This is one for Casanova Frankenstein and any one who has stayed overnight in San Juan before or after their cruise. We are doing both and need to find a resonably priced hotel within walking distance (preferably) to Old San Juan. Any advice,positive or negative will be much appreciated.

My sister went in several days before her last cruise and stayed at one of the hotels you'd trust just about anywhere. I can't remember if it was the Hilton or Hyatt but she was very disappointed with it. Said it wasn't up to the standards of even a lesser hotel. Be sure to get first hand feedback before choosing where to stay. It's not the only report I've had on disappointing experiences with hotels there. Hopefully Cas will have his usual good advice on San Juan.

Cheers, Neil

ok here the deal,
Trvlpro
It could have been the Hilton because at the moment there is an issue with constructions, political problems etc. I wouldn't recommend it at the moment.
Bub here is your info,
Remember to book early, most of our hotel get to full capacity very fast since most cruisers wants to stay the day before their cruise.
There are a few hotels near port but will depend on which price range your looking and which cruise you are taking.
here a few options

Hotels: on a few you will have to take a taxi but the price is like $20 to get from it to port,
1. Marriot San Juan hotel ($300).
2. Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino, thisa good option is near the carnival destiny embarkation port you just literaly walking distance ($317).
3.Radisson Ambassador Plaza Hotel & Casino San Juan ($180)

Some Inns not as good as hotels but they are way cheaper pero night:

1.El Canario by the Sea ($106).
2.Aleli By the Sea, in the condado San Juan ($67)

if you need any info let me know...

Thanks so much trvlPro and Casanova.We are checking out the Marriott. Now I have more questions - we have only sailed from Florida ports departing at 4:00 so this 10:00 departure is new,what time can you board the ship? Also, what do you do with your luggage when you have to be out of your hotel but before you can get on the ship? One more question,Casanova we are doing the same cruise as you(southern 7 ports) only we are on Carnival Victory,do you know what pier it leaves from? I will probably have many more questions so thanks so much for all your help.

Well you will be using the Carnival Destiny port the nearest hotel is Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino, this a good option is just literaly walking distance you cross the street and is in front of you.
I am always at the pier at 11:30 am no lines and the bording process is fast you will have to wait until 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm to board ship depending on the cleaning, after that you just go to the buffet and wait until almost 2:00 to enter your cabin
On my last cruise I was able to enter my cabin at 1:40 pm and also it gave me the oportunity to make the necesary arrangement to my dinner time and table number without problems, since there was no one on ship, the table asignment is easier.

As for your hotel I think you check out at 12:00 pm so just ask the hotel manager in most cases the will be happy to help you even sometimes the can let you leave your luggage with them a little bit after checking out.

in port you will leave your luggage almost as soon as you pass carnivals officers on the front of the port so you can leave it before making the boarding process.

Thanks again Casanova! What are your thoughts on the "Courtyard by Marriott San Juan Miramar" hotel? Is it far from Old San Juan? We don't care if we have to take a cab to the pier. Do some hotels have shuttles to the piers? What is the latest we can board the ship since we want to spend as much time in SJ as possible? Appreciate all your help!

Well here is what I can tell you about it:

Is not walking distance from the pier or near airport, so you will have to take a taxi in order to get there. There are a few trolleys that can take you to old San Juan or you can take a taxi from the hotel no problem. As for the food, I believe, you will be near to one of our typical food restaurant "ajili mojili" a great place to eat so if that the case visit them and ask for something typical you will enjoy it...
Also my best guess the price is cheaper than others and it’s a good pre-cruise hotel, If it was my case I’ll go for the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel since I know is near the pier and also you will not need to pay in order to see the old san Juan since is almost on the old San Juan but if you go for the mariot

As for the time of boarding
My recommendation is to board ship the early as you can, remember that you will be the day before on Puerto Rico and after you board ship you can still go out and see old San Juan, please guys if I am wrong let me know, but since PR is one of your visiting port you just check in and after getting all ready the dining room table, the seating and your luggage on the cabin you can still go out and visit the old San Juan. There are taxi in from of the pier if you don’t want to walk or there are a few trolleys that can take you there.

There are problems with the Caribe Hilton? I'm supposed to stay there on the 24th. Would you recommend changing reservations?

Not that I know
Caribe Hilton is a great hotel and a good price I have been there a couples of time on business reunions, its mostly that there is a place near it "Paseo Caribe", its a new hotel under construction plus there is a new renovation on the strets near it, as I remember, and its a little confusing for me, but you should not have any issues conserning this but its election time on Puerto Rico and the politics here make this renovations during election time to get more votes but you should be fine...

quote:

Originally posted by Casanova frankenstein:
ok here the deal,
Trvlpro
It could have been the Hilton because at the moment there is an issue with constructions, political problems etc. I wouldn't recommend it at the moment.
Bub here is your info,
Remember to book early, most of our hotel get to full capacity very fast since most cruisers wants to stay the day before their cruise.
There are a few hotels near port but will depend on which price range your looking and which cruise you are taking.
here a few options

Hotels: on a few you will have to take a taxi but the price is like $20 to get from it to port,
1. Marriot San Juan hotel ($300).
2. Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino, thisa good option is near the carnival destiny embarkation port you just literaly walking distance ($317).
3.Radisson Ambassador Plaza Hotel & Casino San Juan ($180)

...

My wife and I stayed at the Radisson Ambassador last Feb and found it very nice. Priced better than some and didn't require a two night stay. We booked through AAA and got a better rate than what we saw on the web. It is taxi distance from Old San Jaun but taxis were readily available. If you take this option also try a small cafe down the street to the right for breakfast. We thought it was very good. Our friends stayed at the Best Western at the Airport and thought that was good also. I don't know what they paid

I stayed at the Sheraton the last time I took a cruise from San Juan. Like others said, it was right at the port for Carnival Destiny. You can see the ship from your room. They have a trolley that you can take to old-town. We took the trolley, explored, and were able to walk back. It was fantastic.

MamaofEnS

quote:

As for the time of boarding
My recommendation is to board ship the early as you can, remember that you will be the day before on Puerto Rico and after you board ship you can still go out and see old San Juan, please guys if I am wrong let me know, but since PR is one of your visiting port you just check in and after getting all ready the dining room table, the seating and your luggage on the cabin you can still go out and visit the old San Juan.

Casanova - let me get this straight. Are you saying that once you embark onto the ship in San Juan, you are allowed to get back off and visit the area until it is time to leave? My cruise departs San Juan at 8 (or 10, not sure) but we would board much earlier (around 12 or so).

Has anyone done this?

And Bub - I've booked the Embassy Suites in San Juan for two days before my cruise. $160 a night (it was at least, not sure if the price has gone up). I personally know two different groups that gave it very good reviews. Very close to the airport, all rooms are suites, includes complimentary breakfast and happy hour.

Thanks CF,Mike and everyone for the input. Now I guess we need to hear from someone who has boarded the ship and then got back off to visit Old San Juan. If you have done this please let us know.

Here is the deal Mike on departure day:

Adventure of the seas departs at 9:00 pm. as I remember.

Carnival Destiny departs after that, at 10:00 pm

I just call carnival 1-888-carnival and the person at the phone told me you can go to old San Juan even on the first day, embarking day, after you board ship since is a port like Antigua or other ports.
So as far as I know you can do it you can visit old San Juan the very first day of cruising, after checking in and finish with your fun card, at least is what they told me...

Thanks Casanova - I'm not sure if we will take advantage of that since we will be in San Juan for a few days before the cruise anyway, but it's good to know we have the option.

And another question - the AOS is at a separate pier than the other ships, correct? Where are the piers in relation to the Embassy Suites (right near SJU) and how long will it take us to get there? What is the best way to get there and how much does it cost?

quote:

Originally posted by MiketheKid:
the AOS is at a separate pier than the other ships, correct? Where are the piers in relation to the Embassy Suites (right near SJU) and how long will it take us to get there? What is the best way to get there and how much does it cost?

Yes the Adventure (AOS) is in the pier outside of the old San Juan, like a 10 minutes waking I guess from it.

In relation to embassy suite hotel since is near the airport my best guess 15 minutes by taxi and like $20 fee, for transportation taxi is a good option since the can take you directly and the know San juan, also renting a car at the airport and the hotel can give you any needed info.