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Old San Juan Walking Tour is a popular activity for tourists visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico. This tour takes visitors through the historic Old San Juan town, where they can explore the cobblestone streets and admire the colonial architecture. The Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico is the perfect place to learn about the island’s rich history and culture. The museum houses an impressive collection of artwork from both local and international artists, including paintings, sculptures, and installations. Visitors can also take part in workshops and educational programs that delve deeper into Puerto Rican art and culture. Cruise ships typically dock at Pier 3 or 4 within walking distance from Old San Juan’s historical landmarks such as El Morro Fortress and La Fortaleza – Governor’s Residence.
Cruise Port Guides
When you get off the ship at the San Juan Cruise Port, you will only need to walk about seven blocks to get to the attractions in Old San Juan. You’ll need to get a taxi or book an excursion to get there; it’s about a ten to fifteen-minute ride. Before we get into what the city of San Juan has to offer, it is worth spending a few moments explaining the layout and location of the port, plus the services available to cruise passengers. This explains why these port cities are used as seasonal turnaround ports for homeporting (roundtrip itineraries) by many major cruise companies with ship deployments in the Caribbean. For FY2018, Puerto Rico estimated that ~1,7 million cruise ship tourists will arrive on the scheduled 540 ship calls, generating around USD 250M for the local economy. 2018 ended with handled nearly 1,8 million cruisers via 517 ship calls (21% increase over 2017).
Peak Season for Cruises Arriving at San Juan Port
One popular restaurant is La Casita Blanca, which has been serving traditional Puerto Rican cuisine since 1955. The menu features classic dishes such as mofongo (mashed plantains) stuffed with seafood or meat, and arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas). Another must-visit spot is Raíces Restaurant, which offers a fusion of Caribbean and Creole flavors.
Final Thoughts On Things to do in San Juan Cruise Port
Located in the heart of Old San Juan, the cathedral features impressive religious and historical artifacts and holds the tomb of the city founder Juan Ponce de León. It is said that Ponce de León moved here and was later buried in this same church. From El Morro fortress, you can walk back towards the cruise terminal and pass through the Old Spanish military barracks building on your way to the 16th-century San Juan Cathedral (Cathedral Basilica Menor de San Juan Bautista). If your ship is docked at Old San Juan Cruise Piers you could use the free trolley to take you to the city centre.
The Pan American Pier can accommodate two mega-ships including the world's largest cruise ships such as the Oasis of the Seas. The San Juan Cruise Port is one of the largest and busiest cruise ports in the Caribbean. There are 4 cruise ship piers and 2 modern terminals along the southern shores of historic Old San Juan with a total capacity to accommodate 7 ships at once.
San Juan for the day: What to do while your cruise is in port
In late-September 2020, PRPA (Puerto Rico Ports Authority / managing company) issued a request for proposals for Isla Grande's Pier 15 drydock (southeast from the cruise port). The future project includes the facility's repair (overhaul), maintenance and operation. The drydock was originally built (in the early-1940s) and operated by the US Navy, acquired by PRPA in the late-1990s and not used since 2000.
For Passengers03
Yes, the San Juan cruise port is incredibly accessible and well-connected to the city and its many attractions. Taxi cabs, hotel, airport shuttles, and various forms of public transportation are easily available. Puerto Ricans tend to be very proud of their dishes, and for good reason – Puerto Rican food is as unique as it is delicious. With Spanish, African, Taino, and even American influences, San Juan’s food scene offers foodies an opportunity to indulge.
The port is conveniently located in Old San Juan, allowing for easy access to the city’s historic sites and attractions. With its modern facilities and prime location, San Juan Cruise Port is home to several major cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian. Cruise passengers on ships docking at the piers in Old San Juan, will find that the major historical landmarks of the town are just around the corner. The best shopping streets are in the Old Town and, likewise, some of the best restaurants. Recently updated, Pier 3 has two berths on each side and is for the almost exclusive use of Royal Caribbean ships.
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La Fortaleza allows explorers to see one of the oldest and best-preserved mansions in the Americas. While you can explore it on your own, we recommend taking a guided tour, as it will provide you with a detailed history of the building itself, as well as San Juan and the rest of Puerto Rico. Explore this beautiful 500 year old city on foot with your private guide who will tell you this history of San Juan’s most important and impressive sites such as El Morro, San Jose Church, the Governor’s residence and many others.... The San Juan Cruise Port (SJCP) project is a public-private partnership initiative designed to elevate the Port of San Juan to world-class standards and maximize its potential as a leading cruise destination.
There are also two other terminal buildings (around 1 mile south of the Old Town) in what is known as Pan American Pier, where two cruise ships berth. The Pan American Pier is where most cruise ships embarking and disembarking passengers will dock. However, most cruise ships call at the port for as many as 8 hours, which is enough time to explore most highlights of Puerto Rico. Cruises sailing from Floridian ports may arrive in San Juan around noon and depart late in the evening. If you would prefer to stroll the streets and do a little bit of window shopping, there are plenty of shops lining the streets near the main cruise terminal. Don’t forget you will also find numerous duty-free shops within the port terminals, so save some time to browse before you board.
San Juan, Puerto Rico's Cruise Port Is Getting a Makeover - Caribbean Journal
San Juan, Puerto Rico's Cruise Port Is Getting a Makeover.
Posted: Thu, 15 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
There is a large CVS store/pharmacy which has a large variety of food, drinks, and other necessities directly across from Old San Juan piers 1 & 2 and only 1/4 mile west of piers 3 and 4. For the Pan American Pier, there is overnight parking available at the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino. The Park & Cruise with "Estaciona y Vuela" offers long-term parking and transport services. No matter which excursion you choose, San Juan will surely be your favorite stop on your next Caribbean cruise. There is a natural coral reef that protects El Escambron waters, which makes it perfect for snorkeling.
While San Juan’s Old Town justifiably attracts its fair share of attention, the rest of the city offers plenty for those less interested in history and architecture. Extending outwards from this beautiful city is the San Juan Cruise Port. In many ways, this bustling seaport acts as the gateway to the city and the beautiful countryside beyond it. Originally the island was named San Juan and the port - Ciudad de Puerto Rico. At GPH, we believe that one of the values that continues to make us successful is that we have a global, yet local perspective on port Operations.
If you are cruising with Norwegian (NCL), Costa, MSC, Disney, among others, this is where your ship docks. With around 500 ships visiting San Juan every year, averaging 2 million cruise passengers passing by, the cruise port is one the most popular destinations in the Caribbean. Interestingly, San Juan Cruise Port is included in itineraries sailing the Eastern and South Caribbean but also some cruising the Western Caribbean.
Originally, there were 6 gates surrounding the city, unfortunately, this is the last remaining gate.The Cathedral de San Juan, construction began in 1521, the second oldest cathedral in the Americas. The body of the great Spanish explorer & the island’s first governor Ponce de Leon is laid here in a marble tomb since 1913. A day at the stunning blue watered beaches in San Juan is a day well spent!
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