San Juan carnival fascination, how safe/operational is the port now March 2018?

Just booked a cruise from San Juan for February 2019. Many of my friends have told me that Old San Juan and other parts of the area are unsafe. Restaurants and hotels not up to standard. I am just wondering what the current status is of the port. Have tried to google it but not finding much or very recent. Would appreciate any input.

Jenster57

We’ll be in San Juan in June. I know the two forts are open because those are places we specifically want to go and I looked it up. The trolleys have been running for a few months now. Cleanup continues, and will for quite a while, but I think it’s perfectly safe now. And will surely be by the time you go.

I also stumbled upon this blog written by someone who lives there and went through hurricane Maria. In many of their articles, they post an update at the top about the state of particular attractions, open or not.

http://www.puertoricodaytrips.com

Just booked a cruise from San Juan for February 2019. Many of my friends have told me that Old San Juan and other parts of the area are unsafe. Restaurants and hotels not up to standard. I am just wondering what the current status is of the port. Have tried to google it but not finding much or very recent. Would appreciate any input.

 

Jenster57

Have any of those "Many" been there?

We've been twice (Jan- weekend in San Juan, rest of week in Ponce, Feb- weekend in San Juan), and will go back again in May and July this year. San Juan and the tourist areas around Old San Juan are completely back. It's exactly the same as it was before the hurricane (except for the occasional downed *something* you could go searching to find.

Even outside of San Juan, Puerto Rico is clawing it's way back to normal. We've driven across the island, and saw the damage, but you talk to anyone, and they are all working hard to recover (or find a way to move to the lower 48). Some friends who live/work there have their factory back up and running.

It may not be 100% today, but it will be close when we drive around again in July, 7 months before you get there.

Other ports were damaged a lot worse, and they have very much recovered, too- like St Thomas and St Marrten.

Just booked a cruise from San Juan for February 2019. Many of my friends have told me that Old San Juan and other parts of the area are unsafe. Restaurants and hotels not up to standard. I am just wondering what the current status is of the port. Have tried to google it but not finding much or very recent. Would appreciate any input.

 

Jenster57

The Port of San Juan, Old San Juan, and the resort, hotel and inn areas of Condado, Ocean Park and Isla Verde are back to normal, except for a few hotels that haven't reopened yet. The main attraction of El Yunque Rainforest was heavily damaged and is reopened on a very limited basis. Otherwise, other attractions east of San Juan, particularly water sport based activities off Fajardo, are just fine. This is for the rest of the spring/summer 2018.

Now, you're coming in on February 2019. To get an accurate estimate for you, we will have to wait for the 2018 hurricane season to be over. ;)

We were in Old San Juan March 13 with a Celebrity cruise. Nearly every shop, bar and restaurant we saw was up and running. After hiking up the hill towards El Morro (the trolleys were running, BTW) we visited the cathedral, stopped at El Convento for drinks then started shopping our way toward the pier. On the way we stopped at Marmalade for a very unique and enjoyable dinner. At no time did we feel unsafe in any sense of the word. We're looking forward to going back in a couple of years and spending a few days on the front end of another cruise.

Short version - your many friends haven't got a clue.

Agree with the above posters! San Juan is up and running. Not sure where your “Many” friends are getting their information, but they are very wrong.

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Agree with the above posters! San Juan is up and running. Not sure where your “Many” friends are getting their information, but they are very wrong.

 

 

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(y) exactly! Was there in January, had a great day!

"Many" armchair travelers like to offer advice....you've been given some. Instead, listen to those of us with recent personal experience and enjoy San Juan.

Just spent five days in San Juan. Lovely town and lots to see and do. Don't listen to people who haven't been recently. Yes, there is stl evidence of destruction but also much rebuilding. Old San Juan is up and running.

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My DH was there for four months with the SBA/FEMA disaster recovery team. They are ready and really need our patronage. NBC just released an article about this today https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/puerto-rico-crisis/puerto-rico-tourists-boost-recovery-though-some-still-remain-dark-n861866

My DH was there for four months with the SBA/FEMA disaster recovery team. They are ready and really need our patronage. NBC just released an article about this today https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/puerto-rico-crisis/puerto-rico-tourists-boost-recovery-though-some-still-remain-dark-n861866

We ate at Marmalade, mentioned in the article, when we were in OSJ March 13. What a very unique experience. We'd taken extra cash on the trip deciding to put it in the hands of the locals rather than through some octopus organization.

Pehaps your husband can speak to something that bothered us on the trip. We visited OSJ, St Thomas and St Marten. In St Thomas we found several shops accepting only cash, claiming their card readers were down. In one case I noticed the reader wasn't even plugged in. Lying to my face cost that guy a $240 sale. Getting receipts was also like pulling teeth. We were finally told by a kiosk operator that some businesses were doing that to avoid declaring revenue and supposedly qualify for more FEMA funds. Unfortunately, it wouldn't surprise me if that's the case.

We ate at Marmalade, mentioned in the article, when we were in OSJ March 13. What a very unique experience. We'd taken extra cash on the trip deciding to put it in the hands of the locals rather than through some octopus organization.

 

 

 

Pehaps your husband can speak to something that bothered us on the trip. We visited OSJ, St Thomas and St Marten. In St Thomas we found several shops accepting only cash, claiming their card readers were down. In one case I noticed the reader wasn't even plugged in. Lying to my face cost that guy a $240 sale. Getting receipts was also like pulling teeth. We were finally told by a kiosk operator that some businesses were doing that to avoid declaring revenue and supposedly qualify for more FEMA funds. Unfortunately, it wouldn't surprise me if that's the case.

His involvement was helping brick and mortar businesses assess their damage and apply for low interest SBA loans to rebuild and repair. Can’t speak to FEMA funding

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FEMA isn't giving businesses any money. Businesses must rely on insurance or SBA loans to get back on their feet. FEMA only deals with infrastructure and individual citizens/families.

FEMA isn't giving businesses any money. Businesses must rely on insurance or SBA loans to get back on their feet. FEMA only deals with infrastructure and individual citizens/families.

Thanks. I used the phrase the local used - perhaps 'benefits' would have been more accurate?

On T.V. someone said all of San Juan had damage and was closed- Ha_Ha.. Turn off your T.V. and go and have fun. We were there last Jan on the Freedom. Most everything open..Don;t let the arm chair travel QB get you down...