San Juan Airport

[truffles2]

I am traveling alone, this service would be a great help to me. I have already purchased my transfer from RCCL.

 

If you have purchased your transfer from RCI 2 wks prior (I think it was), the service will be provided at no additional charge by US Air.

[YaMamma]

For those of you saying that USAirways didn't offer this program for San Juan, I called USAirways yesterday (4/3/07) and was told that they DID. :confused:

 

The rep asked me what cruise line...she then called down to USAirways in San Juan and was given the details that I posted ealier.

[EmJakeBubbie]

we are getting the RCI cruise-air pkg, flying US Airways. Do I understand correctly that, Yes we'll get our boarding passes and check our bags thru from the SERENADE prior to disembarkation? will we have to pay xtra to do this? (any discounts for being Diamond?)

[robtulipe]

What are the liquor prices like in the duty free shop that allows you to carry the liquor directly onto the plane with you?

Prices were cheaper on St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Around $10 for a liter of rum whereas you could buy PR or USVI rum for less than $3 a liter at shops/supermarkets on both islands or Kmart on St. Thomas. There was similar difference for other liquors. DW bought Cruzan coconut rum on for $6 a liter on St. Maarten (Philipsburg downtown) and I believed it was $13 at SJU.

[Bonnie&Rob]

We flew out of SJU on 3/25 via US Airways and it was a horror show. the line snaked around the counters 3 times before going outside and continuing. Most people waited at least 3 - 3 1/2 hours just to check in. There were no kiosks working, so everyone was manually checked in.

 

Because of the long lines, there were a lot of missed flights resulting in even more time at the counter for folks to try and reschedule. It wasn't a happy place to be, let me tell you.

 

I will say that this seemed to be a problem at US Air only. There was NO ONE in line at the Delta counters, and security check in was quick.

 

As for the duty free question, there are a few duty free stores past the security check point where you can buy and bring your purchase on board. Just remember it has to be AFTER the security checkpoint.

[YaMamma]

we are getting the RCI cruise-air pkg' date=' flying US Airways. Do I understand correctly that, Yes we'll get our boarding passes and check our bags thru [b']from[/b] the SERENADE prior to disembarkation? will we have to pay xtra to do this? (any discounts for being Diamond?)

 

From what I understand, if you're on a saturday to saturday cruise, by Friday night on the ship you have to submit the form indicating your desire to participate in the pier check-in program. You list your airline, flight number, flight time. Not clear on if you get your boarding passes on the ship prior to disembarkation or if you get the boarding passes at the pier, when you check-in your luggage with the airline rep.

 

From what I understand, it's $10 pp if you do your own ground transportation. Free if you buy your ground transportation through RCCL.

[YaMamma]

We flew out of SJU on 3/25 via US Airways and it was a horror show. the line snaked around the counters 3 times before going outside and continuing. Most people waited at least 3 - 3 1/2 hours just to check in. There were no kiosks working, so everyone was manually checked in.

 

Because of the long lines, there were a lot of missed flights resulting in even more time at the counter for folks to try and reschedule. It wasn't a happy place to be, let me tell you.

 

You avoid this though if you do the pier check-in, right? You would then only have to wait on the security line once at the airport......

[Ocean Boy]

From what I understand, if you're on a saturday to saturday cruise, by Friday night on the ship you have to submit the form indicating your desire to participate in the pier check-in program. You list your airline, flight number, flight time. Not clear on if you get your boarding passes on the ship prior to disembarkation or if you get the boarding passes at the pier, when you check-in your luggage with the airline rep.

 

From what I understand, it's $10 pp if you do your own ground transportation. Free if you buy your ground transportation through RCCL.

I am not so sure about that. As I posted earlier I was on a Sunday-Sunday cruise and had to make the commitment by Friday evening so I suspect that a Saturday-Saturday cruise would probably be Thursday evening. Boarding passes, as well as luggage tags, are delivered to your stateroom the day before arrival in San Juan.

[Ocean Boy]

You avoid this though if you do the pier check-in, right? You would then only have to wait on the security line once at the airport......

 

That is correct. You go directly to the security check point upon your arrival at the airport.

[willysgrandma]

Give yourself at least three hours if you are flying home on the day the cruise ship leaves. The lines at San Juan were among the worst I've seen in an airport. The lines to just check in with your airline were long enough - we did self check in with American and it still took a half hour to drop the bags, it was poorly run.

 

And then getting through security took another 45 minutes - the lines were also slow.

 

If you are leaving Monday, I'd leave at least 2 hours - it probably won't be as crowded, but plenty of cruise passengers stay over another night, so just make sure you are at least 2 hours early to be safe.

[Twice_a_year]

We used the valet luggage package on the ship - $10 each person up to a 2 bags per person. Found it to be EXCELLENT and would do it again.

 

This was a Saturday. We arrived at the airport much too early (1:00 for a 6:00 flight). Luckly I found the new casino at the airport - slots and tables. Afterwards we had a nice afternoon meal and went to our gate just before five. We had no problem. We could have arrived at the airport at 4:30/5:00 without a problem.

 

The other question - carry on of alcoholic purchases. The St. Thomas stores pack my two bottles of JW Black (great price) in an "air plane safe" box. Had to be packed in our luggage not carried on plane.

[Annefran]

After reading about everyone's horror stories with SJU Airport, definitely going to use the Pier check-in for our AA flight home. I haven't been to SJU Airport in about 10 yrs. We would vacation in Puerto Rico every year to visit my ex-husband's family. I always remember it being VERY busy but not this bad. We always flew AA too, not sure if that made a difference or not. Thanks for all the wonderful helpful information all!!! :D

[jw01]

So we disembak in San Juan and normally would take a cab to the airport. If we do the ship's Bacardi factory tour post cruise, does that include keeping our bags and transporting us to the airport? If the tour costs $33 per person (2 of us) is it more worth it knowing that we will avoid the $10 each bag check and the cost of a cab to get to the airport? Does the ships version of the tour still include a few free drinks and enough time to enjoy?

[CPT Trips]

Our experience at SJU was not bad - BUT we had a weekday, 8 pm flight. I suspect that had something to do with it. We were not on RCCL so we had to tote our luggage over to Old San Juan for the day. Still, we were through Agriculture, the airline and security in about 1/2 hour. Just to say it can go smoothly.

The airport's eating selection is poor and overpriced! TSA is a mess (they have their own rules, not what a mainland ff is used to). But it was relatively quick.

[Ocean Boy]

So we disembak in San Juan and normally would take a cab to the airport. If we do the ship's Bacardi factory tour post cruise, does that include keeping our bags and transporting us to the airport? If the tour costs $33 per person (2 of us) is it more worth it knowing that we will avoid the $10 each bag check and the cost of a cab to get to the airport? Does the ships version of the tour still include a few free drinks and enough time to enjoy?

 

I believe that the answer to your first question is... yes. So you are looking at, for 2 people, $66.00 vs. $20.00 for airline check-in and bag transportation (it is $10.00 per person not per bag as you wrote) plus about $20.00 cab fare including tip. So it is $66.00 vs. approx $40.00. However, you will still have to go through check-in when you get o the airport if you do the ships tour.

[howard6933]

San Juan airport can be a "zoo" and I really must apologize to the regular zoos where they keep animals.......the airport is worse by far. On one of our cruises, our flight was in the afternoon, so after checking our bags and getting a boarding pass, we were looking forward to around a 2 hour wait.

Belive it or not, we COULD NOT find a single place to sit anywhere. We finally went to a coffee shop and ordered a snack, and then sat there for over an hour and a half. Then the lineup at the security area was a mile long.

From now on, if we ever sail out of San Juan (and that's a big maybe) we will stay in SJ a day or two after the cruise, and hopefully the airport will be better. :rolleyes:

[Big Sky Country]

From now on, if we ever sail out of San Juan (and that's a big maybe) we will stay in SJ a day or two after the cruise, and hopefully the airport will be better. :rolleyes:

 

Actually, that strategy would make a big difference. Sunday's are horrible due to the cruise ships. You have people both coming and going to multiple ships. I find SJU fine and typically don't have a problem except on Sundays. Even when I travel for work and I have to leave on a Sunday, I opt for Saturday instead to avoid "tourist mob scene" day.

[scoop45]

we are flying united airlines in mid afternoon on the return home on a sunday. plenty of mention for us air and american airlines. was wondering how the lines/wait times were for united. thanks.

[EmJakeBubbie]

We can (and will) slam SJU airport till the cows come home - everything written is true: inferior food selections w/high pricing; TSA does their own thang (it's true!!grrrrr) - puff technology slows the process down - too many people doing the same thing at the same time in the same place. Not much one can do about it IF one desires a SJU cruise embarkation. I am given to believe that the "check your bags thru / get your boarding pass from the cruise ship" is adviseable, no matter xtra expense. This being said, I am compelled to add: believe it or not the current airport is a huge improvement over what we used to experience in early cruise days. SJU was forced to upgrade, but they've missed the mark -- especially for food/beverage choice and seating! At least the SERENADE, IMHO, (and Maritza) make the horrible airport experience tolerable.:)

[CPT Trips]

We can (and will) slam SJU airport till the cows come home - everything written is true: inferior food selections w/high pricing; TSA does their own thang (it's true!!grrrrr) - puff technology slows the process down - too many people doing the same thing at the same time in the same place. Not much one can do about it IF one desires a SJU cruise embarkation. I am given to believe that the "check your bags thru / get your boarding pass from the cruise ship" is adviseable' date=' no matter xtra expense. This being said, I am compelled to add: believe it or not the current airport is a huge improvement over what we used to experience in early cruise days. SJU was forced to upgrade, but they've missed the mark -- especially for food/beverage choice and seating! At least the SERENADE, IMHO, (and [b']Maritza[/b]) make the horrible airport experience tolerable.:)

 

No airport or flight TO a cruise is bad (as long as you make the cruise), and no airport or flight back FROM a cruise is any fun. But at least you are relaxed on the way back.

Have yet to find a TSA worker of FA that held a candle to my waiters!

[EmJakeBubbie]

CPT Trips -ok, I'll take the bait: which waiters? and what does FA mean? agree about statements TO a cruise FROM a cruise:D

[CPT Trips]

CPT Trips -ok' date=' I'll take the bait: which waiters? and what does FA mean? agree about statements TO a cruise FROM a cruise:D[/quote']

The waiters on the ship I just left :(

FA= flight attendant - kind of confusing since I typed "of" when I meant to put "or" - my bad.

[Annefran]

OK from everything that I've read from your great postings, I summarized the following:

 

1. Definitely check in at the Pier and be free of luggage for the day.

2. You will avoid the long check in lines at the airport by doing this.

3. Either eat a big lunch since there's not much to eat at the airport and it's expensive.

4. Bring snacks to the airport in case of delays.

5. Expect to sit on the floor since there aren't many seats.

6. Have a book or magazine to read since the flight will be delayed.

7. Try to have a mound of patience.

 

Did I miss anything? :rolleyes: Anne

[EmJakeBubbie]

I want to hear more about the airport casino:D

[CPT Trips]

OK from everything that I've read from your great postings, I summarized the following:

 

1. Definitely check in at the Pier and be free of luggage for the day.

2. You will avoid the long check in lines at the airport by doing this.

3. Either eat a big lunch since there's not much to eat at the airport and it's expensive.

4. Bring snacks to the airport in case of delays.

5. Expect to sit on the floor since there aren't many seats.

6. Have a book or magazine to read since the flight will be delayed.

7. Try to have a mound of patience.

 

Did I miss anything? :rolleyes: Anne

 

Bring some limes and mint to mix with the rum you buy at the duty free store.