San
Juan Cruise Port Cruise Gateway to
the Caribbean
San Juan.
A major air and sea connecting point to the Caribbean, the world's
most popular cruise region, San Juan is one of the world's busiest
cruise ports.
The Old San Juan Piers,
pictured above, as well as the Navy
Frontier Pier in the background (rarely used) and the Pan American Pier
across the bay (used for the largest ships) are the major cruise ship
docking areas in the San Juan port. (photo:
Old San Juan).
Night View of Cruise Ship & Pier Arches
Departure/embarkation port,
as well as destination-visiting, cruise ships almost always use the Old
San Juan Piers, allowing their passengers to walk to major attractions
in Old San Juan (photo:
Old San Juan at Night).
Filled with the historic sites, Old San Juan has
always been a major connecting point to the Caribbean, with old
world charm and a vibrant crossroads culture. This beautiful and
historic city makes a great vacation, overnight stay or just a
tour (El Morrow photo
Robinxoarms Blog)
Cruises.
San Juan offers hundreds of cruises from many cruise lines to mostly
Eastern and Southern Caribbean destinations (see
Cruise Destinations).
Yet modern cruise ships are like resort destinations in themselves, with
elegant restaurants, cafes, boutiques, decktop pools, spas and fitness
centers, theaters and lounges, often with live entertainment as well as
accommodations ranging from fine oceanside suites to decorative interior
rooms.
Adventure of the Seas
Cruise from San Juan.
Impressive multi-deck atriums-promenades on this
Voyager-class Royal Caribbean ship are a setting for boutiques, bars,
coffee shops, people-watching and pageantry such as parades.
Adventure of the Seas
Many dining choices include a fine Italian restaurant, two
cafes and a 50's style burger joint. Adventure of the
Seas also features an ice skating rink, pools and a
rock-climbing wall.
A round trip seven night
cruise (Sunday night about 8 PM to Sunday morning about
6 AM) goes to various destinations in the Eastern and
Southern Caribbean.
For example, one itinerary consists of
St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Antigua and St.
Kitts.
Cruise Destinations.
Available cruise destinations from San Juan,
known as Eastern Caribbeanroutes, include St. Thomas (US
Virgin Islands), Tortola (British Virgin Islands), St. Martin/St.
Maarten, St. Barths, Antigua, St. Kitts and Guadeloupe in the Leeward Islands and
Dominica, St Lucia, Barbados, St Vincent, Grenada and Tobago in the
Windward Islands.
Included also are the ABC Islands, Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire in the Netherland
Antilles off the coast of South America, now often called
Southern Caribbean routes, along with any islands south of Grenada,
the classic hurricane-free zone (see
rates and
dates of cruises).
The most popular of these destinations include St. Thomas (duty free
to US passengers) and St. Maarten/St. Martin (dual Dutch/French island)
as well as Old San Juan itself.
These
destinations are more easily reached (a one and a half day head start) by a cruise from San Juan after a short flight
there, rather
than after a long cruise from the US mainland.
Cruise Lines.
Cruise lines operating from San Juan include Carnival, Royal Caribbean,
Princess Cruises, Azamara Club Cruises, SeaDream Yacht Club, Silversea and Celebrity
Cruises (see
rates and
dates of cruises).
Embarkation
Process. Embarking on a San Juan cruise ship requires
proper travel documentation, usually a passport and cruise documents,
including a Final Departure Manifest prior to departure (which is best
processed ahead). Port Authority Security replaces airport security with
x-ray screening of carryon luggage (not exceeding 24"W x 16"H x 30"L).
Other luggage is checked in. Helping its passengers embark/disembark en
masse, the cruise line functions as a surrogate immigration and customs
authority, not only for the US, but for the destination countries as
well, and these authorities are often behind the scenes.
Airport
Ground Transport.Taxi service, usually in a white van, from the San Juan Airport to the
Old San Juan Cruise Ship Piers takes 45 minutes and costs $19 one-way (check with
the driver before boarding). Limos may be arranged for pickup at
the airport. Rail is not available.
Rental cars are available at the airport. Buses
to Old San Juan, sometimes
arranged by the cruise line, are also available
at a cost of 75� (coins only).
The airport bus stop is located on the upper departure level at the far
right, with signs marked 'Parada' and timetables displayed. For Old San
Juan, take B-40 or C-45 one stop to Isla Verde (at Denny's restaurant),
then A-5 to the Old San Juan bus station near Cruise Ship Pier 4 (stop 2 on
free trolley map).
Airport Cruise
Connections.
Upon properly entering San Juan, Caribbean cruise
passengers can go from the gates serving the large intercontinental jets
to Airport Ground Transport above that
takes them to the San Juan Port's cruise ship piers.
US
Territory. Since Puerto Rico is a US
territory, passengers on US flights to/from San Juan are making US city
to city flights, and may freely enter/exit San Juan, after only passing
security (except USDA clearing bags on exit). Passengers on
international flights must clear US immigration and customs when
entering San Juan.
The
narrow blue cobblestone streets, lined by ornate colonial
buildings, lead to tropical gardens and amazing plazas such as
Plaza de Armas and Plaza de San Jose
as well as cafes and trendy Sofo and other bars
like La Barrachina, birthplace of the pi�a colada (photo:
Budget Travel). And the shops, especially at Calle del
Cristo representing a shopper's paradise, can lead to surprising
finds (see Shopping Tour below).
La
Bombonera (259 Calle San Francisco), a famous old-style
Cuban coffee shop and bakery, serves Pan de
Mallorca, a ham, egg and cheese sugar-powdered
buttery bun for breakfast--the Latino McDonalds (photo:
Serious Eats).
La Fonda
del Jibarito (280 Calle Sol) has authentic local food
like the Criollo
(indigenous Spanish) classic Chillo Entero (whole fried
snapper) and Grilled Garlic Shrimp with Mofongo (refried
plantains) smothered in the classic Aji-li Mojili (garlic
and chili sauce).
Head away from the port and turn left on Calle Fortaleza
for souvenir shops, crafts
(Puerta Rican Arts & Crafts), art galleries (Galer�a
S�nchez) and jewelers (Effy
Jewelers and Blue Diamond, 202 Fortaleza, with the Hearts
on Fire diamond and MarahLago Larimar).
Continue on Fortaleza for restaurants like La
Barrachina (104 Calle Fortaleza), birthplace of the pi�a colada,
with a free Flamenco dance show with dinner.
This bracelet
of Topaz, Rutilated
Quartz, and Golden Druze, illustrates the
gorgeous creations
found at Boveda (209 Cristo),
handcrafted by jewelry artists locally and worldwide
(photo:
Boveda). See
its jewelry
online.
Take a look in at the Boveda boutique, an artwork of
its own, with its luminous interior of handmade lamps,
antiques and Art Nouveaux reproductions (left photo:
Travel & Sports)
Along the Cristo at
99, artisan
Manolo Diazmakes interesting sculptures from
cast-off objects such as
old mirrors,
wooden shutters and antique windows.
Don't miss El Museo del Ni�o
(Children's Museum), at 150 Cristo, with playhouse
villages and dress-up costumes, a science center and a miniature
television studio.
The beautiful Cathedral of San Juan
Bautista (151 Cristo), the second oldest cathedral in the Americas,
holds the tomb of Ponce de Leon, Puerta Rico's first governor
(photo:
Cruise Ship Captain).
Countless bars, quirky cafes and coffee shop/ bakeries
line the calles.
Step right back into the old
world
charm
of Hotel El Convento (a former
convent at 100 Cristo) and the
colorful El Picoteo overlooking its open-air courtyard,
with a terrace overlooking the calle as well. Have a mojito and
great tapas, the flora and fauna of the happy hour (photo:
Coastal Living).
Art galleries in Old San Juan vary from hole-in-the-wall
treasures to opulent elegant places.
An oasis of shaded
courtyard, fountain and arched halls,Galer�a Botello provides a
contemplative sanctuary for
its iconic sculptures and paintings at
208 Cristo (photo:
Botello). See
online gallery.
Galeria Fosil Arte,
200 Cristo, exhibits real fossils in paintings,
sculptures, etchings silk-screens and lithographs by artist Radames Rivera.
Continue on Cristo toPlaza de San Jose, with the statue of Ponce de Leon in
front of La
Iglesia San Jos�, the second oldest church in the Americas
with
re-discovered 16th century murals.
Go right at Plaza de San Jose one block on Calle San
Sebasti�n
and, at 102, have great
Mofongo Relleno
at El Patio de Sam.
And a couple of blocks up on Calle Sol is
La Fonda del Jibarito, an excellent choice for local food.
Turn right again and come back on
Calle San Jose, for more serious shopping, including art
galleries (Obra Galleria) and
antiques.
St. Francis & Stigmata Painting Detail
El Alcazar, 103 Calle San
Jose, is the largest emporium of antique
furniture, silver, and art objects in the Caribbean (see
online
catalog). Pictured is
a detail from a 17th century Spanish colonial oil
painting on canvas
(photo:
El Alcazar).
Continue to the
Plaza de Armas.
Ponce de Leon
This bronze statue was made from captured
British cannons from the failed attack in 1792 (photo:
Wikipedia).
A cozy spot with a sun-lit patio out back
just off the
Plaza de San Jos� at 102 Calle San Sebasti�n, El
Patio de Sam has the best burgers in Old San Juan and
great
Mofongo Relleno as well as the Lady Killer
cocktail (its name is the sign of a good watering hole
since the '50s)
Continue on to the Plaza Colon, with the tall
statue of Christopher Columbus.
Turn
right at Plaza Colon
one block back to the tour start on Calle Fortaleza--
actually this is the area known as South of Fortaleza or
SoFo for short.
This area around Plaza Colon
is known for its vibrant music and nightlife.
Caficultura The best coffee in town is found at this Caficultura
cafe, in front of Plaza Colon
at 401 Calle San Francisco. Try the Chicken Breast Tower with
Tostones (photos:
Coastal Living).
This is
SoFo (South of Fortaleza), a popular area for fine dining
and nightlife. Stop in at
Aguaviva to see its ice-blue
neon jellyfish decor.
What began as the
'Nuevo Latino' cuisine, with a blend of Spanish, classic
Latino, Puerto Rican and later International influences, resulted in the semi-annual
SoFo Old San Juan Culinary Festival, with food displays
outside restaurants, tables set up in the streets, artisan
booths and live music stages.
A highly rated 'Conde
Nast Top 100' restaurant and wine bar at
317 Calle Fortaleza, Marmalade
offers Californian-French cuisine with local ingredients, including its
signature
White
Bean Soup(photo:
Open Table).
With cabaret-style decor at 364 Calle Fortaleza,
Dragonfly offers Chino-Latino fusion cuisine, such as
its delicious
Peking Duck Nachos (Fried Wonton Skins) as well as a
noodle bar. It's a popular nightclub as well (photo:
joelli).
Amidst
neon-lighted decor with upscale latino seafood, Aguaviva (at 364 Calle
Fortaleza near Plaza Col�n), has an
excellent raw bar with many inventive cervices, a great
calamari sandwich and Grilled Mahi Mahi with Celery Root Mofongo and guava balsamic syrup
as well as its Watermelon Sangria
signature drink.
This is the club that began the SoFo
'Nuevo Latino' scene with a vibrant
ambiance and pan-Latino food.
Ropa ViejaNachos
With its large lively bar, colorful interior and
sunlit courtyard at 363 Calle Fortaleza, the Parrot Club
has excellent affordable dishes like Ropa Vieja
(shredded beef in tomato sauce) Nachos. Try the
Parrot Passion house drink (photo:
Trip Advisor).
Old San Juan has a great
variety of accommodations in all price ranges.
Hotel Milano
(see rates-low price guarantee) (307 Calle
Fortaleza) is well regarded with affordable rooms in a restored
classical building in the heart of Old San Juan.
Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel and Casino
(see rates-low price guarantee), a favorite of cruise
visitors, has a splashy casino, great room views, reasonable
rates, Palio's Tuscan-style grill and Chicago's 'build-your-own'
burgers onsite as well as
nearby pocket-sizedPlaza Arturo Somohanowith real
artisan crafts.
Known for its old world charm inside and out,
Hotel El Convento (see rates-low price guarantee)
(100 Calle del Cristo) has been exquisitely restored
with period furniture in its rooms to capture the
historic mood. Yet this business friendly hotel has all
the modern conveniences and offers guest access to an
Isla Verde beach club.
Cervantes
Hotel
Cervantes Hotel (see rates-low price guarantee)
is a
small intimate hotel in the heart of Old San Juan
with a close walk to the cruise ship piers. Every
room has a balcony overlooking the colonial streets.
The hotel has the award winning Panza restaurant,
coffee shop and lounge. Continental breakfast is
included.
