San Juan Port
Apr 11th, 2004, 04:17 PM
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San Juan Port
My husband and I are taking our three children, ages 8, 14, 16 on a 11 day RCCL Southern Caribbean Christmas cruise out of San Juan.
We are arriving a day early in San Juan to do some exploring. The only hotel that I can find to accommodate a family of five is the Embassy Suites.
I am looking for some advice as to whether we should take a cab or rent a car at the airport. If we rent a car at the airport can you return it at the port? If we don't rent a car, I am concerned about the luggage during the day after we have checked out of the hotel, yet too early to board the ship.
Any suggestions or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated.
Jeri
We are arriving a day early in San Juan to do some exploring. The only hotel that I can find to accommodate a family of five is the Embassy Suites.
I am looking for some advice as to whether we should take a cab or rent a car at the airport. If we rent a car at the airport can you return it at the port? If we don't rent a car, I am concerned about the luggage during the day after we have checked out of the hotel, yet too early to board the ship.
Any suggestions or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated.
Jeri
Apr 11th, 2004, 04:37 PM
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Hello,
I am a travel agent/cruise specialist and I always encourage my clients to take a cab instead of renting a car, especially in San Juan. The people of Puerto Rico speak Spanish first, English second and San Juan is also a large city. It is about 20 minutes from airport to port. Check with the Embassy Suites to see if they have an airport shuttle. Check with the Puerto Rico tourism bureau or with the Embassy Suites for recommendations on a reputable taxi company. You can usually board the ship starting around midday, and hotel checkout times are usually 11 a.m. or 12 noon. The hotel may offer either late checkout or could store your luggage for you for a few hours before you go to the pier - just ask them for details. It will probably be much more convenient and less expensive to use a taxi - the total cost of the taxi ride can be divided by 5 guests and it is usually very reasonable ride.
Please feel free to e-mail me if I can offer any assistance!
Best Regards,
Julia
I am a travel agent/cruise specialist and I always encourage my clients to take a cab instead of renting a car, especially in San Juan. The people of Puerto Rico speak Spanish first, English second and San Juan is also a large city. It is about 20 minutes from airport to port. Check with the Embassy Suites to see if they have an airport shuttle. Check with the Puerto Rico tourism bureau or with the Embassy Suites for recommendations on a reputable taxi company. You can usually board the ship starting around midday, and hotel checkout times are usually 11 a.m. or 12 noon. The hotel may offer either late checkout or could store your luggage for you for a few hours before you go to the pier - just ask them for details. It will probably be much more convenient and less expensive to use a taxi - the total cost of the taxi ride can be divided by 5 guests and it is usually very reasonable ride.
Please feel free to e-mail me if I can offer any assistance!
Best Regards,
Julia
Apr 13th, 2004, 07:52 AM
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Another vote for taxis. If you just have a day, Old San Juan will be your destination. It's just a couple of miles from your hotel, so it shouldn't be too expensive in the cab. Once you get there, parking is difficult, so you are much better off on foot.
Cheers!
Cheers!
Apr 13th, 2004, 10:30 AM
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Just wanted to let you know there may be other hotels to accommodate your family. While it is not on the same level, there is a Comfort Inn in the Condado area off of Ashford Avenue (the main street) that has 2 bedroom suites with 3 queen beds, but 1 bathroom.
Regarding the car rental - if your only need for the car is to get from or between airport/hotel/pier than you don't need to rent. There are taxi vans that will fit all of you and your luggage.
Regarding the car rental - if your only need for the car is to get from or between airport/hotel/pier than you don't need to rent. There are taxi vans that will fit all of you and your luggage.
Apr 13th, 2004, 02:04 PM
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Thank you for the responses. I will look into the two bedroom suite option.
The reason I was contemplating renting a car is due to the luggage.
We will have to check out of the hotel late morning and won't be able to board the ship until early afternoon.
I plan on using that time to explore. So there is my dilemma,what do I do with all this luggage during this time period.
I wonder if the hotel would allow us to keep our luggage in a area of the hotel after check out?
The reason I was contemplating renting a car is due to the luggage.
We will have to check out of the hotel late morning and won't be able to board the ship until early afternoon.
I plan on using that time to explore. So there is my dilemma,what do I do with all this luggage during this time period.
I wonder if the hotel would allow us to keep our luggage in a area of the hotel after check out?
Apr 14th, 2004, 10:49 AM
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We just got back from a Celebrity cruise to S. Carib. out of San Juan. We also got there a day early, "just in case"!
Anyway, we went directly to the pier from the hotel (Holiday Inn Express) after checkout, 12 noon, and they let us board right away. Hope this helps.
Anyway, we went directly to the pier from the hotel (Holiday Inn Express) after checkout, 12 noon, and they let us board right away. Hope this helps.
May 4th, 2004, 07:55 AM
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Lewis:
Thinking of a southern Carib Celebrity cruise myself. How about a trip report? Also, please tell me about your Holiday Inn Express experience, as I may need to get there a day earlier and leave a day after disembarkation. My email address is [email protected]. Thanks.
Thinking of a southern Carib Celebrity cruise myself. How about a trip report? Also, please tell me about your Holiday Inn Express experience, as I may need to get there a day earlier and leave a day after disembarkation. My email address is [email protected]. Thanks.
May 4th, 2004, 11:14 AM
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The two times we have cruised out of San Juan we took taxis to the port. We stayed at the Ritz Carlton the first time because we came in a day early but in Mar 04 we flew from Miami to San Juan the same day with no problems.
May 4th, 2004, 05:01 PM
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Hi tabcourt
We took a taxi from the airport to the hotel $20. and $20 also from the hotel to the dock (Pan American Dock). We only used the hotel to sleep the night before the cruise so for that it's fine. Got in at midnight and left at 11 am. But if we were going to stay after the cruise we would've stayed in a more upscale hotel. The neighborhood is fine though.
Celebrity Constellation is a beautiful ship. We had a balcony room on the Penthouse deck (6000 series). I will never go back to a cabin without a balcony again
The ship is very clean and HUGE. It was only 2/3rds full. The food in the dining room was not that great but there sure was plenty of it. We did eat at the specialty restaurant Ocean Liners (I think), that food was out of this world. For the additional $25 pp, I highly recommend it!
The ports were Domincan Rep, Barbados, Antigua, Grenada and St Thomas. The DR was a rip. It is a port for the cruise lines. Upscale shopping in a little town. Everyone said we should've headed straight down to St. Lucia or Aruba instead of DR. If it weren't raining, we would've stayed on the ship. All the other ports were great!
We would get off the ship, find a cab and ask to be taken to the best beaches.
The beaches were wonderful. The only time we took an excursion was on Antigua. It was a Bon Appetit excursion. Went to a B&B called Harmony Hall for a cooking class and then we ate the food, fantastic! We also went snorkeling at the island just off Harmony Hall.
If you have any specific questions, just ask.
We took a taxi from the airport to the hotel $20. and $20 also from the hotel to the dock (Pan American Dock). We only used the hotel to sleep the night before the cruise so for that it's fine. Got in at midnight and left at 11 am. But if we were going to stay after the cruise we would've stayed in a more upscale hotel. The neighborhood is fine though.
Celebrity Constellation is a beautiful ship. We had a balcony room on the Penthouse deck (6000 series). I will never go back to a cabin without a balcony again
The ship is very clean and HUGE. It was only 2/3rds full. The food in the dining room was not that great but there sure was plenty of it. We did eat at the specialty restaurant Ocean Liners (I think), that food was out of this world. For the additional $25 pp, I highly recommend it!
The ports were Domincan Rep, Barbados, Antigua, Grenada and St Thomas. The DR was a rip. It is a port for the cruise lines. Upscale shopping in a little town. Everyone said we should've headed straight down to St. Lucia or Aruba instead of DR. If it weren't raining, we would've stayed on the ship. All the other ports were great!
We would get off the ship, find a cab and ask to be taken to the best beaches.
The beaches were wonderful. The only time we took an excursion was on Antigua. It was a Bon Appetit excursion. Went to a B&B called Harmony Hall for a cooking class and then we ate the food, fantastic! We also went snorkeling at the island just off Harmony Hall.
If you have any specific questions, just ask.
May 5th, 2004, 05:38 AM
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Lewis,
What was the rate for the HI Express?Is it the only one inSan Juan? I don't think we would need a more upscale hotel, as our flight the next day is at 10am. Unfortunately, the Constellation isn't stopping at St. Lucia or Aruba on "my" trip and will have to make do with DR. What did one of your typical taxi-to-the-beach excursions cost you? Thanks.
What was the rate for the HI Express?Is it the only one inSan Juan? I don't think we would need a more upscale hotel, as our flight the next day is at 10am. Unfortunately, the Constellation isn't stopping at St. Lucia or Aruba on "my" trip and will have to make do with DR. What did one of your typical taxi-to-the-beach excursions cost you? Thanks.
May 5th, 2004, 07:16 AM
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Hi tabcourt
The HI Express was $100-115 if I remember correctly. I do remember it was a good price. Almost positive it's the only one there.
Instead of having dinner on the ship that 1st night in San Juan (the ship doesn't leave until 11pm), we had a great dinner in San Juan at a restaurant called Compostella! Not cheap but the food and wine were fantastic!
Most of the taxi rides were anywhere between $8-10 each way each person. Most of the time we shared taxi vans with other folks.
On St. Thomas we went to a St. Johns beach called Trunk Bay. The taxi to the ferry was $8 each, the ferry was about $8 each and the taxi to Trunk Bay was $4 each, each way.
Even though that was a great beach to go to, it was expensive to get back and forth, IMO. Enjoy!
The HI Express was $100-115 if I remember correctly. I do remember it was a good price. Almost positive it's the only one there.
Instead of having dinner on the ship that 1st night in San Juan (the ship doesn't leave until 11pm), we had a great dinner in San Juan at a restaurant called Compostella! Not cheap but the food and wine were fantastic!
Most of the taxi rides were anywhere between $8-10 each way each person. Most of the time we shared taxi vans with other folks.
On St. Thomas we went to a St. Johns beach called Trunk Bay. The taxi to the ferry was $8 each, the ferry was about $8 each and the taxi to Trunk Bay was $4 each, each way.
Even though that was a great beach to go to, it was expensive to get back and forth, IMO. Enjoy!
May 8th, 2004, 04:43 AM
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hi there, can you tell me are you going on the refurbished Nordic Empress? I have been trying to make sure there will be other kids. My 2 daughters are 11 and 15 - i did not know where it leaves so early if there would be alot of other families. Would loive to hear! thanks, Debbie
May 9th, 2004, 10:59 AM
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Hi Debbie,
Yes, we will be on the Nordic Empress,
December 20th cruise. The kids don't know yet. I cannot wait to surprise them. From what I hear, we should expect many, many kids on the holiday cruise.
My last name is Kreinest, I hope our paths cross.
Jeri
Yes, we will be on the Nordic Empress,
December 20th cruise. The kids don't know yet. I cannot wait to surprise them. From what I hear, we should expect many, many kids on the holiday cruise.
My last name is Kreinest, I hope our paths cross.
Jeri
May 11th, 2004, 10:23 AM
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Oh that is great to hear because the last 2 years we have been on Carnival - once over Christmas and once over New Years but both times it left a little later and the kids had absolutely fantastic time. This is such a great itinerary - did you book 2 rooms - i am concerned the rooms are so small on Carnival they were 185 sq ft. Our last name is Radkay. Thanks and would love to meet you!
May 12th, 2004, 03:05 PM
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Yes, I did book two rooms. One is ocean view and the other is a inside right across from us.
I already regret not booking a balcony for my husband and me.
When we sailed on the Triumph, we had a family suite with a balcony. I really didn't want to share a
room with my children again but will miss the use of the balcony.
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