Sailing from San Juan -- do we need Princess transfers?

[gina2edu]

We used frequent flyer miles to get our plane tickets, so we didn't purchase them through Princess. Our TA said that in San Juan it is easy to get from the airport to the docks. She said that we should save the money and get there on our own. Do you agree with this, or should we purchase transfers?

Thanks

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[Jeepers385]

Get a taxi, it's easy and reasonable. Once you exit the airport there's a Ground Transportation Booth, you tell them where your going they give you a slip for the price and off you go, does not include tip.

A lot of times you have to wait for buses to fill up when you do the transfers.

Debbie

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[Jeepers385]

Sorry I have a double post, 1st msg said it didn't go through.


I agree w/your TA. It's very easy and reasonable. When you exit the airport look for the Ground Transportation Booth and they will write you a slip to where you want to go and the cost is broken down by area and how much luggage you have, tip is separate.

The tranfer buses wait to get filled up and then you have everyone exiting at one time at the pier, you have to wait for luggage, etc.

Debbie

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Crown Dynasty 7/00
Queen of Bermuda 7/87
Carnival - Mardi Gras 11/75

[gina2edu]

Thanks for the answers.

One more question... how do I know where the ship will be? Will Princess tell me this information or will the taxi driver know this?

Sorry for being such a dunce on this one.

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[PaulieM]

Just go to the taxi stand. They give you a slip with the ship name and the price on it. Makes it really easy.

We had transfers back in late Feb to the Dawn, the company that handles it looked very shady to me, didn't have any ID, no passenger lists, etc. They threw all the luggage into a cargo truck.

I said screw it to my wife, it doesn't feel right (all my other cruises was out of Ft. Lauderdale, and they have uniformed Princess agents there to greet you) and we took the cab.

I tipped the cabbie and the porters (they only have to go like 100 feet because of the way security is) but I do have to say I had my luggage within 20 minutes of checking in!!! Totally blew me away and besides making a point in bold black marker on my survey at end of cruise about how much the transfer process in San Juan sucked, it was fine.

Took an end of trip tour to the rain forest since we had a really late flight back, so I got credit on the return transfers, I just ate the cost on the inbound ones.

Enjoy!

----------
Sept/1998 - Grand Princess (Inaugural Year, Eastern Carib)
Apr/2003 - Grand Princess (Married at Sea!, Western Carib)
Sep/2003 - Grand Princess (No inlaws this time, Eastern Carib)
Feb/2004 - Dawn Princess (Something different, Southern Carib)

[larsen]

gina2edu - just tell them what ship you are sailing on and they will get you there in fine order. Docking can vary so there is no way in advance you could know the pier. Trust me, they will know. Have fun! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

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Sun '96, Crown '97, Dawn '98,
Dawn '99, Sun 2000, Dawn '01,
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[Layla]

We sailed from San Juan on the Sun on a millenium cruise in '99 and did our own transportation from hotel to pier. No problem -just hailed a taxi got in and said "Take us to Princess!"

Yours in Cruising, Layla

[Jacqueline]

Take a cab, its fast and easy. The dispathcer at the airport will take care of setting you up. They know the ships and the piers !

Jacqueline
Constellation 3/20/04
HAL Westerdam 7/30/04
Tahitian Princess August 2003
Grand Princess Western Caribbean 2003
Brilliance of the Seas Baltic 2002
Ocean Princess- Alaska 2001
Celebrity Zenith- Bermuda 2001
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