Travelling to San Juan from UK

[Redrobo]

Hope for some information. We are booked on AOS sailing out of San Juan in November RCCL are unable to give us flight or hotels detail and probably won't until July.

Can anyone give info of flights and routing you took with RCCl organising flights, how long was the journey?

What hotel were you put into pre cruise?

We were hoping to extend our stay in San Juan but RCCL want to charge us almost £500 per room night extra and charge us for deviating from a route they have yet to arrange!

[LittleMissMagic]

Are you trying to book your hotel through Royal Caribbean? I recommend not doing that and booking the hotel independently. At this far out, most hotels will allow you to adjust your length of stay once it gets closer to your cruise.

 

Before our cruises from San Juan, we have chosen to stay at the Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino. We stayed using Marriott points, but the price was more around $300/night.

 

I know that many people choose to stay at the Sheraton by the port, and I'm guessing that's where Royal Caribbean will put the guests booking through them - but $500 for the Sheraton is a rip-off. Book it yourself and you can secure your reservation now and probably spend more around $200-300/night.

[uksimonusa]

The OP is posting from the UK, it is much more beneficial for them to purchase the trip as a package, than to purchase seperatly. No protection if anything goes wrong if not bought as a package

[LPCKG]

Hope for some information. We are booked on AOS sailing out of San Juan in November RCCL are unable to give us flight or hotels detail and probably won't until July.

Can anyone give info of flights and routing you took with RCCl organising flights, how long was the journey?

What hotel were you put into pre cruise?

We were hoping to extend our stay in San Juan but RCCL want to charge us almost £500 per room night extra and charge us for deviating from a route they have yet to arrange!

 

We travelled on Serenade of the Seas summer 2011 and made our own flight/accommodation arrangements as we wanted to upgrade our flights using BA miles. I've found it more cost effective to make our own package and book things separately as opposed to booing through RCI - although i always compare prices.

We booked our own flights and flew with BA to Miami, had a few nights in Miami and then flew on to San Juan with AA. BA did offer a direct San Juan flight; I think two days a week but not sure if they still operate this route.

Our cruise TA booked us a one night pre-cruise stay through RCI at Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino, Convention Boulevard. We were not given any options so assume this was the only hotel RCI were offering. The hotel was located really close to the cruise terminal (3 - 4mins, if that, in a taxi); however, wasn't close to the beach. It had a small pool, two restaurants on site, casino, a disco/band played in the hotel reception area (on Saturday night) - not sure if this happens nightly or just on a weekend. The room price was £140RO for the one night.

[Elaine0138]

We are doing the TA to San Juan in November and have just received our flights from RCI.

We are flying back from SJU on US airways via Philadelphia to Manchester.

 

You should get notification of your flights in the next few days, can't help with hotel as we are flying home the day we get off AOS

[Occi]

We stayed in Hilton Caribe one of the nicest hotels we have ever had, the location is great, you can feed the fish by the beach. The swimming pools were lovely and the swim up bar was handy!

 

Sorry I can't help with the flights we arranged our own, a couple of days in New York then 4 days in San Jaun pre cruise.

[kernow]

We are also on the November transatlantic and booked the flights with RCL, ours came through last week too.

 

We had originally booked flights from Birmingham, the return flight they gave us was San Juan to Atlanta, Atlanta to Amsterdam and finally Amsterdam to Birmingham arriving late the next day! We didn't like this so asked if there was anything better and have now got San Juan to Miami, Miami to Heathrow on American.

 

For the transatlantic at least, booking the flights with RCL was much cheaper than anything we could have found ourselves.

 

Julie

[DrSeuss]

Hi there, we have done rhis twice from the uk and both times found it cheaper to diy.

 

First time we took continental and flew manchester to newark , newark to san juan. Stayed for 2 nights at the Marriot Resort and then on the way back stayed for 5 nights in New York.

 

The second time we flew US airways and changed at Philladelphia on the way there and Miami on the eay back with a stop off for 5 days in Miami. I just like to be able to dicate my own flight routes and times.

[Redrobo]

Thanks for the replies. I should mention that the are 11 in our group. We booked the package believing that we would have had some information by now. Our TA spent over two hours on the phone to RCCL trying to get some idea of our flight itinery so we could plan. There is a direct flight from Gatwick two days prior to the cruise and returning one day laterr. RCCL are unable to tell us which hotel we be pre cruise to enable us to book extra days there. They say they want almost £500 per room for the extra nights.

The alternative is the 15 hour journey. Would like to be able to get an early deal for us all on hotels with parking over here. RCCL cannot yet tell us which airport we will be leaving from. They do however want extra money for deviating from a route which isn't yet planned :confused:

Other than that we are all looking forward to a great holiday.

[kernow]

Thanks for the replies. I should mention that the are 11 in our group. We booked the package believing that we would have had some information by now. Our TA spent over two hours on the phone to RCCL trying to get some idea of our flight itinery so we could plan. There is a direct flight from Gatwick two days prior to the cruise and returning one day laterr. RCCL are unable to tell us which hotel we be pre cruise to enable us to book extra days there. They say they want almost £500 per room for the extra nights.

The alternative is the 15 hour journey. Would like to be able to get an early deal for us all on hotels with parking over here. RCCL cannot yet tell us which airport we will be leaving from. They do however want extra money for deviating from a route which isn't yet planned :confused:

Other than that we are all looking forward to a great holiday.

 

 

I'm a bit confused. When you originally booked this a an RCL package did you not have to specify which airport you wanted to depart from, that's the way RCL usually works in the UK.

 

Just because you can see a direct flight from Gatwick, it doesn't mean that RCL will let you use it, within a standard package they choose the flight and it is often non direct because that is the cheaper option for them(there are lots of explanations about this on the cruiseair board).

 

I have no idea if they will let you do this, but could you not cancel the air portion of the package and just book cruise only with RCL then you are free to book the flights and hotels that you can see available yourself.

 

Julie

[NorbertsNiece]

I've originally requested flights for a package with RCCL on a previous cruise. I insisted they confirm the itinerary with me before confirming the flights. When I saw the route they were offering I had that portion removed from the package without charge and booked it myself.

 

It also occurs to me that they may not release the hotel details for you until closer to the departure date. And they can change the hotel even then. I really think you would be in more control of your booking if you take it on yourself.

 

Linda

[welshrich]

I would call RCI and ask them for some more details, in the meantime you could try a few sites for flights so at least you know if you do cancel the flight with RCI you can book yourself. We booked independantly, Gatwick to Orlando and then Orlando the next day to San Juan. It just depends on your peace of mind, I presume that if there are any problems with delays then RCI have to take care of you whereas if like me you book your own then you are more responsible for your flights. Good Luck.

[UKWLDCruise]

I cruised with RCI back to back in Nov from SJ and used their flights etc.

 

The hotel was great, the Caribe Hilton, apart from the little problem of finding your room, the place is huge and layed out across several buildings.

 

The flights were ok, Heathrow to Madrid, Madrid to SJ flying with Iberia, can't say they are the greatest airline but as I said they were ok. Be warned though there is a lot of walking when changing planes at Madrid.

[Addict]

Hope for some information. We are booked on AOS sailing out of San Juan in November RCCL are unable to give us flight or hotels detail and probably won't until July.

Can anyone give info of flights and routing you took with RCCl organising flights, how long was the journey?

What hotel were you put into pre cruise?

We were hoping to extend our stay in San Juan but RCCL want to charge us almost £500 per room night extra and charge us for deviating from a route they have yet to arrange!

 

As others have said, I would DIY. RCI do not seem to want to allow you to change your return flight if you want to book your own hotel for the extended stay. Unless RCI are offering a good deal with flights - and you want to travel when they say, then DIY will be better for you. (Although you will forgo the protection of the package deal). We have tried to add a couple of days on and they will happily change the flights - but what they are charging for the hotels is outrageous. We generally do our own thing for this reason.

 

We have stayed at Caribe Hilton which seems to be their number 1 choice for those on a package - and it is a very nice hotel.

[EtherlyCC]

Here is my tenpeneth.

 

We have sailed out of San Juan 4 times. First twice was on the full package with RCI. We live Near Newcastle. Our flight path has been NCL - LHR - Miami - San Juan the first time (return the same), 2nd time was via JFK. We also wanted to go a few days early so we asked and were told that a £20 each deviation fee was all that was needed, as it is a scheduled flight and times are the same every day. We went on a Wednesday instead of Friday. Booked the hotel myself for the extra 2 nights, Embassy Suites near the Airport (brilliant) free cooked breakfast and free 1 1/2 happy hour on night (6pm -7.30). We were put in the Caribre Hilton both times with RCI, its ok but huge. Nothing much about either so need a taxi to the old town but only about $7.

 

The other two time I have booked independently and must say saved a packet. Same flights but in your control. We normally fly to Miami on either BA or AA but BA is best, also catch them when the sale is on (usually Jan and July). Always stay at the Embassy Suites, again watch for the sale and get a 2 roomed suite for about £80-110 per night.

 

BA do a flight out of Gatwick direct to San JUan on a Monday and a Friday and it only takes about 11 hours against 15/16 via Miami. I am looking into this for our November trip as well but we like to go a few days early not a Friday.

 

Hope this helps, any other questions just ask.

[dolofana]

Flights: We always book our flights and accomodations ourselves to be independent and to save a lot of money. We choose the cheaper Airlines as Air Berlin to Malaga and Condor for San Juan to FRA (nonstop-flight). Both flights are ca. 400EUR (520USD) pP . Maybe that Condor-flight could be a choice for british cruisers?

Hotel: As a group of 6 persons we are looking for a 3BR/2BA appartement in (Old) San Juan (via Internet) that´s a good option for us as the hotels in SJU are expensive.

The prices from RCI are higher and I know from US-guests of our last TA that the flight-itinerary was changed a few times before departure :(

 

Elisabeth (booked TA Malaga-SanJuan in 11/2012)

[robinp]

Are you trying to book your hotel through Royal Caribbean? I recommend not doing that and booking the hotel independently. At this far out, most hotels will allow you to adjust your length of stay once it gets closer to your cruise.

 

Before our cruises from San Juan, we have chosen to stay at the Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino. We stayed using Marriott points, but the price was more around $300/night.

 

I know that many people choose to stay at the Sheraton by the port, and I'm guessing that's where Royal Caribbean will put the guests booking through them - but $500 for the Sheraton is a rip-off. Book it yourself and you can secure your reservation now and probably spend more around $200-300/night.

 

This is a fly/cruise package offered in the UK, the OP will be flown out the night before and put up in a hotel as part of her flight payment part.

 

I have booked all my cruises with RCL as a package - their flight prices have never been beaten in my experiences!

[EtherlyCC]

I have booked all my cruises with RCL as a package - their flight prices have never been beaten in my experiences!

 

I don't mean to be disrespectful but where are you looking for flight prices. A typical difference from cruise only to all in (in my experience) is about £1000 pp for sailings out of San Juan. Compared with doing your own flights (which are your chioce) can range from £1100 - £1400 for 2 return (never paid more than £1400) and then you only need a hotel (say £120 tops) and your transfers (another say £30) comes out at between £1250 - £1550, still a long way short of the £2000 RCI want to charge. These are return trips from Newcastle, via LHR and Miami, I actually had a price last year of £950 for both of us for the direct flight from Gatwick (this was in the July sale) but the dates were not exactly when we wanted. I would always reccomend DIY and shop around the net.

 

No offence meant, just my experiences.

[NorbertsNiece]

I don't mean to be disrespectful but where are you looking for flight prices. A typical difference from cruise only to all in (in my experience) is about £1000 pp for sailings out of San Juan. Compared with doing your own flights (which are your chioce) can range from £1100 - £1400 for 2 return (never paid more than £1400) and then you only need a hotel (say £120 tops) and your transfers (another say £30) comes out at between £1250 - £1550, still a long way short of the £2000 RCI want to charge. These are return trips from Newcastle, via LHR and Miami, I actually had a price last year of £950 for both of us for the direct flight from Gatwick (this was in the July sale) but the dates were not exactly when we wanted. I would always reccomend DIY and shop around the net.

 

No offence meant, just my experiences.

 

Absolutely.

Price at the time I booked for November this year with BA out of Gatwick was around £600 incl taxes.

[EtherlyCC]

Absolutely.

Price at the time I booked for November this year with BA out of Gatwick was around £600 incl taxes.

 

 

Looks like you are on the same B2B as the original poster. Got a roll call?

[Redrobo]

Looks like you are on the same B2B as the original poster. Got a roll call?

On FB and on this site, I think 13 or so have signed up for M&M.

 

Thanks for the replies, if it was just the two of us I would consider DIY however we are a group of 11.We got caught up in the BA strike last time some of us cruised together. hopefully our TA will keep pestering them to get details.

[johnsan]

Hope for some information. We are booked on AOS sailing out of San Juan in November RCCL are unable to give us flight or hotels detail and probably won't until July.

Can anyone give info of flights and routing you took with RCCl organising flights, how long was the journey?

What hotel were you put into pre cruise?

We were hoping to extend our stay in San Juan but RCCL want to charge us almost £500 per room night extra and charge us for deviating from a route they have yet to arrange!

 

Last time we did a cruise from San Juan, we met some friends on the cruise who own a really nice boutique hotel on the beach in San Juan. I would highly recommend it. We are staying there in February. The prices are also very reasonable and the people very helpful when booking.

 

http://www.numero1guesthouse.com/index.html

[NorbertsNiece]

Looks like you are on the same B2B as the original poster. Got a roll call?

 

Yes indeed, totally coincidental, but I'm the only Brit on there and the more info he can get his hands on the better :)