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Hello
Cruise ship travelers. I have updated the logistic tips on
April 18, 2009
I
hope my cruise ship passenger experience along with my tourist guide
knowledge help you when planning your time in San Juan. My
fun and saving tips is my way to thank travelers for choosing Puerto Rico
as their vacation destination. Re-visit this page to learn of new
tips I will be adding. Tell friends and family about this article. Do
let me know if my tips and suggestions were helpful at info@legendsofpr.com
Logistic tips:
About the Pier's and their location
1. The
Pier’s location will determine if transportation will be needed to Old
San Juan. Taxis are available
when exiting the Pier.
Taxi service is need from
the Navy Frontier and Pan-American Piers. It
is highly recommended to ask for the taxi
rate at the Ground Transportation booth.
To learn about the taxi fares visit the web page of the government in
charge of establishing the rates.
http://www.gotopuertorico.com/puerto-rico-transportation.php#taxi
2.
Pier 1 to 6
is a short walking distance to Old San Juan.
Make a left when exiting the dock and you will find the The Puerto Rico
Tourism Information Center at the end the street. Ask for a map or
join our
DAY
or NIGHT walking tours that departures from the
Sheraton Old San Juan hotel. If closed look for the city information
kioks painted in dark green.
3. Pier 3
opened in Summer 2006. This pier is
for transit cruise ships only. The ships assigned to dock are mainly from
the Royal Caribbean line.
Our specialized walking tours start from across the street from this pier.
Check the new schedules for the DAY
or Night tours.
Shoppers this is for you...
5. Sorry shoppers, the stores
in Old San Juan will be open after 5:00 p.m. if their are
4 cruise ships dock in port. Stores that have a contract with the
cruise ship companies are opened. It is unpredictable to know the amount
of the ships on a specific date, but
you have available Puerto Rican artisans selling their crafts at several
plazas in walking distance from Pier One to Six.
Read
our article about arts & crafts.
Book a specialized and theme night tour in Old San Juan.
6. The majority of restaurants and bars are closed from Sunday to
Tuesday. How about a journey
into Spanish Colonial times under the Caribbean stars?
Have fun with our Night
Tales in Old San Juan tour.
7. A cultural tour in Modern San Juan combined with shopping
(with discount) at the largest mall in the Caribbean that closes at 9PM is
an alternative to have fun. A booklet with discount coupons for the
shopper, visit a museum and historical tour inside the mall available with
our Streetscapes tour
8.
Find out if you will be in port on a local holiday. Some places might be
closed and your entertainment choices will be limited. Our day
and night walking Old San Juan tours are
available on most US holidays.
8. A sales tax of
7%
was implemented in San Juan on August 1, 2007.
9. Learn what you are
allowed to take with you on the plane to the U.S.
http://www-mirror.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs/xtopfprvi.pdf
Planning your tours and time by
yourself when exploring
9. Arrival time is different to the disembarking time.
The ship time is different from
Puerto Rico time.
Ask
your travel agent for both schedules. Double check the local time asking a
local when on land. The time the passengers disembark
will influence in the pre-planned tour schedule; therefore, save money and
coordinate the tours to begin an hour after disembarking time; remember
the long
line you will make to exit the ship.
Check Puerto Rico's current time.
10. Old San
Juan is best seen and appreciated on foot. Touring
on narrow streets
in a vehicle you will pass by the monuments, and your vision will be
limited to the angle and size of the tour bus or taxi window. The driver
has to pay attention to traffic while trying to present basic scripted
information. Read
our tips on how to enjoy Old San Juan.
11.
Our
walking day, and
night
tours specialized in Old San Juan departures
from the Sheraton Hotel that is a short walking distance from Piers 1 to 6.
Make a right when exiting Pier One and a left when from Pier 4 and 6.
Cross the street from Pier 3. Our tourist guide will be holding a sign.
12. Ships docking at 5PM
and/or departing at 10PM, have limitations to experience the culture of
Puerto Rico. An alternative could be to experience the Puerto Rican
culture through the food and rum at a restaurant where the locals
socialize. The Spirits of Puerto Rico
tour provides a 2 hour dinner with rum tasting in a safe and enjoyable
atmosphere.
You need at least 7 hours
in Pier to enjoy the rainforest tour. Remember you must be at least an
hour on board the ship prior to the departing schedule. The
Caimitillo Trail tour takes 4 hours,
it is easy to walk and you get a good feeling for the forest. You
will need 5 hours for a hiking trail.
Travel time is approximately 1 hour one-way with some traffic. It is
suggested to leave the Pier on or before 2PM. The forest's gates
closes at 6PM.
13. Remember to include in your traveling papers the phone number of the tourist guide or tour
company you have signed a contract or interested in calling when you are
in port. A
phone call made from a pay phone costs 50 cents. Our phone number is
787-605-9060.
14. Hop on and Hop
off a bus when exploring Old San Juan.
Wish to see the sites
up-close, but members of the group have walking limitations...
Click the link that
applies to your needs.
Groups
with a maximum of
6 or
12 people.
15. If you are the type of traveler that likes to improvise, ask for available shore
excursions and suggestions at the Tourism Information Center across
the street from Pier One. It
is the yellow colonial house next to a water fountain. Perhaps you might
see and meet our uniformed tourist guide next to the flag poles the Sheraton Old San Juan and be interested in taking one
of our narrative and
entertaining walking tours see
our new schedules for the DAY or at
Night
16. It
is
highly recommended informing the cruise ship administration that you have
scheduled and paid for a tour with another company that the cruise ship
has a contract with, so they will let your group disembark immediately.
Contact
The
Puerto Rico Tourism Company's office near you and ask for the traveler
planner magazines.
17. Immigration and Customs agents
have delayed disembarking in many occasions.
You also want to learn of any traveling requirements suggested by the
Department of State -
http://www.travel.state.gov
18. Tour on your own pace, coordinate your private excursion when traveling as
part of a mini group: family, corporate,
association, friends. Ask your travel specialist for help.
The time in between the Airport and cruise ship
19.
Have fun as soon as you
arrive Puerto Rico and before you board the airplane or ship.
Spend your time
exploring
and seeing beautiful places instead of sitting at the airport and/or
pier.
20.
It is highly recommended to ask
for the taxi rate at the Ground Transportation booth
outside the luggage
claim area.
21. When
your last stop is the airport, I highly recommend notifying the bus
company of how many pieces of luggage to insure you have room for the
passengers.
Read
our tips when searching for a tourist guide.
22. Save 30 minutes of your
time by keeping the cruise ship luggage tags on your luggage, if you have
to check them at the airport. You do not need to stand on the
Department of Agriculture line if your luggage has the cruise ship tags.
Spend your time
exploring and seeing beautiful places instead of sitting at the airport.
We can take care of your luggage.
23. Puerto
Rico can be affordable. More fun and saving tips are available at “Touring with the George Washington coin”.
Finally,
combine the provided “Logistic tips when planning your shore trips in
Puerto Rico” with one of our narrative
and entertaining cultural DAY
or NIGHT walking tours guided by a story telling tourist guide.
Spaces
are limited and reservations are required. Book
on-line today.
DAY or
NIGHT
Letters from cruise ship passengers and a travel agent commenting on the
tips we provided in this article
Hey Debbie!
I will print off the information and keep. When we get closer to
time leaving we will be in contact about what tours to take,
etc. Think we plan to take an evening tour. Think the website
looks very helpful and informative. Thank you and we always
enjoy hearing from you. Regards, Fred & Judy - Date : Wed, 30
Jun 2004
Dear Debbie, This newsletter was very helpful and done very well.
I will be able to use it in the future. Thanks, Claire Pickman, Jerry
Allen Travel, Aventura, Fl - Date : Thu, 1 Jul 2004
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Listen
to tragic love stories and legends under the Caribbean stars
during the only night-walking tour in Old San Juan. 
