Hi all,

I was advised not to book a return flight before Noon by a rep from Carnival. Since the morning flight was out, We aren't leaving Puerto Rico until 4pm. I understand the last day is breakfast and off-the-boat. I have a transfer from the pier to the airport.

Does this mean we can expect to have to sit around the airport all day? What might be some options? Our cruise is on the Destiny, btw.

Thanks,

David

Usually the cruise line offers some type of excursion for those with late flights.

I don't know what airport you will be flying out of, but we will have to get off the ship early for the last day too, and have quite a wait at the airport. We are flying out of Ft. Lauderdale and they have a place that you can store your "carry on" luggage, which will help us out a lot, so we can check the "sights" out.

You might check and see if the airport you are flying out has this also.

brneyes

well here is how it goes on your last day of cruise in carnival Destiny as I remember from last year:

* There is the self asistance service,around 7:00 am., where you take your luggage by yourself and they are the first ones to go but also they have to get their breakfast very early.

* After that the people on tours of Puerto Rico will be next.

*Then it depends on the floor calling you can be first or can be the last I have never understood the order on this ship but for some reason I am always the last to leave ship.

* Here the recomendation: take the Bacardi tour this sunday on your last day of cruise. They will take you from port with all your luggage on the transport bus, you can kill the time before going to the airport and remember that either way you will have to be on the airport at least two hours before your fly so the tour will be a great ending to your tour.

If you take a Carnival Excursion then your luggage will be on the bus and you will be dropped off at the airport at the end of the excursion. If you want to explore on your own you could store your luggage at Barrachina's in Old San Juan. It is located at 104 Fortaleza in Old San Juan. Barrachina's has good food and is the home of Pina Colada's. You could explore Old San Juan, eat a late lunch, then gather your luggage and head to the airport.

^^^^^
That's also a good advice.
I did not mention it because I guess, this will depend on the very first day of cruising.
if you arrive early 11:30 to 12:30 pm. the first sunday you can drop your luggage and be on your cabin by 2:00 pm. no lines and no problems, so there is enough time for them to visit the Old San Juan that very first day.
Remember that carnival destiny embarking port is almost on the old San Juan so maybe they will visit the old San Juan that day and the sunday after they can visit the Bacardi company

We are arriving in San Juan on the day prior, at 3:30 in the afternoon and staying at the Caribe Hilton. So far, there's no opportunity to book an excursion on our last day. I'll keep an eye on it.

Thanks for all the responses!

In February, we were late returning to Mobile. The fog was so dense that we sat near Dauphin Island for more then 4 hours (While the fog horn blew every 15 minutes. It was loud, but at least we were safe.) We ended up getting off the ship “around” 11:30am. I am not sure what happened to those people that did not book through Carnival and did not purchase trip insurance, but I sure know there were a lot of unhappy people screaming into their cell-phones. I will never book an early flight just in case.

I've had a simular situation in San Juan. We booked a Tour on the ship.

Here is a link as an example of the Debarkation Tours that may be available. Scroll down to the one's that say Debarkation Day.

Cruise Fanatic, great info about Barrachina's. I don't want to start a debate about the Home of the Pina Colada, but I've always heard it was the Caribe Hilton.

Dwayne

This message has been edited. Last edited by: IslandCruz,

^^^^^
IslandCruz the two of you are wrigth about the Pina colada. For all I know, the pina colada was invented on the Caribe Hilton by a bartender. after that he leave the caribe Hilaton and open a new place "Barrachina's" as his new business and start calling it "the home of the Pina Colada" so as you see in some way the two places are related to the pina colada and you both are wrigth...

There is also El Morro to visit and San Cristabol both old forts with lots of picture taking and history...Depending on where you dock, you could walk there...The rain forest is also a nice tour....Happy Cruising...

Bob E

Bob, We did the Rain Forest tour on Debarkation day and really enjoyed it too.

Thanks Cas, for clearing that up about the pina coladas.

Dwayne