Sailing out of San Juan on the Summit in March. Any Hotels near the pier?
I know that the ship sails from Old Town and we are not really fond of city noise. Any suggestions? I see a Marriott in a section called Miramar on Ponce de Leon Ave. Would that be a reasonable taxi to the pier? Do any hotels provide transfers from the airport and/or pier? Jimbo
Sailing out of San Juan on the Summit in March. Any Hotels near the pier?
I know that the ship sails from Old Town and we are not really fond of city noise. Any suggestions? I see a Marriott in a section called Miramar on Ponce de Leon Ave. Would that be a reasonable taxi to the pier? Do any hotels provide transfers from the airport and/or pier? Jimbo
Your best option might be to stay at a hotel in the Condado area, which is about midway between the airport and the hotel. This is a resort area with nice beaches, a good selection decent restaurants, casinos, and shops. If you stay in the Condado area, you'll pay roughly half of the normal taxi fare from the airport to the pier on each segment (airport to hotel and hotel to pier).
If you want to visit Old San Juan, there are two options.
>> If you check in before noon, you'll have several hours to go ashore before the ship sails.
>> The ship also offers excellent "transfer tours" on diesmbarkation day through the shore excursion service. These tours begin at the pier and end at the airport. The only requirement is that your flight out of San Juan must be late enough to allow adequate time for the tour, as stated in the tour descriptions.
I should also mention that there are two airports that may appear on your map of San Juan. The airport nearest Old San Juan (in fact, directly across the channel from Celebrity's terminal) does NOT have commercial flights. It's a civil aviation airport, restricted to private planes. The airport with commercial flights is on the other side of the Condado neighborhood.
Surprisingly right by the Sheraton, across from the ship, the traffic really is not terrible at night, especially if you are there before or after sailing day. In the rooms, you probably hear nothing.
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You cannot walk to the ship from the Sheraton, because Celebrity sails from the Pan American Pier, not the pier in Old San Juan. However, the Sheraton is conveniently located in Old San Juan. It is a short taxi ride to the pier & it is not in a loud area. If you're looking for a hotel with a beach or beaches very nearby, stay on Ashford Ave. in the Condado area. You can easily take a bus to Old San Juan from there.
Ah! Pan American Pier, this is news as I have only been to the pier where RCL docks. Is this Pan American Pier far from Old Town? O well I'll google map it. Thanks all Jimbo
Ah! Pan American Pier, this is news as I have only been to the pier where RCL docks. Is this Pan American Pier far from Old Town? O well I'll google map it. Thanks all Jimbo
If you look at a map of San Juan, you'll find a channel between the Aeropuerto de la Isla Grande and the southeastern side of Old San Juan. Celebrity's terminal is on the Old San Juan side of that channel. Most of the attractions of Old San Juan, including El Moro and the main shopping area, are at the western end.
All commercial flights to San Juan operate into and out of the Aeropuerto Int'l Luis Marin, located on the east side of the city. The Aeropuerto de la Isla Grande serves only civil avation (that is, private aircraft).
When the Sheraton was the Wyndham, even though it was right across the street, from the pier, they would not allow the staff to wheel your suitcases across the street on the baggage cart, they would call you a cab, to make a u turn across to the other side of the street.
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Trip, with her book & tea!
Chat Hostess & Board Moderator
Hi Jim, No the Pan American pier is not walking distance from Old San Juan, you'd need a cab there and back if you want to venture around old San Juan....It is also on the other side of the port....
When the Sheraton was the Wyndham, even though it was right across the street, from the pier, they would not allow the staff to wheel your suitcases across the street on the baggage cart, they would call you a cab, to make a u turn across to the other side of the street.
I think that you are thinking of the wrong pier. There are no hotels across the street from Celebrity's pier in San Juan.
I think Celebrity uses the same pier that Princess does in San Juan? I know all the Royal Caribbean cruises use the piers in Old San Juan, still not a good idea to walk over, still need to take a cab with all your luggage.
I think Celebrity uses the same pier that Princess does in San Juan?
NO.
Celebrity uses the warf that faces the civil aviation airport directly across the channel separating Old San Juan from the mainland. You can actually watch the planes take off and land, directly across the channel, from the ship. There's one road into this terminal, which runs along the channel to the bridge. It's probably about a mile to the bridge, which is at the opposite end of Old San Juan from most of the attractions and the main shopping district.
Quote:
Originally Posted by You
I know all the Royal Caribbean cruises use the piers in Old San Juan, still not a good idea to walk over, still need to take a cab with all your luggage.
That is true, but Celebrity does NOT use the same pier as Royal Caribbean because both lines usually have ships there for turnaround on Saturday and Sunday.
Norm, YES, Princess is across the channel that can view the airport, not the piers in Old San Juan that Royal Caribbean and Carnival use....I think we are talking about the same piers...
The pier in Old Jan Juan is used by ships making a port call during a cruise. I'm not sure, but I think that Carnival uses the downtown Old San Juan Pier to sail out of. Princess & Celebrity use the Pan American pier to sail out of; not sure about Royal Caribbean.
Carnival leaves from Old San Juan - or did in 2008.
So how close is Pan Am Pier to Isla Grande? Thinking about flying over to Vieques post cruise.
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Bob
A Bad Day At Sea Always Beats A Good Day At Work
Carnival: Glory 2004, Destiny 2008, Splendor 2009, Freedom 2011
Celebrity: Summit 2011
Princess: Ruby 2010
Summit leaves from the Pan American pier...not really much around except the Sheraton by the Convention Center. That said, if you JUST want to sleep and hang by the pool, that hotel was LOVELY.....i arrived at 0-dark-thirty with no reservation intending to just store my bags for a couple hours (it was like 4 AM) and go to the pier...and play a penny slot machine for however long i could....
The gal at the desk said, that will be $75...I said 'to store bags?" she said, NO, you can have the room until 4 PM....i was amazed that she offered a part day rate for me......(actually i think it was 75 all in....with taxes..) I said sign me up. I napped for a few hours, showered, rearranged my stuff and off i went....
I cabbed to the pier (it LOOKS really close but it's about 2-3 miles once you get going..i think it was 12 bucks...) THe cabbie and i were laughing at the people WALKING rolling all their bags. he said some walk from OSJ!! One woman looked like she wanted to, well, send her husband off to swim with the fish!
ANyway.....if you're OK eating hotel food, the place was lovely, very clean, SUPER nice staff...probably the nicest people i'd run into in SJ....even the breakfast buffet was good, and not horribly expensive (maybe 20 bucks, but hey, it IS a "resort" area.......the ladies in the coffee shop also read my mind when i attempted to order something with caffeine to wake up!!
Keep in mind, there is (at the time there wasn't ) really nothing around..BUT you can generally save a little money, the pool area was very nice (great view of the ships) and it was clean and comfy!!!
I think you're thinking the wrong pier. There are no hotels at the pier in front of celebrities in San Juan. ***Edited to remove commercial reference***
Last edited by Donna; August 4th, 2011 at 03:42 AM.
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