Cruise ships san juan: San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port Guide

San Juan Puerto Rico Cruise Port Guide

The San Juan Cruise Port is host to an estimated 500 cruise ships (approx. 18 different cruise lines), and nearly 2 million passengers travel to Puerto Rico through this port – every year.  Most Eastern and Southern Caribbean cruises include a stop in San Juan offering travelers an opportunity to experience a little bit of the magic of this extraordinary city.  Many cruisers eventually return to spend a few more days in San Juan in order to explore the city in more detail, and we think you will want to do it as well once you get here and experience the magic of San Juan. 

Keep reading for more information about the cruise piers and terminals, a map, related cruiser guide links, answers to frequently asked questions from potential cruisers (FAQ), booking a cruise, and cruise lines frequenting San Juan.

The San Juan Cruise Port is the largest and busiest cruise port in the Caribbean.  There are 4 cruise ship piers and 2 modern terminals along the southern shores of historic Old San Juan with a total capacity to accommodate 7 ships at once.   The strategic locations of these piers give tourists easy walking access to Old San Juan and its many attractions.  In addition, just 1 mile southeast, across the San Antonio Canal, are 2 more large modern cruise ship terminals at the Pan American Pier, which can hold 2 more cruise ships.  

In order to plan your stay or day in San Juan, be sure to inquire about which pier your ship will be docking at or departing from.  Although we provide some information below on piers used by certain cruise lines, be sure to contact your booked cruise line or call the San Juan Cruise Port at 787-723-2260, Pier (Muelle) 4, in Old San Juan in order to verify the arrival or departure pier location.  By being informed you can prepare for whether you’ll need transportation (taxi), find a nearby hotel, and plan adequate travel time for getting to or from the ship.

Home Port cruise lines (Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Disney, Princess) often use San Juan as their departure port, thus cruises embark from San Juan.   Transit ships are those docking for a day or two originating from another homeport.  See the map below for pier locations.

Old San Juan Piers & Terminals

The Old San Juan Cruise Ship Piers are the most convenient for cruisers, at arrival all visitors have to do is cross the street to begin exploring the treasures of Old San Juan.

• Pier 1 – Modern passenger terminal (2 ship capacity) used by various cruise lines
• Pier 3 – Reconstructed pier for transit ships only (2 ship capacity), managed by Royal Caribbean
• Pier 4 – Modern passenger terminal (2 ship capacity) used & managed by Carnival for arrivals & departures
• Pier 6 – Wharf at Bahia Urbana (1 ship capacity) only used on heavy cruise traffic days

As soon as you get off your ship, you can easily walk the 7 blocks magical city of Old San Juan and enjoy the top attractions on foot.  Cruisers also have the option to use the free trolley making it more convenient for visitors with limited mobility to enjoy the main attractions the city has to offer.   The most convenient hotel to stay at near the cruise terminals is the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino, just across the street from the piers.

Pan American Pier & Cruise Terminals

The Pan American Pier has two modern two-tiered passenger terminals (I & II) and is located on Isla Grande, besides the Isla Grande Airport and near the Puerto Rico Convention Center.  Two mega-ships can dock at the Pan American Pier terminals.  Depending on your cruise line and cruise ship traffic, your ship may arrive and dock here for the day and will most likely embark from here if San Juan is the home departure port.  The only thing within reasonable walking distance is the Isla Grande Airport, Puerto Rico Convention Center, Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino, and the Hyatt House Hotel.  You will have to take a taxi or book a tour in order to visit the historic Old San Juan or New San Juan.  It is a 10-15 minute ride into Old San Juan and will cost you $10 if your cruise line does not pay for it.   The most convenient hotels to stay at near the Pan American Pier terminals are the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino and Hyatt House Hotel.

What pier will my cruise ship dock at or embark from in San Juan?

In general, arriving transit ships that are day-docking for one afternoon/ evening in San Juan usually dock at the Old San Juan Piers (Muelle 1, 3, 4, 6), so you can walk right out into Old San Juan and avoid taking a taxi.  We believe an exception to this rule to be Celebrity Cruises which typically day-dock at the Pan American Pier.  Cruises that start in San Juan (home departure port) usually leave from the Pan American Pier Terminals I or II.  However, Carnival cruises embark from the Old San Juan Pier 4 terminal if San Juan is the home departure port.  Again, be sure to contact your cruise line or call the San Juan Cruise Port at 787-723-2260 to verify the arrival or departure pier location.

Do I need a Passport for a cruise to / from San Juan, Puerto Rico?

Puerto Rico is a U. S. territory and its residents are U.S. citizens.  You do not need a passport if flying from the U.S. to Puerto Rico or vice versa. You only need a government issued photo ID, like a driver’s license. If you are a U.S. citizen, and you board a cruise ship at a U.S. port (which includes San Juan), and travel only within the Western Hemisphere, and return to the same U.S. port on the same ship, you will most likely NOT need a passport unless you enter a foreign country as part of the cruise itinerary. A U.S. or Puerto Rico driver’s license should suffice. For children under 16, a birth certificate is typically required. However, check with your cruise line to be absolutely sure what documentation is needed.

What is the closest airport to the San Juan Cruise Port?

Isla Grande Airport is officially the closest airport, but it’s a fairly small, single-runway airport with primarily regional flights.  Read more about Isla Grande Airport.  The closest major airport is the San Juan International Airport, which is 8 miles east of the Old San Juan piers and 7 miles east of the Pan American pier.   A taxi ride will cost you approximately $23 with luggage and take about 20 minutes.

What is there to do in San Juan, Puerto Rico?

There are many fun and exciting things to do, attractions to see and great places to eat.  Tours of the San Juan National Historic Site and the Bacardi Rum Distillery Tour are just two examples.  Also see our attractions map.  San Juan Happy Tours, (787) 237-7727, is dedicated to, and specializes in providing tours or transfers to cruise ship passengers upon arrival to the San Juan Cruise Port.  Look for their uniformed shirts and vehicles waiting at the terminal.  They come highly recommended – especially for tours of El Yunque Rainforest.

You can also contact nearby beachfront resorts ahead of time to arrange for a day pass which allows you to access their resort facilities for a fee.

What are recommended hotels near the San Juan Cruise Port?

Are there car rentals near the San Juan Cruise Port Terminals?

Yes – Hertz has a rental location inside the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel which is across from the Old San Juan cruise piers.   For the Pan American cruise pier, Hertz and Enterprise have car rental locations at the Isla Grande Airport nearby and Avis has a rental location in the nearby Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino.  Port transfer services.  More about car rentals near cruise terminals.  Or click here for a Map.

Is there parking available at the San Juan Port Cruise Terminals?

There are numerous, safe overnight parking garages in Old San Juan around the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino, which is across from the Old San Juan cruise piers.  The Covadonga Parking Garage offers cruisers special parking rates, is nice, safe, and conveniently located across from pier 4 behind the bus terminal and police station.  Call them at (787) 722-2337 or (787) 721-6911 for special rates and reservations.  For the Pan American Pier, there is overnight parking available at the nearby Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Casino parking garage for $16 per day and a limited number of outdoor lot spaces available at the Isla Grande Airport for $8 per day.

Park & Cruise with “Estaciona y Vuela” – offers transport services and low long-term parking rates.

For more detailed information see Parking Guide – Tourist Districts in San Juan.

Is there a beach close to the San Juan Cruise Port?

Are there places to shop and eat within walking distance of the San Juan Cruise Port Terminals?

If your ship docks at an Old San Juan pier, yes – you can walk just a few blocks into Old San Juan or hop on the free trolley to San Francisco and Fortaleza Streets, or walk to Calle del Cristo and Calle San Sebastian – filled with shopping and dining establishments.  Tip: there is a large CVS store/pharmacy which has a large variety of food, drinks, and other necessities directly across from Old San Juan piers 1 & 2 and only 1/4 mile west of piers 3 and 4. 

If your ship docks at the Pan American Pier: Shopping? no – you’ll have to take a taxi into Old San Juan for $10, or to the Condado fashion shopping strip on Ashford Avenue for $12 where the best stores are across from Ventana el Mar Park.   You can also take a taxi for $14 to the largest shopping mall in the Caribbean, Plaza Las Americas, located in nearby Hato Rey, San Juan.  Places to Eat? yes – there is a Sizzler close-by at the San Juan Bay Marina and restaurants in and around the nearby Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel & Convention Center.

Are there places to store luggage in San Juan before or after a cruise

Yes…

1) If you’re staying at a hotel in Old San Juan (near Old San Juan Cruise Piers) or the Puerto Rico Convention Center District (near the Pan American Pier), they will typically hold your luggage before check-in or after check-out for a few hours.  See map of hotels near cruise port.

2) You can book a sightseeing tour and they will gladly hold your luggage.  Check with your cruise line as well about pre and post-cruise excursions they may offer.

3) In addition, there are 2 restaurants in Old San Juan that will store your luggage.

Barrachina Restaurant – 104 Calle Fortaleza, Old San Juan.   Storage is free (try to drink or eat something there & leave a tip) | Storage hours: 9am – 5pm, 7 days/week.  ph. (787) 725-7912.  Note: It is a 1/2 mile uphill walk from Old San Juan Pier 4, and 1/4 mile walk from Pier 1.

Aloha Old San Juan – directly across the street from Old San Juan Pier 4.  Rates: $3 per piece | Storage hours: Tue. – Thu. 11am – 4pm, Fri. – Sun. 11am – 9pm.  Receive a 20% discount on your meals when your luggage is stored at Aloha Old San Juan.  ph. (787) 289-5626.

4) The San Juan International Airport offers luggage storage daily from 7am to 10pm on the 2nd level of Terminal D.  For more information call (787) 791-3371 or email: [email protected].  They do not have storage lockers.

What time is it in San Juan, Puerto Rico?

Puerto Rico is on Atlantic Standard Time (AST) and does NOT recognize daylight savings as in the U.S. If you’re traveling from the U.S., here are the time zone conversions:

During U. S. Daylight Savings time months (early March thru October):

Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) is the same as Puerto Rico time

Central Daylight Time (CDT) + 1 hr. = Puerto Rico time

Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) + 2 hrs. = Puerto Rico time

Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) + 3 hrs. = Puerto Rico time
(i.e. Noon PDT = 3 pm in San Juan)

During U.S. Standard Time months (November into early March):

Eastern Standard Time (EST) + 1 hr. = Puerto Rico time
(i.e. Noon EST = 1 p.m. in San Juan)

Central Standard Time (CST) + 2 hrs. = Puerto Rico time

Mountain Standard Time (MST) + 3 hrs. = Puerto Rico time

Pacific Standard Time (PST) + 4 hrs. = Puerto Rico time

Which cruise lines visit or embark from San Juan, Puerto Rico?

Following is a list of 18 cruise lines that visit or embark from San Juan, Puerto Rico:

• Carnival
• Celebrity
• Costa
• Cunard
• Delta Queen Steamboat Co.
• Disney
• Holland America
• Mediterranean Shipping Cruises
• Norwegian
• Orient Lines
• Princess
• Radisson Seven Seas Cruises
• Regent Seven Seas
• Royal Caribbean
• Seabourn
• Silversea
• Viking River Cruises
• Windstar Cruises

San Juan (Puerto Rico) cruise port schedule

1. CruiseMapper
2. Cruise Ports
3. Bahamas – Caribbean – Bermuda Cruise Ports
4. San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Rating:

• Wiki
• Schedule
• Hotels
• News

Port San Juan cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port’s schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from San Juan, Puerto Rico. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.

2021 December2022 January2022 February2022 March3022 April2022 May2022 June2022 July2022 August2022 September2022 October2022 November2022 December2023 January2023 February2023 March3023 April2023 May2023 June2023 July2023 August2023 September2023 October2023 November2023 December2024 January2024 February2024 March3024 April2024 May2024 June2024 July2024 August2024 September2024 October2024 November2024 December2025 January2025 February2025 March

2021 December2022 January2022 February2022 March3022 April2022 May2022 June2022 July2022 August2022 September2022 October2022 November2022 December2023 January2023 February2023 March3023 April2023 May2023 June2023 July2023 August2023 September2023 October2023 November2023 December2024 January2024 February2024 March3024 April2024 May2024 June2024 July2024 August2024 September2024 October2024 November2024 December2025 January2025 February2025 March

Booking. comBooking.com

• Cruise Industry
• Cruise Industry
• Cruise Industry
• Cruise Industry
• Cruise Industry
• Cruise Industry
• Cruise Industry
• Cruise Industry
• Cruise Industry

• Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas sets sail on maiden voyage

  Today, March 4, the world’s largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas, is scheduled to embark on her maiden voyage following 3 years…

  March 4, 2022

  Cruise Industry

•   show more news

San Juan – user reviews and comments

CRUISES FROM SAN JUAN

• Star Pride
• Viking Sea
• Voyager Of The Seas
• Norwegian Epic
• Jewel Of The Seas
• Celebrity Millennium
• Brilliant Lady
• Norwegian Viva
• SeaDream I
• SeaDream II

Show all ships

2364 CRUISE PORTS BY REGION

• Africa – Indian Ocean Islands84
• Alaska38
• Amazon River7
• Arctic – Antarctica78
• Asia213
• Asia Rivers81
• Australia – New Zealand – Pacific Ocean Islands239
• Bahamas – Caribbean – Bermuda154
• Baltic – Norwegian Fjords – Russia181
• Canada and USA Rivers99
• East Coast USA and Canada New England80
• Europe Rivers310
• France Rivers93
• Galapagos Islands21
• Hawaii – Mexico – Panama Canal49
• Iceland – Greenland – Faroe Islands50
• Ireland – UK – British Isles112
• Mediterranean – Black Sea272
• Nile River14
• Russia Rivers30
• South America73
• West Coast USA and Canada26
• Western Europe – Azores – Canary Islands59

Caribbean Islands open for cruises

After several devastating hurricanes and storms, almost all of the Caribbean Islands – the world’s most popular cruising region – are open for travel.

Many cruise ports in the Southern Caribbean and Western Caribbean, including Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, were unscathed by Hurricanes Irma and Maria and continue to host cruise ship guests. The Eastern Caribbean cruise ship ports that suffered the most damage have either reopened to cruise ships or are scheduled to open within the next few weeks.

For example, while Puerto Rico suffered significant damage in many parts of the island during Hurricane Maria, the busy San Juan cruise port is open and acts as a port of embarkation and disembarkation—or “return port”—for passengers starting or ending their cruises with Royal Caribbean. Soon they will be joined by Celebrity, Viking and Norwegian. San Juan is scheduled to be added to routes as a regular port of call by mid-November.

St. Thomas, hit by Irma and Mary, awaits its first post-storm cruise ships in the early days of November.

Although these islands and several others have returned to cruise ship service, they are still at the beginning of a long recovery process. Visitors shouldn’t expect every restaurant, shop, and tourist attraction to be open, and you probably won’t find the full range of shore excursions that are commonly offered. For example, in Puerto Rico, cruise line excursions highlight the charming Old San Juan area, but don’t yet venture into the damaged El Yunque rainforest.

Below are updates on the most popular Caribbean cruising destinations.

These areas were not in the way of hurricane and were not subject to destruction:

ARUBA
Barbados
Bonayre
Kaimanov Island
Liker Curo
Grenada
Haiti
Yamaika
Martinics
Mexico Penins )
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines

These islands were hit by the hurricane, but have already been restored and are receiving cruise ships:

Antigua
Bahamas
Cuba
Dominican Republic
Guadeloupe
Key West
Saint Kitts and Nevis

These islands have reopened or are about to reopen their cruise ports after severe damage. Cruise lines are constantly evaluating the situations in these hardest hit ports, sending us updates almost daily as they add destinations back to their itineraries.

Port of San Juan – open.
St. Barts – Cruise ships plan to return from October 30th.
Turks and Caicos – cruise ships plan to return from November 1st.
St. Thomas – Cruise ships plan to return from November 3rd.
Sainte-Croix – Cruise ships plan to return from November 11th.
St Maarten – Cruise ships plan to return from November 15th.
Tortola – planned to receive cruise ships in mid-November, but changes are possible.
Dominica – planned to receive cruise ships in mid-November, but changes are possible.

The Caribbean is home to many of the most beautiful islands in the world and it’s great to see even the hardest hit areas quickly getting back to their normal ways.

During the Caribbean’s peak season in December, you’ll find legendary white sand beaches, crystal clear waters in all shades of blue and green, warm days and nights, and sunny skies.

To find and arrange your best Caribbean cruise, please contact us by phone: 7 (423) 254-46-47

Cruise regions Departure ports

Australia and Asia

Australia and Oceania

Alaska

Antarctica

Arctic and Far North

Africa

Bahamas

Bermuda

Brazil

Around Europe

Hawaiian Islands

Galapagos Islands

Greenland and Canada

Indian Ocean

Canary Islands

Caribbean

Costa Rica

Red Sea/Suez Canal

World cruises

Amazon Cruises

Mexican Riviera

Norwegian Fjords

UAE and Persian Gulf

Panama Canal

Russia

Northern Europe

Mediterranean

USA and Canada

Pacific cruises

Transatlantic cruises

French Polynesia

Black Sea

South America

Cruise companies

Lux

Silversea Cruises

Swan Hellenic

Grade Premium

Azamara

9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000