San Juan tour on day of departure

[jenf22]

I posted this on Cruise Critic but thought maybe someone here could help.

Hi all. We're on Jewel of the Seas on 11-Oct-14. We get into San Juan the evening of the 10th. We really want to see some of Old San Juan - especially the forts. We originally booked the Old and New San Juan with Airport Dropoff on the day we get back (18-Oct) but we had to cancel because our flight departs too early now. So we're trying to figure out a way to basically do that same tour BEFORE we get on the ship. The ship doesn't leave until 8:30pm but we'd want to be onboard by 5pm to get ready for dinner. I've found lots of threads about "Old San Juan on your own" and walking tours but we're going to have to check out of the hotel so we'll have luggage.

How early can we drop our luggage at the port? Are there any private tour companies that could pick us up from the hotel, do the excursion/tour, hold onto our luggage, and then drop us at the port?

The list of places we'd like to see is: El Morro, San Cristobal, La Fortaleza, Cathedral de San Juan, and possibly some shopping in Old San Juan. We will also have a 7 year old with us.

Thanks for any help!

 

[valiamo]

I have some of the same questions, but can help you on some. We have been there before, but have not toured San Juan, and are back there in a year and are spending extra time in San Juan.

I don't think it is economical to take your luggage to the cruise port, and then head back into Old San Jaun for a tour. You have to get over the Terminal and it would be a longish taxi ride both ways. The terminal is just across the inlet, but it is a looonng way around by taxi.

Stay in Old San Juan, lots of hotels there. When you check out, just leave your luggage at your hotel, do the tour of old San Juan, and then take a taxi from your hotel the cruise port. Most hotels will allow you to do this. If you are not staying in Old San Juan, there is a resturant called the Barrachina which allows you store your luggage while you tour. Lots of positive comments on CC on them.

Hope this helps.

 

[woody73]

. . . Stay in Old San Juan, lots of hotels there. When you check out, just leave your luggage at your hotel, do the tour of old San Juan, and then take a taxi from your hotel the cruise port.

That's what I would do.

Woody

 

[ronandannette]

http://www.segwaytourspr.com/

We saw OSJ prior to our cruise this way ^ and highly recommend it! The starting/ending point is right next to the pier so what we did was take a cab down there from our hotel in Condado and left our luggage with the porters to be loaded onto the cruise ship. There's no problem at all doing this as long as the ship has started boarding (anytime after about 11:00 am or so). We returned from the tour about 4:00 pm and walked right on the ship.

 

[jenf22]

Thanks for the replies guys! We're already booked at the Courtyard Marriott in Isle Verde (we used Hotwire so I can't change it). It looks like a great hotel, so I debated just playing there until it was time to go to the ship. But with our 7-year old son, I really want him to see the forts. He's never seen anything like that before. I saw there is a Charlie's Tours that does what I'm looking for, but they say they'll skip the forts if there's no parking??? I'm not sure about segways with the 7-year old (or my parents for that matter). Since we're staying in Isle Verde, I wondered if we couldn't check out of the hotel, drop the luggage at the port, and then do a tour of Old San Juan. With 4 adults and the kiddo, plus all our luggage, we may need 2 taxis. I think all of this is going to make my head explode

 

[LeslieG]

Thanks for the replies guys! We're already booked at the Courtyard Marriott in Isle Verde (we used Hotwire so I can't change it). It looks like a great hotel, so I debated just playing there until it was time to go to the ship. But with our 7-year old son, I really want him to see the forts. He's never seen anything like that before. I saw there is a Charlie's Tours that does what I'm looking for, but they say they'll skip the forts if there's no parking??? I'm not sure about segways with the 7-year old (or my parents for that matter). Since we're staying in Isle Verde, I wondered if we couldn't check out of the hotel, drop the luggage at the port, and then do a tour of Old San Juan. With 4 adults and the kiddo, plus all our luggage, we may need 2 taxis. I think all of this is going to make my head explode

I think Segways with a 7 yr. old is definitely out. I'm pretty sure they have a minimum weight of 100 pounds. I would probably consider leaving your luggage at your hotel and just take a taxi into OSJ, then use the trolleys to get around. When you're done, taxi back to the hotel to grab your luggage and off to the port.

 

[ronandannette]

Thanks for the replies guys! We're already booked at the Courtyard Marriott in Isle Verde (we used Hotwire so I can't change it). It looks like a great hotel, so I debated just playing there until it was time to go to the ship. But with our 7-year old son, I really want him to see the forts. He's never seen anything like that before. I saw there is a Charlie's Tours that does what I'm looking for, but they say they'll skip the forts if there's no parking??? I'm not sure about segways with the 7-year old (or my parents for that matter). Since we're staying in Isle Verde, I wondered if we couldn't check out of the hotel, drop the luggage at the port, and then do a tour of Old San Juan. With 4 adults and the kiddo, plus all our luggage, we may need 2 taxis. I think all of this is going to make my head explode

You definitely CAN do this and depending what sort of tour you end up with it may depart and return near where the pier is anyway. If you end up having to do something on your own maybe take a cab from the pier (after dropping your luggage) up to the fort (I'd start with El Morro - the grounds are absolutely lovely). A cab could take you right up to the gates. There would actually be quite a bit of walking otherwise in case you have any mobility issues. Sorry the segway idea won't work for you because it really was quite ideal for getting around.

 

[bumbershoot]

The list of places we'd like to see is: El Morro, San Cristobal, La Fortaleza, Cathedral de San Juan, and possibly some shopping in Old San Juan. We will also have a 7 year old with us.

I will tell you that in late Jan/early Feb, just visiting El Morro and San Cristobal (while walking from the waterfront, outside the city gates, into the city gates, up to El Morro, then over to SC, and back was EXHAUSTING, especially for our then-9 year old. It was hot hot and hotter. We also did a little shopping (Cariloha...but I warn you, if you buy sheets they will shrink even if you wash them perfectly, and our towels are nice and soft but one is shredding despite us having a gentle machine) and had lunch.

That said, the Cathedral and La Fortaleza, are along the way. You just have to take note of them and stop if you wish.

http://www.discoveringpuertorico.com/self-guided-walking-tour-of-old-san-juan-part-1/

http://www.discoveringpuertorico.com/self-guided-walking-tour-of-old-san-juan-part-2/

We definitely missed the Cathedral and La Fortaleza and got a little sidetracked along the way.


I don't know how close this is to your port (different, I believe, than the port where ships stop in, vs leave from), but they have luggage storage. http://www.barrachina.com/indexb.php

 

[OKW Lover]

I will tell you that in late Jan/early Feb, just visiting El Morro and San Cristobal (while walking from the waterfront, outside the city gates, into the city gates, up to El Morro, then over to SC, and back was EXHAUSTING, especially for our then-9 year old. It was hot hot and hotter.

No need to walk! The National Park Service runs a free (tips accepted) shuttle bus that will take you from the ship docks in OSJ up to both forts. Take the bus to El Morro and then walk down to the docks through the city of Old San Juan. Easy!

 

[jenf22]

Thanks for all the replies! I've printed the walking tours. I guess we'll just end up taking cabs where we need to go. I'm a little worried about the heat on the walking tours. The 7-year old can really complain when he wants to

 

[LeslieG]

No need to walk! The National Park Service runs a free (tips accepted) shuttle bus that will take you from the ship docks in OSJ up to both forts. Take the bus to El Morro and then walk down to the docks through the city of Old San Juan. Easy!

So this is different from the trolleys? Do you know where to find the bus and how often it runs?

 

[OKW Lover]

So this is different from the trolleys? Do you know where to find the bus and how often it runs?

Yes, these are the trolleys. That's probably a better description now that I think of it. Here's a link to their info.

 

[jenf22]

Ok, I've printed the trolley maps now too

Does anyone know what time we can drop our luggage at the port?

 

[bumbershoot]

No need to walk! The National Park Service runs a free (tips accepted) shuttle bus that will take you from the ship docks in OSJ up to both forts. Take the bus to El Morro and then walk down to the docks through the city of Old San Juan. Easy!

For the op it's a great idea since I didn't see "see the city walls and city gate" on their list. . For us those things were absolutely necessary. So so pretty, and DS got to imagine he was a pirate trying to figure out how to scale the city walls.

Now, it could be a great idea for the op to do it backwards. Start at San cristobal with the trolley or a cab, then walk towards el morro and the cathedral so you're going downhill by the time you leave city walls. Then a cab to the proper pier for the op's ship.

 

[Trekker]

Hi we are going to be in San Juan for a day before our cruise as well and found THIS on trip advisor


Went to THIS SITE and found some great tours offered -

I've been very happy with all communications and planning so far - we'll be on this on 10/2/14!

 

[OKW Lover]

For the op it's a great idea since I didn't see "see the city walls and city gate" on their list. . For us those things were absolutely necessary. So so pretty, and DS got to imagine he was a pirate trying to figure out how to scale the city walls.

If you look further on their page, there is a map showing the actual routes. As you'll see, it won't be difficult at all to see the city walls.

 

[jenf22]

Hi we are going to be in San Juan for a day before our cruise as well and found THIS on trip advisor


Went to THIS SITE and found some great tours offered -

I've been very happy with all communications and planning so far - we'll be on this on 10/2/14!

I saw them too. The only problem is they say they bypass the forts if there is no parking. I suppose I should email them and see if we can work out an arrangement where the forts are last and they can just drop us there if there is no parking. It's worth a shot!

 

[bumbershoot]

If you look further on their page, there is a map showing the actual routes.

I meant the OP's list of things to see.

 

[jenf22]

Well Charlie's tours was booked for the 11th of October but I think we may have solved this problem by coming in a day earlier. We are flying Southwest and all the flights are the same price a day earlier. So I think tomorrow we're going to change everything to stay in San Juan a full day before we set sail. What's one more day off work, right Thanks everyone for your help!