You can even take a distillery tour or a cocktail lesson to learn how to impress your guests at your next dinner party. If alcoholic beverages aren’t your thing, sample some locally roasted coffee. Extending outwards from this beautiful city is the San Juan Cruise Port. In many ways, this bustling seaport acts as the gateway to the city and the beautiful countryside beyond it.
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Improvements in port infrastructure and key service enhancements will undoubtedly support an even greater boost in tourism numbers. San Juan has many unique, positive attributes, including its proximity to major homeports, having the biggest port and airport in the region, being part of the U.S. and having unique tourist attractions like Old San Juan. San Juan Cruise Port will facilitate the growth of the homeport business by ensuring that San Juan continues to be the premier cruise gateway to the Eastern and Southern Caribbean.
El Morro and Castillo San Cristobal
Plus, the island provides some of the freshest ingredients you’ll find anywhere. If you would prefer to stroll the streets and do a little bit of window shopping, there are plenty of shops lining the streets near the main cruise terminal. Don’t forget you will also find numerous duty-free shops within the port terminals, so save some time to browse before you board. The San Juan port provides a comfortable and organized setting for embarking and disembarking cruise passengers, and you can get a great view of the city and shoreline from certain locations. Murals throughout the terminals also celebrate the vibrant culture of Puerto Rico. One mile southeast of the San Juan cruise port on the other side of the San Antonio Canal is the Pan American Pier, which can hold two more cruise ships.
Best Beaches near San Juan Cruise Port
From El Morro fortress, you can walk back towards the cruise terminal and pass through the Old Spanish military barracks building on your way to the 16th-century San Juan Cathedral (Cathedral Basilica Menor de San Juan Bautista). Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, so you can freely spend US dollars. We recommend bringing some cash if you plan to sample different dishes from street food vendors or purchase handmade souvenirs from a roadside stall. Other than that, the majority of stores and restaurants accept all of the major credit cards. Before you arrive in Puerto Rico, visit the shore excursions desk onboard your ship or check your cruise line’s official website, as you can pre-book a wide range of exciting activities for your time in San Juan. If you are spending the night in San Juan, either at the beginning or end of your voyage, spend an evening taking in the sounds and tastes of La Placita de Santurce – a two-tiered market square over 100 years old.
More Guides for Cruise Visitors
If you wish to explore St. Thomas on your own Taxis are fairly priced and can literally take the cruise ship traveler to all highlights, beaches, main sites and attractions. 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.
San Juan Cruise Port to receive multimillion-dollar upgrade - Cruise and Ferry
San Juan Cruise Port to receive multimillion-dollar upgrade.
Posted: Mon, 19 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
For passengers, one of the best features of the San Juan cruise port is the simple fact that it is located close to San Juan. As we will discover, this city offers plenty of culture and excitement that can complement any cruise vacation. Air-conditioned bus tours of San Juan encompass the primary highlights of the new and Old San Juan districts. The tour passes Condado Beach's luxury hotels and condominiums and the Window of the Sea coastal outcropping.
St. Kitts Island and its port - Port Zante (as it is officially named) - has become in the last years one of the most popular and loved cruise port destinations in the Caribbean Eastern Itineraries. At GPH, we believe that one of the values that continues to make us successful is that we have a global, yet local perspective on port Operations. Nowhere is this more evident than in our staff complement at each port. Our teams are comprised of local residents – citizens of the destinations we serve who have a vested interest, by birth, in the success of the port and the destination. All PRPA employees working at the PRPA Maritime Bureau who were interested in working with GPH were given priority for employment under competitive terms.
The main advantage of this pier is its proximity to the Isla Grande Airport which is located right across the cruise terminal. The Old San Juan Piers are at Marina Street, conveniently located at the center of the district. This places most of the significant historic and cultural sites, including the iconic El Morro fortress, within easy walking distance. The piers feature modern terminal buildings and passengers will also find tours and transportation staged nearby.
What to Do Beyond the San Juan Cruise Port
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. You will have to take a taxi or book a tour in order to visit the historic Old San Juan and other tourist districts in San Juan. The only thing within reasonable walking distance is the regional Isla Grande Airport, Puerto Rico Convention Center, Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino, and the Hyatt House Hotel. San Juan cruise port schedule has booked ships operating mainly on Eastern and Southern Caribbean itineraries leaving roundtrip from Florida USA ports.
The 3 piers right by Old San Juan are perpendicular to the shore and two of them have terminal buildings. The exit gates of the piers and terminals are less than 500 feet (150 meters) from the gangway. However, most cruise ships call at the port for as many as 8 hours, which is enough time to explore most highlights of Puerto Rico. Cruises sailing from Floridian ports may arrive in San Juan around noon and depart late in the evening. The Pan American Pier has two modern two-tiered passenger terminals (I & II), located in Isla Grande, next to the Isla Grande Airport and near the Puerto Rico Convention Center.
However, do not be fooled by the proximity of the Isla Grande Airport. This small airport only has connections with other small Caribbean islands. This is NOT the international airport with connections with US and International airports. With two berths for as many cruise ships and a modern terminal, Pier 4 is used exclusively by Carnival Corporation cruise lines. If you are embarking or disembarking a cruise on a Carnival Corporation cruise line, Pier 4 (and its terminal) has a great location.
The facility, including all improvements made, will be officially returned to the PRPA at no cost to the government or the people of Puerto Rico. We recognize that the cruise ports at San Juan are an essential part of Puerto Rico’s economy and social fabric and that for many people, Puerto Rico represents “the heart and soul” of cruising in the Caribbean. As such, we are committed to partnering with local stakeholders to ensure the highest standards in all aspects of the project. We look forward to collaborating with all stakeholders and the entire Puerto Rican community on this exciting project that will generate so many benefits for Puerto Rico.
On this small group tour, you’ll see all the sights of San Juan including the Condado area with its luxury hotels and shops and Old San Juan’s 17th Century architecture as well as the Cathedral, Fort San Cristobal and many others.... The Port of San Juan in the island of Puerto Rico has a good number of highlights appealing to cruise passengers with the most diverse interests. Members shall determine if any other participants should be added to the committee.
There are no port parking facilities at either pier, but there is public parking in the area surrounding the port. If your cruise is originating in San Juan, you might be departing from the Pan America terminal which is farther from downtown. El Yunque National Forest has 29,000 lush acres of rainforest, including 25 miles of trails, waterfalls, natural water slides, and wildlife like the Puerto Rican parrot. Don’t miss the stunning mountain views from Yokahu Observation Tower (elevation 1575 feet). With more than 4,000 Uber drivers on the island, you won’t have to wait long for an Uber driver to find you.
For those arriving by taxi cab or shuttle, there are plenty of nearby parking facilities and drop-off zones. For those staying in the nearby hotels as they wait to board their cruise ship, transportation couldn’t be easier. While relatively small and at times a bit crowded, Condado Beach extends for several miles east of downtown and is a short taxi ride from Old San Juan. The entrance to this public beach is tucked between high-rise resorts. The beach offers the added convenience of proximity to the nearby Condado shopping and entertainment district. Guests also visit an interpretative station at Coca Waterfall, once believed to be the legendary fountain of youth.
