Puerto Rico Tourism Company

Puerto Rico Cruises | Puerto Rico Tourism Company

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Cruises

Cruises

The port of San Juan, Puerto Rico, offers several alternatives to board your cruise ship on embarkation day. You may fly, into San Juan International Airport. Find your pre-paid shuttle transfer service provider in baggage claim area, to ride shuttle bus, mini-van or limousine. Or, you may be free to board a metered taxi, to embark in a cruise ship. Depending on cruise line, ships dock in different piers within San Juan metro areas, on embarkation day, or even on Port of Call day. Find out with advance time, by asking your travel agent, or once boarded, which pier yours dock.

First cruisers, welcome to one great experience in a mega ship liner or on your yacht! If you booked a Celebrity, Princess and other cruise, be aware they use the Pan-American Pier (787-729-8724). Your ship may dock in one of several piers further from Old San Juan. You may need the transportation assistance of a cab or public bus ride to reach Old San Juan (Historic District). These two piers are called Frontier Pier and Pan-American Pier (Puerta de Tierra District) both within the city but about a mile away from the historic center of town. Both piers nevertheless are closer to other popular but modern neighborhoods such as: Condado Avenue (Downtown Hotel District ) and the new Convention Center facilities, in Miramar also known as Convention District, and Isla Verde, closer to San Juan International Airport. All within sophisticated and modern Metro San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Private Yachting or Sailboating in San Juan? If you cruise to San Juan Bay on a mega yacht or large sailboat, you'll be docked in or nearby Club Nautico, a first class private yacht club facility (787-722- 0177). This distinguished facility is also used for boat charters and for deep sea fishing and sailing cruisers. Docking facilities may be rented for racing boats on special sport events planned in San Juan year round.

If you're visiting San Juan to attend a racing event or a deep sea fishing tournament or just sailing on your personal cruiser boat down Caribbean way, a secondary marina for privately owned fishing boats may be another docking alternative but not for mega cruisers. It is located in the Isla Verde District, called Cangrejo's Yacht Club & Marina. Call in docking rates, (787-791-1015) or for special navigating information for docking assistance.

We surely recommend our guests to explore beyond the shore!

Use your free time to sightsee and shop for souvenirs at least. You have two choices: Old San Juan if you're a first time cruiser. If ship docks is a Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC cruise line ship, then you are closer to history, art, castles and many museums plus unique shopping experiences, that differ from the rest of the Caribbean in many ways. It is possible you may be your cruise ship may be docking in Puerta de Tierra area and not within walking distance to Old San Juan. Piers are known as Frontier Pier or Pan-American Pier. Check with your Cruise Director before leaving the ship, so that you can use you time wisely while in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Going for a second time visit on a cruise holiday? Consider exploring the opposite side of modern metro San Juan. Discover one of several city neighborhoods. Nearest to port area is after Old San Juan (to the North), go in opposite on a cab. Have driver take you to the east, find Condado, (Downtown Santurce). This part is known for being the closest city beach from Old San Juan, and all the deluxe hotels dotting the city's coastline. A perfect change of pace for many active lifestyles about 5 miles from colonial Old San Juan. May we suggest to go shopping for high fashion. On Ashford Ave. where most fine boutique such as Louis Vuiton, Cartier, and other acclaimed designer outlets are found. Perhaps (go south) on superhighway. Visit the Caribbean's largest American style shopping mall, known as Plaza Las Americas Mall, centrally located in Hato Rey (Banking District) or go to outskirts suburban east, to Plaza Carolina Mall as a second time visit choice. If you rent a car, drive even further east to Beltz Factory Outlet.

In town until night time?

Stroll the Condado , Miramar (Convention District), or Isla Verde areas streets. Find a different modern, sophisticated Metro San Juan nightlife where excellent fine dining in beautiful restaurants, casual but elegant bistros, and side walk cafes. Go learn to dance salsa, view a Le Lo Lai folk show, or just try your luck in any of our hotels' casinos where the gambling action to try your luck.

Third time adventuresome and confident experienced visitors, go even further. Yes, go rent a motorbike or a car to discover to suburban municipalities such as Catao, across the Bay of San Juan on public ferry boat to visit new Casa Barcadi's.

Passport Entry Requirements:

Puerto Rico is part of the Unites States since 1998, after the Spanish American War wit Spain. Therefore US passport holders can travel freely to Puerto Rico. Nevertheless, passports will be needed to visit other Caribbean destinations in cruises, so it's wise to invest in getting one from the US State Department to avoid foreign travel identification conflicts. Non-US passport holders do need to present their national identification or passport to entry US port destinations.

USA Immigration Office: Located at ports of entry, like international airports and shipping ports area in Old San Juan can be consulted by officers whenever needed. Contact telephone in San Juan is 787-721-2900.

USA Department of Agriculture: All passengers, including stateside residents, who are traveling to USA mainland, via air or sea from Puerto Rico, must have luggage checked and tagged free of illegal transportation of agricultural materials and pesticides controls. For additional information you may contact 787-721-2120

PR State Department Office is the official government office in charge of handling for lost passports and new passport requests, though they are not issued in Puerto Rico. For additional information contact 787-766-5604

Currency & Banks: Puerto Rico's official currency is the US Dollar. US post Office Money Orders, Travelers Checks, several USA credit cards are widely accepted in most stores and ATM machines found around the city. Foreign currency exchange is handled by international banks at a better rate. Banks in Puerto Rico operate Monday thru Friday from 9AM until 4:00 PM and most open on Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon. They are closed on PR and US Holidays.

Foreign Exchange (at Airport location only):

Communications Systems: Puerto Rico enjoys excellent telephone, mobile, fax, and internet systems in many public areas, hotels, restaurant and special cibernet caf locations. The following are popularly used by cruise passengers and crew. It is called Crew Station Ciber Caf, Pier front in Old San Juan, next to Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel.

Public Pay Telephones: Available in many public areas, but they concentrate in highly visited plazas and public buildings, accessible to cruise piers, like the Bus Terminal across Pier 6 and Plaza de Armas in Old San Juan. Easy access pay phones, using most phone debit cards and they can also be purchased in local pharmacy shops.

US Post Office: Located behind Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel across from Pier 6

In Old San Juan: Other shops are found in Plaza Las Americas and Plaza Carolina shopping malls. Open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM. Closed on USA holiday celebrations. Another reliable source to ship parcels globally is:

Federal Express: 1-800-463-3389
UPS: 1-800-742-5877

Cruise Line Representatives:

Continental Shipping:

Perez & Compania:

Medical & Pharmacy Assistance: In case of emergency, you have several alternatives. Ashford Medical Center and Hospital, located in Condado area is perhaps best as English is widely spoken, but emergency ambulance and attending public serviced medical offices are found in the Bus Terminal Building, across Pier 6 in Old San Juan. In the old city, there is an Emergency Medical Ambulance and SJU Municipal Police Station in Old San Juan: 787-724-5170; otherwise we recommend consulting Ashford Medical Center & Hospital, in Condado area: 787-725-5012 Farmacia Luna, 787-722-0335/725-8292, PR Drug, 787-725-2202, and Walgreens,787-722-6290.

The Walgreens store location in Old San Juan can only sell over the counter drugs and sundries, but other neighborhood locations are complete stores. They can be found in Condado and Isla Verde hotel areas.

PR State Police Station for Tourist Areas (Condado): 787-343-2020

Another resource when visiting old town in a cruise and feeling a little low or getting medicines purchased at drugstores, all located in San Francisco Street:

Getting Married Advice:

License at Demographic Registers Office: 787-767-9120 and VDRL Blood Exam dated 1o days prior to wedding date must be complied. A local Doctor exam also needed. Contract a minister or judge. The whole process can be handled with less than 46 hours on weekdays (no holidays) by local coordinators. Contact Hotel Wedding Planners if in a Pre or Post Cruise Stay, the Cruise Wedding Desk or local wedding planners.