What Are Recommended Hotels Near The San Juan Cruise Port
If your cruise is embarking from an Old San Juan pier, we recommend the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino or the Cervantees Hotel in Old San Juan. If your cruise is departing from the Pan American Pier, we recommend staying at the nearby Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino or the Hyatt House San Juan. See map of hotels near cruise piers.
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.
Are There Car Rentals Near The San Juan Cruise Port Terminals
Yes Hertz has a rental location inside the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel which is across from the Old San Juan cruise piers. For the Pan American cruise pier, Hertz and Enterprise have car rental locations at the Isla Grande Airport nearby and Avis has a rental location in the nearby Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino. Port transfer services. More about car rentals near cruise terminals. Or click here for a Map.
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Enjoy Great Views At Serralles Castle
While still in Ponce ensure you stop by the Serralles Castle at the top of the hill overlooking the town. This 1930 Spanish Revival mansion with hints of Arabic architecture was designed to resemble a castle. The architecture and detail that went into designing this home of sugar and rum baron Juan Serrallés Colón of the DonQ rum are just incredible.
It was later sold by Serrallés heirs in 1980s to the Puerto Rican government and transformed into a museum. The museum now showcases the history of sugar and rum development over the centuries and affluent living in the late 20th century.
The sculpted and perfectly manicured garden is interesting to see as well. Get a reduced price when you combine this attraction with the gardens above and the Cruceta del Vigía cross across the property.
The Piers By Old San Juan
The 3 piers right by Old San Juan are perpendicular to the shore and two of them have terminal buildings. A total of 6 cruise ships can dock at these pier/terminals. The exit gates of the piers and terminals are less than 500 feet from the gangway.
At The Pier 3 in San Juan
Once outside the gates, the cruise traveler will be on a 4 lane avenue along the southern shore of San Juan. The Old Town is right across this avenue.
When you return to the ship, your cruise card and a valid Photo ID will be checked at these gates – make sure you have a photo ID with you.
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Sailing Away Or Sailing In
Sailing into the natural port of San Juan is a delight. If you are an early bird, the morning arrival is a sight to behold. If you are not out and about when arriving in port, make sure to be out on deck when sailing away. Keep in mind that cruise ships arriving around noon will sail after sunset and, therefore, cruising into the port is a must.
Without a doubt, San Juan is a port that cruise passengers should explore, be it on their own or with a shore excursion. Most attractions of Old San Juan are within walking distance from the downtown piers, and cruisers will find more appealing things to do on foot in Old San Juan than onboard.
What To See And Do
Focus on Old San Juan. Dating from 1521, with a grid of cobbled streets lined with lovingly restored, brightly-coloured Spanish colonial buildings and two impressive fortresses, it’s an immensely attractive and atmospheric place set on an insular headland poking across San Juan Bay. Cruise lines such as Celebrity Cruises and Carnival offer guided walking tours, but you can have a very enjoyable time exploring independently. The fortresses are run by the US National Park Service so have lots of informative signage.
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Explore El Capitolio And Snap A Pic Or Two
Visit the capital of San Juan just outside the old walls. This is the only state capital that faces the water. Here is where you go to learn the political history of the nation. The all-marble building which features intricate designs and murals on its dome-shaped ceiling United States Capital State building. There are free tours and its a great place to get some Instagram worthy snaps.
Cruise Ships In Ponce
In a recent move to expand cruise options to the island, the southern city of Ponce now receives the Serenade of the Seas and Celebrity Cruise four times per year. If you choose to make this town your port of call, you can enjoy historical sites such as El Parque de Bombas an iconic fire station-turned museum and other landmarks. Or, enjoy a day at La Guancha boardwalk, where there are plenty of seafood restaurants, fritter carts, live music, and other activities.
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Slide Down A Natural Water Slide At Las Paylas
Go on an off-the-beaten-path adventure at Las Paylas in Luquillo where you can slide down 30 feet and 15 feet -long natural waterslides. Las Paylas or Las Pailas is a hidden gem in Puerto Rico for the wandering traveler. The water action on the rocky river bed has left it super smooth and great for water sliding. You can also swing out, into the pools below.
Using GPS, you can easily locate the area. Parking is available at a charming mans compound who offers a trail through his property to the waterfall and slides. Dont miss out on this amazing local experience.
What Is The Closest Airport To The San Juan Cruise Port
Isla Grande Airport is officially the closest airport, but its a fairly small, single-runway airport with primarily regional flights. Read more about Isla Grande Airport. The closest major airport is the San Juan International Airport, which is 8 miles east of the Old San Juan piers and 7 miles east of the Pan American pier. A taxi ride will cost you approximately $23 with luggage and take about 20 minutes.
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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.
Old San Juan Walking Tour
Puerto Rico’s rich history and architectural heritage comes alive on this guided walk of the colonial citys oldest sections, which date back 500 years. Stroll the quarters cobblestone streets, lined with tropical-hued buildings. Visit elegant plazas as your guide introduces key sights and monuments. The tour also includes San Felipe del Morro fortress.
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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.
Old San Juan Attractions
Old San Juan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with famous historical landmarks such as the Fuerte San Felipe del Morro , the Castillo de San Cristóbal or the Fortaleza. Both “El Morro” and San Cristóbal are part of the San Juan National Historic Site and can be visited with the same entrance ticket . Visit the Official National Park Website: www.nps.gov
El Morro in San Juan
The San Juan Cathedral is undoubtedly the most famous religious site to visit. The San Jose Church is temporary closed for renovation but a must see – keep an eye on our updates. Visit the Official San Jose Church Website: www.iglesiasanjosepr.org
Cruise passengers interested in museums will find that, unfortunately, the Museum of San Juan is currently closed. The Museo de las Américas, Americas’ Museum, located on the restored Ballajá Infantry Barracks Building displays an ethnographic panorama of the history and culture of the Americas. Visit the Official Museum Website www.museolasamericas.org
Ballajá Barracks in San Juan
Meandering the streets of Old San Juan, the cruise traveler will have the opportunity to contemplate historical buildings of unique beauty, especially in Calle Fortaleza and Calle San Francisco . Among many landmarks, the City Hall stands out on Plaza de Armas, whilst on Plaza Colón there are a few interesting buildings like the Old Casino, the Teatro Tapia and Castillo de San Cristóbal close by.
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No More Testing For Transit Visitors
After just a few weeks, Puerto Rico will withdraw its testing requirements for in-transit visitors. Cruise Lines wishing to visit the country do not need to test each guest two days before arrival in Puerto Rico. Instead, vaccination proof will suffice.
According to the Ports Authority, some 60 cruise ships canceled their stops at the San Juan dock between Dec. 27, 2021, and Feb. 3, 2022, representing multimillion-dollar losses for the tourism industry.
All major cruise lines had been affected by the governments spur-of-the-moment decision, including Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line, which were all forced to cancel multiple calls.
The agreement between the Ports Authority, Tourism Industry, and Department of Health states that cruise ship passengers wishing to disembark in Puerto Rico will need to present evidence of vaccination against COVID-19 to disembark. However, guests leaving the vessel and returning home will have to submit a negative test before disembarking.
The move is not final yet the department of health will discuss the new protocols with the relevant cruise lines and other involved parties and give a date when the new rules will be implemented.
The rules from the Puerto Rico government will not affect the regulations from the cruise lines, which still require a negative COVID-19 test before boarding the vessel.
Are There Places To Store Luggage In San Juan Before Or After A Cruise
Yes
1) If youre staying at a hotel in Old San Juan or the Puerto Rico Convention Center District , they will typically hold your luggage before check-in or after check-out for a few hours. See map of hotels near cruise port.
2) You can book a sightseeing tour and they will gladly hold your luggage. Check with your cruise line as well about pre and post-cruise excursions they may offer.
3) In addition, there are 2 restaurants in Old San Juan that will store your luggage.
Barrachina Restaurant 104 Calle Fortaleza, Old San Juan. Storage is free | Storage hours: 9am 5pm, 7 days/week. ph. 725-7912. Note: It is a 1/2 mile uphill walk from Old San Juan Pier 4, and 1/4 mile walk from Pier 1.
Aloha Old San Juan directly across the street from Old San Juan Pier 4. Rates: $3 per piece | Storage hours: Tue. Thu. 11am 4pm, Fri. Sun. 11am 9pm. Receive a 20% discount on your meals when your luggage is stored at Aloha Old San Juan. ph. 289-5626.
4) The San Juan International Airport offers luggage storage daily from 7am to 10pm on the 2nd level of Terminal D. For more information call 791-3371 or email: [email protected]. They do not have storage lockers.
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San Juan Cruise Terminals
Old San Juan Cruise Pier
This terminal is located at the heart of Old San Juan, at Calle Marina quay, within walking distance from main city attractions and historic landmarks. It has 3 cruise piers that can accommodate up to 6 cruise ships:
- Pier 1 This pier has two berths and boasts a modern passenger terminal with facilities such as duty-free shops, luggage gangways, parking, and elevators. It is used by cruise lines including those operated by Azamara, Windstar, Silversea, and Seabourn. If you are cruising with Norwegian , Costa, MSC, Disney, among others, this is where your ship will dock.
- Pier 3 This pier has a capacity for 2 ships and is used exclusively by Royal Caribbean Line. This pier is also used by ships that are in transit and stay in San Juan for the day.
- Pier 4 Pier 4 also has two docks and features a passenger terminal building with modern facilities including a duty-free shopping mall. This pier is used exclusively by Carnival Cruise Line and is also used as a turnaround port for Carnival cruise passengers.
Note: Pier 2 is located between Piers 1 and 3. It is a small ferry terminal that offers ferry round-trip rides to Cataño Pueblo, a town nestled across the Bay of San Juan. The Cataño Ferry, known as La Lancha de Cataño, offers rides at the price of 0.50 $ per person one way . The ride lasts approximately 8 minutes, and ferries run every 15-30 minutes.
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Top Sights And Shore Excursions
The historic Puerto Rican capital of San Juan offers every element of a contemporary warm-weather vacation, with sun-filled skies, white-sand beaches and brilliant blue waters. San Juan also features historic and architectural attractions, from grand colonial palaces to airy public plazas to the massive stone walls that encircle parts of the city.
San Juans Condado and Isla Verde districts offer a multitude of bars, restaurants, craft shops and boutiques, plus plenty of nightlife, open-air music and entertainment. San Juan provides visitors with another variable treasured by travelers: fun. Theres an unmistakable atmosphere of good times running across this pulsating port city. Here are some favorite pastimes for cruisers visiting 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
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