Cruises From San Juan
San Juan, the capital and most populous city of Puerto Rico, is the oldest city on US territory. It is the Caribbean commercial hub, best known for its beautifully restored historic district of Old San Juan. It is situated on a rocky peninsula girded by thick walls jutting into the crashing Atlantic surf. With its 400 restored buildings from the 16th and 17th century Spanish colonial period, this area is steeped in history. Read more
Add to this the expansive stretches of smooth clean beaches, boutiques, and pleasant restaurants, and one understands why this port is the heart of the islands tourism.
Cruising To Puerto Rico
If you ever considered a cruise vacation you will not be disappointed by choosing one that has San Juan, Puerto Rico as one of the ports of call. San Juan is a fascinating mixture of the old and the new. Puerto Rico offers white sandy beaches, cobblestone streets, colonial forts and buildings, museums, vibrant hotels, casinos, restaurants and shops. The island is rich in history, blessed by nature, and alive with its own unique culture.
The Port of San Juan is the busiest in the Caribbean and is ranked among the top 25 of the world’s ports in terms of passengers and container movement. San Juan’s two cruise terminals are located a stone’s throw away from one another, one in the San Juan Bay and the other at the Pan American terminal just across the bay, a10-minute ride, close to the airport, up to 6 cruise ships can dock at these terminals. The San Juan Bay Terminal has 3 piers located a short walk from Old San Juan.
Although U.S. territories does not require a passport for U.S. citizens, you’ll still need your passport for cruises that stop at ports in South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and Antarctica. Additionally, U.S. citizens who travel by air to the Caribbean, Canada, Mexico and Bermuda to catch their ship must have a passport. However, if you are cruising to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Mexico, and Canada from a U.S. port you do not need a passport – this is deemed a “closed loop” voyage.
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.
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 â and spend â 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
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.
Royal Caribbean Announces Restart Plans For Remaining Cruise Ships
Royal Caribbean has laid out its plans for the rest of the fleet on when and where ships will resume sailing again.
While Royal Caribbean has restarted successfully a number of ships this summer, many sailings were in question without a firm restart date.
The cruise line shared restart plans for its cruise ships which were still in limbo as Royal Caribbean slowly restarts sailings.
The new restart plan encompasses 13 cruise ships, extending into Spring 2022.
Each ship now returning will cruise with the health measures that have safeguarded the well-being of guests, crew and destination communities to date across other ships in Alaska, Asia, The Bahamas, the Caribbean and Europe.
Here is what Royal Caribbean has announced for its restart:
Oasis of the Seas 7-night Bahamas cruises from Cape Liberty, New Jersey, starting Sept. 5 and 7-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami, beginning November
Liberty of the Seas 7-night Western Caribbean cruises from Galveston, Texas, starting Oct. 3
Serenade of the Seas4- and 5-night Western Caribbean cruises from Tampa, Florida, starting Oct. 16 and 7-night Caribbean itineraries, beginning December
Explorer of the Seas 7-night Southern Caribbean sailings from San Juan, Puerto Rico, starting Nov. 7
Navigator of the Seas 3-, 4- and 5-night Catalina Island, California, and Ensenada and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico cruises from Los Angeles, beginning Nov. 19
Pan American Pier & Cruise Terminals
The Pan American Pier has two modern two-tiered passenger terminals and is located on Isla Grande, besides the Isla Grande Airport and near the Puerto Rico Convention Center. Two mega-ships can dock at the Pan American Pier terminals. Depending on your cruise line and cruise ship traffic, your ship may arrive and dock here for the day and will most likely embark from here if San Juan is the home departure port. The only thing within reasonable walking distance is the Isla Grande Airport, Puerto Rico Convention Center, Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino, and the Hyatt House Hotel. You will have to take a taxi or book a tour in order to visit the historic Old San Juan or New San Juan. It is a 10-15 minute ride into Old San Juan and will cost you $10 if your cruise line does not pay for it. The most convenient hotels to stay at near the Pan American Pier terminals are the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino and Hyatt House Hotel.
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
Top Destinations On Cruises From San Juan
ABC Islands
The Caribbean islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao are collectively known as the ABC islands. From luxurious white sand beaches and turquoise seas to spectacular diving sites and exotic animal encounters, the ABC islands offer something for every vacationer. Enjoy a guided horseback ride along the north coast in Aruba. Explore Bonaires renowned marine life from a glass-bottom kayak, or enjoy a two-tank scuba dive in the Caribbeans top-ranked dive location. Take part in a hands-on cooking class with a local chef and learn how Caribbean ingredients impart an island flavor to dishes in Curaçao.
Miss Universe Puerto Rico Welcomes Carnival Mardi Gras To San Juan
Carnival Cruise Lines celebratory cruise following the christening of its new flagship Mardi Gras last Saturday made its first stop with a call in San Juan, Puerto Rico, according to a press release.
As part of the festivities on Oct. 26, the reigning Miss Universe, Puerto Rico, Estefania Soto-Torres and the incoming Miss Universe, Puerto Rico, Michelle Colón welcomed some very special guests to their home island, Carnival said. The guests were Miss Universe Andrea Meza, Mardi Gras Godmother and Miss Universe, Dominican Republic, Kimberly Jiménez and Miss USA Asya Branch, as well as Carnival Cruise Line President Christine Duffy.
The Mardi Gras was christened during a Universe of Fun celebration on Oct. 23 in Port Canaveral, Florida. The celebration marked the first ship naming ceremony held in the U.S. since the cruise industrys restart this summer. Godmother Jiménez blessed the ship in both English and Spanish and activated the traditional champagne bottle break, officially naming the ship.
We are thrilled to be back in Puerto Rico and allow our destinations to participate in the celebration of our new ship, said Duffy. And to be welcomed by the current and incoming Miss Universe, Puerto Rico has made it even more special.
The Mardi Gras is the first cruise ship in the Americas to be powered by Liquified Natural Gas and features BOLT, the first rollercoaster at sea.
St Cruise Ship Docks In Puerto Rico Since Pandemic Began
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico The Carnival Mardi Gras docked Tuesday in Puerto Rico the first time a cruise ship has visited the U.S. territory since the pandemic began.
Some cautiously celebrated the arrival. It comes as Puerto Rico has reported an increase in COVID-19 cases blamed on the Delta variant but also as it seeks to restart its crucial tourism sector, which depended largely on record numbers of cruise ship passengers in recent years.
Carlos Mercado, executive director of Puerto Ricos Tourism Company, told The Associated Press that the government took several precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including allowing only those who are fully vaccinated to disembark.
He said the ship was traveling at 70% capacity, with some 4,500 people aboard, and that he estimates a total of 3,500 will disembark. Mercado noted that 95% of the ships passengers are vaccinated, with children younger than 12 making up the majority of those who have not been inoculated.
The visit was expected to generate some $360,000 during the nine hours that the ship is docked in the historic part of Puerto Ricos capital known as Old San Juan.
Passenger Tom Seuberling, of Oak Hill, Florida, said he was impressed by the health protocols aboard the ship.
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Mandatory Insurance For Unvaccinated Adults
As previously reported, each unvaccinated guest 12 years and older departing from a Florida homeport on a Royal Caribbean International cruise must provide proof of a valid insurance policy that has a minimum of
The insurance policy must name the unvaccinated guest as the policy holder or beneficiary and may be purchased from a travel insurance company of the guests choosing or through the Royal Caribbean Travel Protection Program, which includes this coverage. Insurance is required for sailings from August 1 through December 31, 2021 .
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Costa Cruises Stops All Visits To Italy
The deadly coronavirus is spreading sharply across Italy and the government has closed the country down to contain and control the spread which is impacting 60 million people.
As a result, Costa Cruises has now stopped all calls to the country until April 3. The Carnival-owned cruise line has reviewed itineraries and has already implemented changes.
Neil Palomba, President of Costa Crociere, said:
As an Italian company and the only cruise operator flying the Italian flag, we are committed to guarantee compliance with the regulations and support to the Italian authorities and the community in this extraordinary effort to face the current situation of emergency.
The cruise line which is based in Italy and has ships flying the Italian flag is currently only allowing guests to disembark in Italy on cruises which have already departed. The cruises have been cancelled and the ships are heading directly back to their homeport to make this happen with no excursions or new embarkations.
Costa is informing guests and providing them with a future cruise credit for a booking at a later date when the country re-opens. The cruise line has in fact been working hard on limiting the impact of the virus which is named COVID-19. In the past three days, Costa had already cancelled all outgoing Italian guests departing from cruises outside the Meditteranean such as the Caribbean.
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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.
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.
Cruises From San Juan: The Pros And Cons
Find out the pros and cons on cruises from San Juan, Puerto Rico with some reasons you might never have thought of to travel from the Caribbean island.
Cruises from San Juan are the best way to explore the exotic islands in the South Caribbean. This historic port city is the capital of Puerto Rico. As well as being a popular port of call for approximately 500 cruise ships each season, it is also the home port for several cruise ships offering Southern Caribbean cruise itineraries.
San Juan cruise port is the largest and busiest in the Caribbean with two separate terminals. Most cruise ships use the main San Juan Terminal within sight of the Old Town. It has four piers and can accommodate up to 7 ships at a time. Across the harbor, the Pan-Am cruise terminal is used by larger mega cruise ships and can accommodate two further cruise ships at the same time.
In normal years, San Juan hosts around 2 million cruise visitors each season. However, the 2020-21 cruise season is scheduled to be much quieter as the port is largely closed due to planned privatization and necessary maintenance of the infrastructure.
Before you decide to book one of the Caribbean cruises from San Juan, check out our informative pros and cons.
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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What Is The Status Of Us Cruise Homeports
As the U.S. starts its slow return to normal, keeping track of which U.S. homeports are open and hosting cruise ships is getting increasingly difficult. Some ports are technically open, but have no sailings planned others are provisioning ships and processing crew members for vaccinations, but are not yet welcoming passengers.
To make sense of it all, we compiled a list of the major U.S. cruise homeports and their current cruise status.
A Welcome Return To Puerto Rico
The executive director of the Puerto Rico Ports Authority believes the return of cruise ships to San Juan, and specifically to homeport, is a welcome break for the island.
Port Authority Director Joel Pizá Batiz:The visit of each cruise ship, beyond the significant boost to tourism and the local economy, represents a vote of confidence in our facilities and operations. This demonstrates that the efforts of the Government of Puerto Rico, the Ports Authority and other related agencies are being effective.
The calls by Explorer of the Seas as well other cruise ships, such as Crystal Endeavour and Celebrity Apex, will have a significant economic impact, according to Puerto Rico Tourism Company , Carlos Mercado Santiago:
Puerto Rico offers a diversity of experiences and a great potential for growth, two of the many reasons why we continue to be an attractive destination for cruise lines in a region as competitive as the Caribbean region. The visits, which these three ships will be making between the months of November 2021 to April 2022, will have an economic impact initially estimated at around $16 million.
