70]

I personally think the "you could miss the boat!" line is a scare tactic all cruise lines (Disney isn't the only one guilty of this) use to sell more of their excursions. If you go with a reputable tour company that you check out on message boards and on Trip Advisor the chances of you missing the boat are very, very small. Those companies survive based on internet word of mouth and cruise business. If they had a group of people miss the boat, they would be dead. We actually discussed this with a tour operator in Mexico, and she was telling us about all of the back up plans they have in case of a car breaking down or other emergency.

I've personally taken all day non-cruise line excursions in Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico. A close friends has done them in Russia, Alaska, Helsinki, Turkey, Greece. In all of our cases, the private companies were one of the first all day tours back to the boat. They don't want to take ANY chances!

I'm by no means a novice cruiser, or traveler, I've done plenty of excursions both cruise line sold and private. My warning is simply that, weigh your options and consider the worst case and if it makes you nervous, pay for the cruise lie excursion.

 

[uziel5000]

I currently live in Puerto Rico so if anyone needs any help with recommendations or suggestions about where to eat or visit you can ask me or pm me.

 

[Tolson70]

BTW - we love PR so much we are forgoing a DCL cruise for 2013 and renting a vacation home for a week in PR. So much to do, only having one day doesn't do the island justice!

 

[#1 goof]

Bump

 

[mufasa0505]

Nothing listed on the DCL website yet I've been checking. I hope they put them up soon, because it takes us forever to decide!

 

[Debs Hill]

I know, me too!! Religiously checking the website but nothing yet!!!
Come on Disney!
debsx

 

[Dream_2011]

I just to live in Puerto Rico, all my life for the past 13 year we move to orlando Florida,the only recondition is book and excursion with the boat because they have a time frame to return back traffic in puerto Rico is HORIBLE can you imagine stains in Puerto Rico they are a lot of stuff on walking distance for the pier, restaurant,casino, park and fun el morro is a most bring your kite to fly.

 

[wmharley]

I just to live in Puerto Rico, all my life for the past 13 year we move to orlando Florida,the only recondition is book and excursion with the boat because they have a time frame to return back traffic in puerto Rico is HORIBLE can you imagine stains in Puerto Rico they are a lot of stuff on walking distance for the pier, restaurant,casino, park and fun el morro is a most bring your kite to fly.

Yes, traffic is a beast and can start from 2pm+

Definitely a good idea if you venture out of San Juan to do a DCL tour. If its in Old San Juan you can walk.

 

[Debs Hill]

bump!