leaving May 7th on Carnival Elation.
going to Half Moon Cay, St. Thomas, San Juan and Grand Turk
well we pretty much have all of our days planned except for San Juan,....there just doesn't seem to be much to do there..and i've read some people say it is their least favorite stop....we could just use it as a "beach day" but wouldn't mind finding something else to do there.
would like to do the bioluminescent bay but do not know...we won't be there in the evening...ship leaves at 3:30.
also i don't really care about "city tours" just not that interesting to me....
anyone have any ideas please reply...thanks....
Carnival Fascination 5/10/2004
Carnival Miracle 5/15/05
Carnival Elation 5/7/2006
Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas 9/10/06
We really love San Juan for a land trip! Unfortunately, like many other cruisers, it's not one of our favorites for port stops!
Normally, on port stops there we just take a taxi to a very old restaurant/bar, El Patio de Sam ,(on Calle San Sebastiean) which is located directly across from the Church of San Jose, 2nd oldest Roman Catholic Church the New World. (Very well know ... no problem getting a taxi.)
After a couple of refreshing beverages at Sam's we walk back to the ship at our own pace ... stopping wherever we wish along the way. All of this is in Old Town which is worth seeing. We TAKE a taxi TO because it is uphill going. The walk back is all downhill!
If you haven't been there, I suggest you take a taxi up to El Morro, tour the fort, and then walk your way back down through Old San Juan. You could even stop at the other fort if you wanted.
If they have an excursion to El Yunque, you might try that. It's one place on Puerto Rico I'd like to go, but haven't made it yet. It is one of the few tropical rainforests in the US, and there are wild monkeys who live there.
My husband is a military history buff, so we went all over all the forts. But it is worth a trip to El Morro, the port at the northwest tip of the Old City, to see the views of the harbor, the Caribbean, and the city. I thought the museum inside did a great job telling about the ciiy's history. It is uphill from the rest of the town!
There is a restaurant in El Convento that serves tapas. El Convento was the convent for the Cathedral across the street, but is now one of the premier hotels. The tapas restaurant is set in the courtyard, so you can get the feeling of what it would have been like to live there.
I really liked walking on the cobblestones streets (which are blue!) and seeing the architecture. And for those of you who need to gamble, the OSJ Sheraton has a full casino.
After a couple of refreshing beverages at Sam's we walk back to the ship at our own pace ... stopping wherever we wish along the way. All of this is in Old Town which is worth seeing. We TAKE a taxi TO because it is uphill going. The walk back is all downhill!
Great Tip Lulu...How much is the taxi from the port to old town?
Great Tip Lulu...How much is the taxi from the port to old town?
Actually, you are pretty much in Old Town when you get off the ship on a Port Of Call stop (different from the embarkation port area). In two blocks or less you will be seeing historic sites!
We take a taxi to El Patio de Sam just because we love to go there and it saves us time and it is UPHILL. The taxi only cost about $3.50 for two(only about a mile) BUT we always give our taxi driver $6.00 for his time and aggravation ... and he's always happy!
We really loved San Juan...it was the last stop of our trip. We walked the little cobbled streets and shopped a little. We visited the Catedral and just had a lazy few hours before heading back to the terminal where we were greeted by delicious complimentary rum drinks! We have lovely photos from that stop. I hope you find something fun to do.
Actually, you are pretty much in Old Town when you get off the ship on a Port Of Call stop (different from the embarkation port area). In two blocks or less you will be seeing historic sites!
We take a taxi to El Patio de Sam just because we love to go there and it saves us time and it is UPHILL. The taxi only cost about $3.50 for two(only about a mile) BUT we always give our taxi driver $6.00 for his time and aggravation ... and he's always happy!
Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers
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Centrum Deck
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Cruise Places
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San Juan
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Have you been to San Juan?
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Unfortunately, like many other cruisers, it's not one of our favorites for port stops! 
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