Ponce P.R.

[ddean52]

Ponce is one of our ports and yet there are no excursions listed for it! Is there an issue with the port in Ponce? Many thanks.  Dean

[Clarea]

When is your cruise?  Could it be too early for excursions to show up?

[ddean52]

Our cruise is in March, but the excursions for all of the other ports are up and open?

[Clarea]

Just now, ddean52 said:

Our cruise is in March, but the excursions for all of the other ports are up and open?

 

The excursions may not all come out at the same time.

 

Also, try the port of call forum for info on non-ship excursions:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/80-san-juan-pr/

[ONECRUISER]

Was there Thanksgiving 2018 on Serenade myself. Many months out last yr was few choices for Ponce, once got closer to sailing was more offered. But none, strange...

Edited September 20, 2019 by ONECRUISER

[Illbcruzn4life]

3 minutes ago, ONECRUISER said:

Was there Thanksgiving 2019 on Serenade myself. Many months out last yr was few choices for Ponce, once got closer to sailing was more offered. But none, strange...

 

Time traveler I see. lol 😋

[ONECRUISER]

11 minutes ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

 

Time traveler I see. lol 😋

You know I looked at it twice, oh well... Fixed, thanks to your heads up. Almost should left it

Edited September 20, 2019 by ONECRUISER

[Illbcruzn4life]

Just now, ONECRUISER said:

You know I looked at it twice, oh well...

 

been there, done that too many times to count.

 

Have a great weekend!

[ONECRUISER]

21 minutes ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

 

been there, done that too many times to count.

 

Have a great weekend!

Thanks, you too...

[alfaeric]

In terms of things to see- (which you will get on the San Juan board, too)

Ponce Plaza- nice city square with a very nice historic fire station- Parque de Bombas.  And the best ice cream in the world (Kings Cream).  But not much else there.

 

There's also Hacienda Buena Vista- which is a tourist coffee plantation.  It's been at least 20 years since we've been there, but it's pretty cool.

 

And Tibes Indian Ceremonial Center- not sure what the condition of that is.

 

If you like art, the Museo de Arte de Ponce is really good.

 

Good beaches are pretty far away, but there's one near Parguera that also has a Bio Bay. Closest beach is La Guancha.  

 

I have family there, so we visit pretty often.  But I'm not really sure why it's a port stop- it's far more a working town than Old San Juan and the resorts near it.

[mafig]

Don't they have casinos, too?

[alfaeric]

14 minutes ago, mafig said:

Don't they have casinos, too?

Yes, 3- one at the Hilton, which is reasonably close to the port, one at the Plaza, in the Plaza Ramada, and one west of town on the hill in a Holiday Inn.

[gmachar]

We did a walking tour with Isle Caribe last year from our Celebrity ship. It was the first time Celebrity stopped in Ponce & they were very excited to have the ship there! The tour we took was the only tour operator who was based in Ponce, but they brought in tour operators from San Juan. We just took a cab downtown & met the tour there. There were students posted all over the town to answer questions & direct people. We paid $47 for 2 & thought it was very interesting.

Charlene

[ddean52]

BTW how would you compare Royal to Celebrity?

 

we've done 28 with Royal and thinking about something different?  Thanks. Dean

 

 

[gmachar]

I tend to pick the cruise for the itinerary & best price - Celebrity seems to always have great perks, but otherwise they seem comparable.

Charlene

[stompy]

On 9/20/2019 at 5:11 PM, alfaeric said:

In terms of things to see- (which you will get on the San Juan board, too)

Ponce Plaza- nice city square with a very nice historic fire station- Parque de Bombas.  And the best ice cream in the world (Kings Cream).  But not much else there.

 

There's also Hacienda Buena Vista- which is a tourist coffee plantation.  It's been at least 20 years since we've been there, but it's pretty cool.

 

And Tibes Indian Ceremonial Center- not sure what the condition of that is.

 

If you like art, the Museo de Arte de Ponce is really good.

 

Good beaches are pretty far away, but there's one near Parguera that also has a Bio Bay. Closest beach is La Guancha.  

 

I have family there, so we visit pretty often.  But I'm not really sure why it's a port stop- it's far more a working town than Old San Juan and the resorts near it.

 

I still can't believe they bought Leighton's Flaming June for $110.  It must be worth millions now...

 

 

[Guatiao]

On 9/20/2019 at 9:11 PM, gmachar said:

We did a walking tour with Isle Caribe last year from our Celebrity ship. It was the first time Celebrity stopped in Ponce & they were very excited to have the ship there! The tour we took was the only tour operator who was based in Ponce, but they brought in tour operators from San Juan. We just took a cab downtown & met the tour there. There were students posted all over the town to answer questions & direct people. We paid $47 for 2 & thought it was very interesting.

Charlene

Isla Caribe has a nice "what to do" blog post about Ponce.

 

https://islacaribepr.com/index.php/2018/11/06/10-things-to-do-on-a-cruise-stop-in-ponce/

[Tatka]

On 9/20/2019 at 11:09 PM, ddean52 said:

BTW how would you compare Royal to Celebrity?

 

we've done 28 with Royal and thinking about something different?  Thanks. Dean

 

 

Celebrity is more refined in terms of accommodations, food, service, pax, but entertainment is weaker.

If you are Diamond or higher you will be Elite there automakers and they also have nice loyalty program.