Flight out of SJU

[lamondys]

Hi All,

 

I just booked a cruise on the Summit out of San Juan. What's the earliest you think I could make a flight out of SJU? I'm not sure how far the cruise port is from SJU airport. The ship docks at 6am, then to clear customs and all that stuff, etc.

 

Thanks

[erniesband]

We've always done a flight after 11AM , anything before that can be hit or miss. TSA in San Juan can be very very slow. And don't forget to do the Agricultural check before checking in for your fight or you're heading back to do it.

 

[jsf]

I would think about noon would be safe, you have to clear the Ag search and customs plus it's about 30 minutes from port to airport plus TSA check point.

[wendycook22]

We have flow out of SJU three times, sometimes it has been fine but we have experienced very slow lines in at check in counters and security check points.  I personally wouldn't book anything before noon hour. I often look for a  flight around 1:00.  

Edited September 17, 2019 by wendycook22

[Tapi]

One little trick about SJU is that no matter which security checkpoint you use, you can access all gates. For example, if your flight departs from concourse B, C or D and the line is insanely long, you can walk over to the dedicated Jetblue security checkpoint at terminal A and then back track, or vice versa. 

[Blazerboy]

I'd be tempted by an 11:00 flight, as, if needed, we could self-disembark. 

 

It 's a quick cab ride- 20 minutes at the most.  I wouldn't try earlier.  Noon is totally doable. 

 

Not sure about other airlines, but you can pay on Jet Blue for their "Even More Speed" access to the TSA precheck line.  It's also included if you buy the "Even-More Leg Room" seats, or are Mosaic with their loyalty program. 

 

There's also buying TSA-Pre, which I really enjoy having. At our airport, they take walkin appointments, so you can do it next time you're waiting for a day flight.

 

Headed to San Juan again in April for another Summit cruise.👍

[garyl62]

We have only gone directly from the ship to SJU one time, that trip we had a suite so we were escorted off the ship, straight to customs, no wait there, directly outside and told the staff we wanted a taxi to the airport, no wait for a taxi, we got to SJU and went through the Agricultural check point and were in the terminal by 9:00AM.  Unfortunately our flight was a 3:00PM departure and they will not let you past security until 3 hours prior to departure.  There are very few seats on the public side of TSA so we spent 3 hours sitting on the floor.  After that trip we learned to just go to go Old San Juan and spend a few hours in town before heading to SJU.  There are limited AA non-stop flights to ORD so not really any earlier flight options.  If you are in a suite and get an early escort off, I'd be willing to try a 10:00, 11:00 very doable.  Then again, I'm a risk taker and enjoy the rush of anxiety!

[K.T.B.]

I've flown out of SJU twice and both times my flight was around 3:00. We did post cruise excursions both times.  The first time we got to the airport at noon and the line was extremely long, they finally had to move us and others to a priority line so we could make our flight.  This year we also arrived at noon and breezed right on through and had to sit for 2 hours for our flight.  You never know...

 

I would definitely not book a flight earlier than noon.  Period.  Any earlier and you run the risk of missing your flight.

Edited September 18, 2019 by K.T.B.

[billslowsky]

I hate flying out of SJU.  However, their duty free shop is outstanding.

[lamondys]

Thank you for all of the helpful replies! What's the best means of transportation to/from SJU to the cruise terminal? What can I expect the fare to be? Thanks again!

[dodger1964]

we did 930 am flight..could have made 830...we were first off the ship and no checked bags.

[sunnut]

18 hours ago, Tapi said:

One little trick about SJU is that no matter which security checkpoint you use, you can access all gates. For example, if your flight departs from concourse B, C or D and the line is insanely long, you can walk over to the dedicated Jetblue security checkpoint at terminal A and then back track, or vice versa. 

 

We've only used Florida ports for cruising in the past. Is San Juan a good alternative for airfare, lodging, port transfers, etc.? (We live in Ohio.) Thanks!

 

 

[phoenix_dream]

I would personally not book a flight earlier than around noon.  Yes, sometimes you could make an earlier flight.  Certainly sometimes people do.  Anyone who says that is guaranteed is giving you false hope.  SJU check-in delays can be extensive, as well as lines for the taxis.  I am basing this on many cruises out of San Juan (at least 10, I've lost track).  I do not know if they user Uber there, so for us we use a taxi.  Don't recall the exact fare but it is not too expensive.

 

You also never know exactly when they will start disembarkation - on this or any cruise.  That is one reason I hate people posting on these boards that you can easily make early flights, no problem.  Often you can, and sometimes you can't.   I have been on two cruises where due to Customs delays (in the US) we were not allowed to even start disembarkation until 9:00 am!  Yes, this is real and yes, it happened to us twice.  Glad I didn't have a 9:30 flight those times.  As it is, our airline had bumped up our flight time almost an hour so we had to run from check-in to the gate and we literally were the last ones onboard.

 

Keep in mind most airlines have limited flights from San Juan to the US and these are generally booked full.  So what happens if you miss your flight?  You could end up waiting hours if possibly not days to get on another flight.  Something to consider when flying out of SJU in particular (as opposed to MIA or FLL where there are many more options)

[phoenix_dream]

1 minute ago, sunnut said:

 

We've only used Florida ports for cruising in the past. Is San Juan a good alternative for airfare, lodging, port transfers, etc.? (We live in Ohio.) Thanks!

 

 

The better question I think is where you want to sail.  SJU cruises tend to have more port days and go to islands deeper south.  Airfare is higher for sure, unless you are comparing it to high peak season like Spring Break.    There are also a lot fewer flight options, so that also keeps the fares higher.  And of course the flight is almost twice as long.  Lodging versus FLL or MIA really depends on timing of the cruise.  During high season, FLL and MIA hotels are pretty pricey so it's probably a wash.  Off-season, they are more reasonable than SJU.  We never use a port transfer per se - we use taxis.  Depending where you stay, that cost is probably a wash.  Dining can cost a bit more in SJU as it is of course an island so it costs more to ship food there.  I have sailed out of San Juan many, many times primarily because we like the itineraries, especially the 7 night itineraries as there are not so many sea days like sailing out of Florida.  

[K.T.B.]

4 minutes ago, sunnut said:

 

We've only used Florida ports for cruising in the past. Is San Juan a good alternative for airfare, lodging, port transfers, etc.? (We live in Ohio.) Thanks!

 

 

 

I personally think so, but I also love staying in Old San Juan, for which many don't.

 

This year the airfare was incredibly reasonable (I suspect because of the previous years' hurricane and their attempt to bring in tourists) and I found a great deal on a hotel in OSJ.  Where we stayed (Casablanca), we could have technically walked to the port from there, BUT you'd need to go over cobble stone streets and a staircase.  Not an easy walk if you have luggage.

 

No idea about port transfers as we have done post cruise excursions, but the airport is not that far from the port.

 

There is Uber in San Juan, but they will not pick up at the airport, though they can take you there, nor are they supposed to pick up anyone from a hotel.  When we did Uber to the port, we moved away from the doorway of the hotel by about 5 feet so the Uber driver would not be breaking the law.  Dumb law, but it is what it is.  Oh, and the cost of that Uber trip to the port?  $3.55.  I did give the driver a $10 tip for helping with the luggage.

[Nachosdelux]

just take a taxi, maybe $25 or so. easiest way.

[Tapi]

9 hours ago, sunnut said:

 

We've only used Florida ports for cruising in the past. Is San Juan a good alternative for airfare, lodging, port transfers, etc.? (We live in Ohio.) Thanks!

Airfare has become very competitive over the years as more and more low cost and ultra low cost airlines have started or increased service to SJU. Southwest, Spirit, Allegiant, Frontier, and JetBlue have multiple flights a day to SJU. Jetblue in particular is the largest airline in SJU with tons of flights to multiple cities in the US mainland and a dedicated terminal. That in addition to major airlines like Delta, American, and United. 

 

Yes, the flight is a bit longer, but it’s not horrendous. You can get to SJU from many US east coast and Midwest cities in 3-4 hours.  

 

Hotels do tend to be a bit pricier but on the same token, cruise fare also tends to bit cheaper as well so I think that it all evens out.

 

In my humble opinion, cruising out of SJU is worth every extra penny spent. It’s the REAL Caribbean, not Cozumel or Nassau. You get to a more in-depth Caribbean experience, many times visiting unspoiled destinations that have not been overly commercialized and Americanized.  

[Mike981]

I have done it twice. First time flew out on the same day we departed and it was crazy at SJU. Second time, I booked us a room before and after the cruise at the Intercontinental. We got to SJU Monday morning and it was dead, nothing like trying to fly home on the weekend.

 

Either way, I hope you have a fantastic trip!

[boscobeans]

One time when we were returning from SJ the line at the airport went across the length of the terminal and back on itself and was not moving. 

I called over to a redcap and he loaded our bags onto his cart and escorted us to an empty ticketing area. We had our bags tagged and were off to security in less than 5 minutes.

 

[varoo]

17 minutes ago, Tapi said:

 

........ In my humble opinion, cruising out of SJU is worth every extra penny spent. It’s the REAL Caribbean, not Cozumel or Nassau. You get to a more in-depth Caribbean experience, many times visiting unspoiled destinations that have not been overly commercialized and Americanized.  

 

 

We agree.  San Juan is a vacation destination in itself, with its charm and attractions similar to old world cities.

 

Another major advantage to embarking/disembarking a Caribbean cruise there is avoiding the rough waters often encountered along the Atlantic coast on cruises to or from Florida.

  

As passengers who fly in to get to the embarkation port, we consider it very worthwhile to spend the extra 2 hours sitting on a plane in order to be able to start our Caribbean cruise down in the Caribbean.

 

[lamondys]

Thank you for everyone's helpful tips and suggestions! We have global entry and tsa precheck. However, we aren't staying in a suite, but we do prefer to self disembark. There's a decently priced flight that leaves SJU at 10:45am. The other best flight option doesn't get us to our final destination until midnight, plus a ride home from the airport.  Still thinking that one over.....

 

 

Safe cruising everyone!

[Nachosdelux]

27 minutes ago, lamondys said:

Thank you for everyone's helpful tips and suggestions! We have global entry and tsa precheck. However, we aren't staying in a suite, but we do prefer to self disembark. There's a decently priced flight that leaves SJU at 10:45am. The other best flight option doesn't get us to our final destination until midnight, plus a ride home from the airport.  Still thinking that one over.....

 

 

Safe cruising everyone!

 

 

In your case I would feel very comfortable on the 10:45am flight.

Edited October 2, 2019 by Nachosdelux

[PelicanLvr]

Last January (2019) we did self -walk off at 7:00 and were sitting at the airport gate (thru security) by 7:45 am.  Very easy and fast.  

 

 

[MightyMike]

I personally would never book before 11:30, but if the ship is on time and everything runs smoothly, you would be able to make it much earlier.

 

I was initially upset at choosing our recent spring break cruise out of San Juan. I found an OK airfare but hotel prices were much higher than I expected. I thought Florida would have been much more reasonable.

 

Then, out of curiosity, I checked flight and hotel prices to Fort Lauderdale and Miami for the same time. Prices there were even worse--even though the flight distance was about half. 

 

I have no problem choosing San Juan over Florida as the embarkation port. Florida feels too much like the Midwest--just hotter and more humid. San Juan feels different--more exotic.

[lamondys]

On 9/18/2019 at 9:47 AM, dodger1964 said:

we did 930 am flight..could have made 830...we were first off the ship and no checked bags.

 Were you TSA Precheck or Global Entry?