Puerto Rico Cruise Port
The cruise port for Puerto Rico is San Juan, which is also the islands capital city and home to many of its top attractions and historic sites. San Juan also serves as the embarkation port for cruises from Puerto Rico these itineraries often sail to other islands in the Southern Caribbean and Eastern Caribbean.
San Juan
Do I Need A Passport For A Cruise To / From San Juan Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory and its residents are U.S. citizens. You do not need a passport if flying from the U.S. to Puerto Rico or vice versa. You only need a government issued photo ID, like a drivers license. If you are a U.S. citizen, and you board a cruise ship at a U.S. port , and travel only within the Western Hemisphere, and return to the same U.S. port on the same ship, you will most likely NOT need a passport unless you enter a foreign country as part of the cruise itinerary. A U.S. or Puerto Rico drivers license should suffice. For children under 16, a birth certificate is typically required. However, check with your cruise line to be absolutely sure what documentation is needed.
Cruise From San Juan Puerto Rico
When it comes to Caribbean vacations, Puerto Rico is both a departure point and a destination. For the former, San Juan is one of the busiest Caribbean cruise ports. Four piers located along the San Antonio Canal serve ships from the largest cruise lines, with more than 1 million travelers passing through yearly.
While the San Juan area makes for a fun and exciting pre- or post-cruise trip, the citys port is the start of a great southern Caribbean vacation. Because of this, nearly all well-known lines stop in the city, either to begin a southern Caribbean trip or as part of a repositioning cruise with a unique and expansive itinerary. Departing cruise lines include Azamara, Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Disney, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and Silversea. San Juan, in fact, may see as many as 10 cruise ships at once.
Southern Caribbean trips from San Juan give travelers a taste and sight of each islands unique character. A trip, in fact, may take passengers to Aruba, Barbados, Dominica, the Virgin Islands, Curacao, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, and other locations.
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What Pier Will My Cruise Ship Dock At Or Embark From In San Juan
In general, arriving transit ships that are day-docking for one afternoon/ evening in San Juan usually dock at the Old San Juan Piers , so you can walk right out into Old San Juan and avoid taking a taxi. We believe an exception to this rule to be Celebrity Cruises which typically day-dock at the Pan American Pier. Cruises that start in San Juan usually leave from the Pan American Pier Terminals I or II. However, Carnival cruises embark from the Old San Juan Pier 4 terminal if San Juan is the home departure port. Again, be sure to contact your cruise line or call the San Juan Cruise Port at 787-723-2260 to verify the arrival or departure pier location.
Popular Shore Excursions In Puerto Rico
The best shore excursions to do before cruises from San Juan embark or during ports of call in Puerto Rico are ones that highlight the culture of the island as well as its lovely nature.
Walking Tour of Old San Juan
San Juan is flanked by two imposing forts: Castillo San Cristobal and Castillo San Felipe del Morro. Both forts helped secure Puerto Rico from threats, and were even used for military purposes as recently as World War II. These days, they serve an educational purpose and are open for the public to explore.
Rainforest Adventure
Puerto Rico isnt just colorful cities and historic forts. It is also home to natural wonders. One of the top things to do is to take a shore excursion to El Yunque National Forest and do a nature walk to see native plants and animals. If you want to get your adrenaline up, you can also zipline above the trees.
Bacardi Rum Distillery Tour
Rum drinks are a popular libation in the Caribbean and Puerto Rico is no exception. To learn more about how rum is made in Puerto Rico and to try some of the worlds most popular rum, take a distillery tour at the Bacardi Rum Factory located in San Juan.
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The Piers At The Port Of San Juan Puerto Rico
The San Juan Cruise Port is the largest and busiest cruise port in the Caribbean. There are 4 cruise ship piers and 2 modern terminals along the southern shores of historic Old San Juan with a total capacity to accommodate 7 ships at once. The strategic locations of these piers give tourists easy walking access to Old San Juan and its many attractions. In addition, just 1 mile southeast, across the San Antonio Canal, are 2 more large modern cruise ship terminals at the Pan American Pier, which can hold 2 more cruise ships.
In order to plan your stay or day in San Juan, be sure to inquire about which pier your ship will be docking at or departing from. Although we provide some information below on piers used by certain cruise lines, be sure to contact your booked cruise line or call the San Juan Cruise Port at 787-723-2260, Pier 4, in Old San Juan in order to verify the arrival or departure pier location. By being informed you can prepare for whether youll need transportation , find a nearby hotel, and plan adequate travel time for getting to or from the ship.
Home Port cruise lines often use San Juan as their departure port, thus cruises embark from San Juan. Transit ships are those docking for a day or two originating from another homeport. See the map below for pier locations.
Prime Location For South Caribbean Ports Of Call
The island of Puerto Rico is approximately 1000 miles southeast of Miami. This means that cruises to the attractive islands in the Southern Caribbean can be reached in a matter of hours rather than days.
Cruises from San Juan cover a variety of exotic ports of call to most islands in the Southeast Caribbean including:
- British and US Virgin Islands
- Leeward islands
- Windward Isles
- Netherlands Antilles
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Puerto Rican Food And Drink
Puerto Ricans certainly know how to enjoy food. The tasty staple of rice and beans is far more delicious than it sounds and street food is well worth sampling. Puerto Rican coffee is full-bodied and flavorsome and bags of coffee beans make a great souvenir!
The national drink is pina colada, made from local rum, pineapple and coconut milk. Locals often celebrate with pitorro, a potent moonshine sometimes mellowed with coffee or fruit juice.
Is There Parking Available At The San Juan Port Cruise Terminals
There are numerous, safe overnight parking garages in Old San Juan around the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino, which is across from the Old San Juan cruise piers. The Covadonga Parking Garage offers cruisers special parking rates, is nice, safe, and conveniently located across from pier 4 behind the bus terminal and police station. Call them at 722-2337 or 721-6911 for special rates and reservations. For the Pan American Pier, there is overnight parking available at the nearby Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino parking garage for $16 per day and a limited number of outdoor lot spaces available at the Isla Grande Airport for $8 per day.
Park & Cruise with Estaciona y Vuela offers transport services and low long-term parking rates.
For more detailed information see Parking Guide Tourist Districts in San Juan.
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New Order Increases Covid Requirements For Food Industry In Puerto Rico
Restaurant industry employees must be vaccinated online vaccination ID available
Moreover, the PRTC, Ports Authority and local Health Department informed last month that all cruise passengers must be fully inoculated against COVID-19 to be able to go ashore. Even then, those who can walk around San Juan must wear face masks and carry their proof of vaccinations to visit restaurants and bars.
As part of the conversations we have had and the agreement we have reached with Carnival as a result of the conditional order to sail issued by the , Ports, Health and Tourism have implemented safeguards to allow the entry of cruise ships in the safest way possible, said Ports Executive Director Joel Pizá Batiz. Before docking, the cruise ship must send a statement to certify the percentage of people vaccinated inside the ship, as well as a manifest of the unvaccinated. Those ships that do not comply will not be able to dock at our ports.
At least 95 percent of cruise passengers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 are expected to venture – and spend – on the island when their ships dock in Old San Juan.
Perhaps at the beginning, the negotiations and requirements sound drastic, but the reality is that it is done with the intention of having commitments and guarantees that work is being done in a responsible and diligent manner, the executive director added.
Maiden Voyage for the Mardi Gras
American Stores And Brands
The island is an unincorporated territory of the USA and consequently you will see many familiar US brands such as Walgreens Pharmacy, Walmart, Samâs Club, Costco and Marshalls stores. It makes it very easy to shop for extra clothing, forgotten toiletries and pharmaceuticals before boarding the cruise ship.
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Are Cruise Ships Canceling Port Stops In San Juan Puerto Rico
Royal Caribbean said that they have not canceled any cruise ship visits to San Juan and gave the following statements regarding what the local news is reporting in Puerto Rico:
Royal Caribbean reviews and adjusts itineraries and deployments every year.
The rumors regarding cancellations of sailings departing between April 2020 March 2021 from San Juan are incorrect. We have not cancelled any of our ships visiting or homeporting in San Juan.
Though we have not yet announced our full 2021-2022 deployments, we do expect fewer calls from San Juan for the 2021-2022 season and we will be able to provide more details once we have announced our itineraries.
No decisions regarding deployment beyond those dates have yet been made.
Original Article: At least one cruise line is canceling cruise ship visits to San Juan, Puerto Rico due to the privatization of the port Telemudo Pr is reporting.
The report stated that Royal Caribbean is canceling a substantial number of cruise ship visits to the Caribbean port. Cruise ships that would stop visiting San Juan include Symphony of the Seas, Allure of the Seas, and Oasis of the Seas.
President of the Tourism Commission confirmed to Telemudo that the cancelations would also include cruise ships that start their cruise in San Juan.
Roughly 90 cruises would be affected by the cancelations through the end of 2020.
At least one local legislator is urging the governor to reconsider the privatization of the cruise port in San Juan.
Royal Caribbean To Resume Cruises Out Of San Juan Later This Week
Royal Caribbean is resuming cruises out of San Juan, Puerto Rico later this week.
Adventure of the Seas will depart on a seven night cruise out of San Jaun to the Southern Caribbean on Saturday, October 7, 2017. This is the first cruise out of Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria hit the island.
The previous few cruises on Adventure of the Seas were canceled so Royal Caribbean could send the ship on rescue missions in the Caribbean. The ship arrived in Fort Lauderdale, Florida this morning with just under 4,000 hurricane evacuees from Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, and St. Croix.
The ship also brought much needed supplies to the islands that were hit by the two hurricanes including 25 pallets of medical supplies, over 400 generators, 30,000 batteries, 7,000 pounds of rice, 9,000 gallons of milk, and nearly 30,000 gallons of water. The ship will drop off another 150 pallets of supplies when it arrives in San Juan later this week.
While Royal Caribbean is resuming cruises out of San Juan this week, a timetable has not been given for when cruise ships will begin making day stops in Puerto Rico.
The cruise line is matching donations up to $1 million to aid Hurricane Relief efforts.
Pleased to announce that s Adventure of the Seas will resume homeporting in San Juan on Saturday, October 7. #PRStrong
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Helpful Tips Before You Go
Dance and music is an important part of life on Puerto Rico. One of the most popular dance styles on the island is salsa. Learn the art of salsa dancing in a city that takes it to a thrilling art form. While in Puerto Rico, you can enjoy some tapas at a restaurant with live music or even head to a local dance club to try some salsa dancing.
Another part of the culture that is a focal point for visitors in Puerto Rico is the cuisine, which focuses on seafood and hearty tapas. You also wont want to miss out on trying the mofongo, a popular dish in Puerto Rico that is based around a fried plantain mixed together with chicken or seafood and other local spices.
Puerto Rico is located in the Caribbean so expect tropical weather when you go meaning pack lots of light clothing and have a light rain jacket or poncho to keep in you daypack in case you get caught in a tropical rain shower luckily, theyre usually quite short and soon the sun is out again.
Since Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, U.S Dollars are accepted. Credit cards are also widely accepted.
Cruise Ships In San Juan
San Juan has two cruise terminals, one in San Juan Bay and the other at the Pan American terminal across from the bay. Between them, the ports host around 500 cruise ships per year. Many of the cruises that make a voyage through the Caribbean make a port call in Puerto Rico, including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess, Costa, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Windstar, Norwegian Cruise Line, AIDA, Seabourn, Silbersea, MSC Cruises, Oceania Cruises, and even Disney Cruises.
The San Juan Bay terminal has a capacity to receive up to seven ships at once. The location of the piers gives visitors easy access to explore the historic city of Old San Juan. This may be the most convenient port of call for people only spending a day on island because many attractions, restaurants, bars, and landmarks are within walking distance.
The Pan American terminal has a pier that accommodates two cruise ships. It is located near Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport in Isla Grande, next to the Puerto Rico Convention Center, the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel and Casino, and the Hyatt House Hotel. Getting in and out of the city requires either a taxi or rideshare, and if San Juan is your point of departure, your cruise ship will likely embark from there.
Cruise ships at the fast-growing Ponce Cruise Port.
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What Is There To Do In San Juan Puerto Rico
There are many fun and exciting things to do,attractions to see and great places to eat. Tours of the San Juan National Historic Site and the Bacardi Rum Distillery Tour are just two examples. Also see our attractions map. San Juan Happy Tours, 237-7727, is dedicated to, and specializes in providing tours or transfers to cruise ship passengers upon arrival to the San Juan Cruise Port. Look for their uniformed shirts and vehicles waiting at the terminal. They come highly recommended especially for tours of El Yunque Rainforest.
You can also contact nearby beachfront resorts ahead of time to arrange for a day pass which allows you to access their resort facilities for a fee.
Port Of Departure San Juan Puerto Rico
San Juan, capital of Puerto Rico, The Isle of EnchantmentSan Juan is the capital of and the largest city of Puerto Rico. Located on the north coast of the island, it is the second-oldest capital established by Europeans in the Caribbean . The Spanish originally called the seaport Ciudad de Puerto Rico and the whole island San Juan. Over time, everyday usage has swapped over one with the other. Today San Juan is the major seaport for Puerto Rico, and also serves as the country’s center for tourism, finance, culture and manufacturing.The old city of San Juan offers an authentic Old World feel with over 400 renovated Spanish 16th and 17th century buildings, and many historic sights. The area also is home to many shops, casinos and restaurants for the enjoyment of tourists and Puerto Ricans alike.
San Juan Cruise Ship TerminalsThere are three major pier areas used by cruises from San Juan. Old San Juan piers 1 through 6, the Pan American pier, and Navy Frontier pier. Normally cruise ships visiting San Juan dock at the Old San Juan Piers, so passengers have easy access to Old San Juan. Cruise ships originating from San Juan will dock at the Pan American Pier or Navy Frontier piers, both about a 15 minute cab ride from Old San Juan.
Things To Do Near San Juan Cruise PortEl Morro FortSan Cristobal FortLa FortalezaCathedral de San JuanPaseo de la Muralla and Paseo de la PrincesaEscambron BeachShoppingCruise Port Map
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What Time Is It In San Juan Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is on Atlantic Standard Time and does NOT recognize daylight savings as in the U.S. If youre traveling from the U.S., here are the time zone conversions:
During U.S. Daylight Savings time months :
Eastern Daylight Time is the same as Puerto Rico time
Central Daylight Time + 1 hr. = Puerto Rico time
Mountain Daylight Time + 2 hrs. = Puerto Rico time
Pacific Daylight Time + 3 hrs. = Puerto Rico time
During U.S. Standard Time months :
Eastern Standard Time + 1 hr. = Puerto Rico time
Central Standard Time + 2 hrs. = Puerto Rico time
Mountain Standard Time + 3 hrs. = Puerto Rico time
Pacific Standard Time + 4 hrs. = Puerto Rico time