San Juan, Puerto Rico Cruises

Written by Jeff Heath

Historic San Juan, the capital city of Puerto Rico, serves as a homeport to 21 cruise ships and a port of call for another 26 cruise ships. Located 1,000 miles south of Miami, San Juan is the starting point for most Southern Caribbean Cruises. As a port of embarkation for southern Caribbean cruises, San Juan departures enable cruise lines to include as many as five southern Caribbean islands on a 7-day cruise. San Juan is also included as a port of call on some 7-Day Eastern Caribbean Cruises.

San Juan Excursions

San Juan is the second oldest city in the western hemisphere and the historic San Juan, Puerto Rico

district's cobblestone streets are within walking distance of the cruise pier. Some of the buildings in Old San Juan date back to the 1500's. Cruise passengers can simply tour this 7-block historic area on their own. Be sure to visit the El Morro Fortress. If you're not used to walking up and down hilly streets, a San Juan City Tour (3 hours, $25) by bus is an option. Other passengers may want to take a Bacardi Rum Distillery Tour (3 hours, $20) or venture further to the El Yunque Rain Forest (5 hours, $25).

San Juan Transportation

San Juan's airport, Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, is 7 miles east of the cruise port. Many cruise lines offer transportation from the airport to the cruise ship for cruises originating in San Juan. If not, taxis cost less than $20. Drive Historic El Morro in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Historic El Morro in San Juan, Puerto Rico

time from the airport to the cruise port is 30 minutes.

Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival Destiny offers two 7-Night Southern Caribbean Cruises from San Juan. Carnival Destiny's "Dutch Treat" cruise stops in St. Thomas, St. John, St. Lucia, Curacao, and Aruba. Carnival Destiny's "European Delight" cruise stops in St. Thomas, St. John, Antigua, Guadeloupe and Aruba. Carnival Paradise offers 10-Day Cruises from San Juan with stops in St. Thomas, St. Lucia, Barbados, Martinique and St. Maarten. Carnival Triumph and Carnival Victory sail from Miami on 7-Day Eastern Caribbean Cruises with stops in San Juan, St. Croix, and St. Thomas/St. John.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines

Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas offers 7-Night Southern Caribbean Cruises from San Juan with stops in Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas. Adventure of the Historic Fort in San Juan, Puerto Rico

Seas also offers cruises from San Juan with stops in St. Thomas, Antigua, St. Lucia and Barbados. Royal Caribbean Radiance of the Seas offers 7-Night Southern Caribbean Cruises from San Juan with calls in St. Thomas, Antigua, St. Maarten, St. Lucia and Barbados.

Celebrity Cruise Lines

Celebrity Galaxy and Celebrity Infinity sail from San Juan on 7-Night Southern Caribbean Cruises with stops in St. Thomas, Antigua, Barbados, St. Lucia, and St. Croix. Celebrity Constellation sails from San Juan on 7-Night Southern Caribbean Cruises with stops in St. Thomas, St. Kitts, Barbados and Aruba. Celebrity Century sails from Fort Lauderdale on 7-Night Eastern Caribbean Cruises with stops in San Juan, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, and Nassau.

Norwegian Cruise Lines

Norwegian Sky offers 7-Day Exotic Southern Caribbean and Deep Southern Caribbean Cruises from San Juan with stops in St. Lucia, Barbados, Dominica, St. Kitts and St. Croix. Norwegian Sky also sails from Miami on 7-Day Eastern Caribbean Cruises with stops in Nassau (Bahamas), St. Thomas, San Juan and Great Stirrup Cay (NCL's Private Island).