Sail Away Party San Juan Puerto Rico?

[CarolynU]

We love the sail away parties, and usually buy a bottle of champagne to enjoy as we sail away. However, we are probably taking a cruise in January which originates in PR, which doesn't have an all aboard time until 9.30pm.
What time is the earliest boarding time? Can you still board around lunchtime if you want? Is there a party at all? Is there a show? Do you have a meal in the MDR on the first evening? Forgive me if these questions seem stupid, but I genuinely can't picture what happens in cruises like this.

 

[czmom]

Is this the Southern itinerary? If so, I'm curious to hear answers. We are hoping they offer it in 2017

All aboard at 9:30....wow! Wonder how they do dinner.

 

[CarolynU]

Hopefully those that have done this cruise before will come on and explain. Yep it's the Southern itinerary.

 

[bumbershoot]

I can't state for certain with Disney, but with other lines you can go onboard as early as lunchtime. And you can come and go. Get your bags squared away then go off for some food in town. Note that the pier will be the PanAmerican one, NOT the one right in Old San Juan where day-stops port, so there will be a cab ride to and from OSJ.

 

[jrabbit]

last fall on DCL Southern Caribbean cruise - you could start boarding at the normal time - noonish (first cruise might have been a little delayed because of coming from Europe and the extra checking that the authorities did).

We had spent several days in San Juan and still had some sight seeing to do before boarding the Magic. We arrived at the port around 4:30 and checked in and boarded the ship. Due to weather concerns the sail away party was going on in the atrium when we arrived. I really don't remember when we had the safety drill . We arrived in time to make it to our MDR and main dinning. After dinner there was the "normal" "Inbetween" activities before we headed off to the Welcome Aboard show in the Walt Disney Theater at 8:30.

All aboard was 9pm and sail away was around 9:30pm.

It really was a "normal" embarkation day with a really late leaving port time.

 

[CarolynU]

Fab thanks very much for this info. Just what I wanted to know. So you have a regular sail away party even though technically you aren't sailing away for hours LOL! Plus you also have a MDR meal even though some folks aren't onboard yet.

 

[jrabbit]

yes and yes.

 

[Tigger1313]

if everyone is not on board how do they do the safety drill

 

[bumbershoot]

Something I found from over a year ago (but it goes along with what I've heard in general):

For sailings out of San Juan (excluding the repositioning cruise from San Juan to Port Canaveral on 10/18/14), all Guests must be onboard before 9:30pm. If any Guests miss the 5:15pm safety drill, a make up drill will be held at 10:15pm."

That's just an example, and it's older, but it gives you the idea.

 

[CarolynU]

Ahh that makes sense. It really is just like a normal sailing then. Except you don't actually set sail until much later.

 

[SillyInventor]

You can find the personal navigator's of the October 2014 Southern Caribbean sailing of the Magic here:
http://disneycruiselineblog.com/201...aribbean-halloween-cruise-october-11-17-2014/