Embarkation Day in San Juan

Just booked Adventure of The Seas April 14th Cruise from San Juan.

This will be our 2nd cruise and 1st leaving from San Juan.

Looking for tips on arrival and check in at the port.

We will be flying in on the 13th staying at Double Tree Hotel.

We always arrive at port around 11:00AM. I think we've always been on board by noon.:)

We sailed out of San Juan last year. It was eazy peazy. 15 minutes from arrival to being on board. Arrived around noon time. Regular boarding...nothing special. A cab will drop you off right at the bag drop and security line.

Also...take a cab, not a hotel shuttle. A shuttle may have drop off at more than 1 ship and adventure is usually the last stop. A cab is cheap, personal, and easy.

Do you have the option of leaving the ship after check in to tour Old San Juan?

Do you have the option of leaving the ship after check in to tour Old San Juan?

Yes.

Do you have the option of leaving the ship after check in to tour Old San Juan?

Yes....but note you are not docked at the OSJ pier. Cruises with embarkation in San Juan use the Pan American pier. That's on the other side of the bay.

Yes....but note you are not docked at the OSJ pier. Cruises with embarkation in San Juan use the Pan American pier. That's on the other side of the bay.

Good point, we used a taxi to get to Old San Juan. I think it was about $15 each way.

We are on the Freedom in May, and do not embark until 8:00 pm. Is the MDR open for lunch that day? I have never been on a ship where dinner was served while still in the embarkation port. Is everything else open all day, such as the pool spa, etc.? (I presume the casino is closed.)

Cheers.

I actually have another question here. Our flight arrives at 10:00 a.m. on embarkation morning. We would like to board the ship and have lunch and check out the lay of the land before the ship fills up. Would we be better off going directly to the port, or should we wait until around 11:00? Not sure what we would do with our luggage if we decided to wait around.

Thanks.

I actually have another question here. Our flight arrives at 10:00 a.m. on embarkation morning. We would like to board the ship and have lunch and check out the lay of the land before the ship fills up. Would we be better off going directly to the port, or should we wait until around 11:00? Not sure what we would do with our luggage if we decided to wait around.

 

Thanks.

You should go to the port as soon as you can. You've got to wait for bags and catch a taxi, so it would be hard for you to get there much before 10:45am anyhow.

You should go to the port as soon as you can. You've got to wait for bags and catch a taxi, so it would be hard for you to get there much before 10:45am anyhow.

Thanks, Bob. A great resource, as always. (y)

Thanks, Bob. A great resource, as always. (y)

You're welcome and good luck.

We are on the Freedom in May, and do not embark until 8:00 pm. Is the MDR open for lunch that day? I have never been on a ship where dinner was served while still in the embarkation port. Is everything else open all day, such as the pool spa, etc.? (I presume the casino is closed.)

 

Cheers.

I assume you mean your departure is at 8:00. You must embark (get on the ship) 90 minutes prior to departure. Embarkation usually begins around 11:00 am, give or take 30 minutes. The MDR is not open for lunch on embarkation day. Lunch will be served in the Windjammer which opens at 12:00. We always choose early dining and when we cruise from San Juan, we are always on the upper decks for sail away after dinner.

I'm on Adventure, coming up in April. We have an 8:30 pm departure. I see we have to be on board 90 minutes before - which would be 7:00 pm. What happens if we show up at 7:30 pm? (We'll check in earlier in the day)

DW & I were going to try to catch a 6:37 sunset at a rooftop bar in OSJ.

I'm on Adventure, coming up in April. We have an 8:30 pm departure. I see we have to be on board 90 minutes before - which would be 7:00 pm. What happens if we show up at 7:30 pm? (We'll check in earlier in the day)

 

DW & I were going to try to catch a 6:37 sunset at a rooftop bar in OSJ.

The 90 minutes before is if you haven't already checked in. If you're already checked in and have your seapass card you have to be back 30 minutes before sailing time just as if it was a port stop.

We've done this several times while sailing out of SJ. You likely will miss the muster if you come back that late and will have to attend a makeup muster the following day. The ship's staff will likely ask you to return in time for the muster but can't force you to do so just return when you want and do the make up muster.

Just booked Adventure of The Seas April 14th Cruise from San Juan.

This will be our 2nd cruise and 1st leaving from San Juan.

Looking for tips on arrival and check in at the port.

We will be flying in on the 13th staying at Double Tree Hotel.

The double Tree is located across the street from a really good grocery store (Supermax) If you want to buy a couple of bottles of wines to bring aboard, this is the place to go. If you are a wine snob, then go to the wine store on the second floor.

The Double Tree is located close to Loiza Street. There are a couple of really cool restaurants on that street. Sabrina's, The Mac'n Cheese, La Cueva del Mar and Double cake.

Happy cruising!!!

The double Tree is located across the street from a really good grocery store (Supermax) If you want to buy a couple of bottles of wines to bring aboard, this is the place to go. If you are a wine snob, then go to the wine store on the second floor.

The Double Tree is located close to Loiza Street. There are a couple of really cool restaurants on that street. Sabrina's, The Mac'n Cheese, La Cueva del Mar and Double cake.

Happy cruising!!!

Thanks, good info.

The 90 minutes before is if you haven't already checked in. If you're already checked in and have your seapass card you have to be back 30 minutes before sailing time just as if it was a port stop.

We've done this several times while sailing out of SJ. You likely will miss the muster if you come back that late and will have to attend a makeup muster the following day. The ship's staff will likely ask you to return in time for the muster but can't force you to do so just return when you want and do the make up muster.

The “make-up” muster is at 8:00 pm before you leave port on embarkation night. (Unless they change it but it has been that way for quite awhile on AD.)

UBER and Lyft cannot enter the port area and drop you off at least 100 yards from the terminal. A long difficult walk with luggage.