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Cruises from San Juan are the best way to explore the exotic islands in the South Caribbean. As well as being a popular port of call for approximately 500 cruise ships each season, it is also the home port for several cruise ships offering Southern Caribbean cruise itineraries. A stop on most San Juan cruises to Baltimore and the New York area, Bermuda is a pastel-colored paradise. From its pink sand beaches to its brightly painted estates, every inch of this island is striking. If you’re into history, check out the Royal Naval Dockyard, where the stone structures date back to the 18th century, or Historic St. George’s, filled with four-hundred-year-old forts and homes. You can also stroll past the quaint boutiques and specialty shops through the charming town of Hamilton, founded in 1790, and now home to lots of boutiques and specialty shops selling local wares.
SAIL THE SOUTHERN SEAS
San Juan’s cruise port is the perfect gateway to the entire southern Caribbean, home to some of the most exotic isles in the region. From stops at serene St. Kitts to lively Punta Cana, there’s no better way to level up a few days on the Isle of Enchantment than by setting sail on a cruise from San Juan, Puerto Rico. We’ve rounded up some of the most iconic destinations you can visit on a San Juan cruise, plus tips on how to maximize a few days before or after your sailing at this amazing departure port.
Hotels at the Port
In Saint Lucia, visit the Pitons or snorkel one of Jacques Cousteau’s favorite dive spots. And then, in St. Johns, Antigua and Barbuda, guests can snorkel, kayak, zip line, or relax on a sunset catamaran cruise. The first stop is Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic for snorkeling with sea turtles, surfing, and touring rum and cigar factories. The ship then arrives at Oranjestad, Aruba, for a tour of Dutch colonial buildings, a submarine ride, a Land Rover safari, or a trip to an aloe farm. The next port is Willemstad, Curacao, where guests can tour the island's candy-colored architecture, swim with dolphins, or visit the limestone Hato Caves. Cruises from San Juan, Puerto Rico offer a magical blend of natural island charm and man-made wonders.
Carnival Ship Rescues 27 People Adrift at Sea in the Caribbean
From San Juan, the cruise heads to Puerto Plata on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, known as the Amber Coast for its rich deposits of resin. After a day at sea, the ship stops in the Bahamas before returning to Miami. The sunny island has a long and storied history that encompasses hundreds of years, and you can take a glimpse into its past through its food, colonial towns and even souvenirs and attraction. Witness the cultural heritage come alive with your cruise to Puerto Rico.
Basseterre, St. Kitts is the next day’s port, and guests can hike the Mount Liamuiga volcano, see sugarcane in the countryside from a double-decker railcar, or kayak the crystal clear water. Explore it capital, Castries, by catamaran or on foot around the peaks of the Pitons, or relax in the thermal pools of Soufriere. Bridgetown, Barbados, next on the itinerary, is home to colonial buildings, open-air markets, and pink-sand beaches.
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Instead, walk a short distance to the forts or La Casita where most passengers disembark and you can hop aboard the trolley without having to wait. Check the routes and print out the free trolley map on the website. A colorful center of culture, food and one of the best bars in the world (La Factoria), Old San Juan is an almost 500-year-old Spanish colonial town with the vibrant panache of the tropics. Wear comfortable shoes and explore every ancient nook of this wonderful walled city. "This was my first cruise, and what an amazing time it was! The crew was amazing. The food was amazing! I love the places scattered around the ship to eat. Especially The Galley. Great vibe onboard. You can do as much or as little as you want to."
Amazon & Caribbean Adventure
You can opt into a shore excursion in the El Yunque National Rainforest or spend the day exploring Old San Juan, with its colorful architecture and rich history, on your own. Cruise to Puerto Rico and take to the roads that lead to remote Spanish colonial towns like San German that house elegant plazas and churches evoking hundreds of years of history. Head to the main old town, the always-vivid Old San Juan, and walk the cobblestoned streets where Conquistadors once marched. Get a behind-the-scenes peek at San Cristobal Fort, one of the UNESCO-designated fortresses that guard San Juan Bay. A late-evening departure allows time to kayak one of Puerto Rico’s bio-luminescent bays. We don’t have proof, but evidence suggests that the Caribbean was made for cruising.
Night Caribbean CruiseDetails
If you’re a foodie make sure you try a dish of codfish with potatoes — you can order it the English way, with a hard-boiled egg, or the Portuguese way, prepped in tomato-onion sauce. Iles des Saintes, off the coast of Guadeloupe, is the next port and offers a glimpse of the Caribbean of the past. Next, enjoy the beaches, rainforest, and French atmosphere of the Caribbean island of Martinique before heading to Bridgetown, Barbados, where you’ll find historic buildings, delicious cuisine, and rum distilleries.
Without a doubt, San Juan, Puerto Rico is your gateway to most incredible shores in the Southern Caribbean. Whether you’re exploring the Dutch ABC islands Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, or some of the Lesser Antilles like Antigua, Barbados and St. Lucia, adventure is always a shore thing on a Caribbean cruise from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Old San Juan has over 500 years of history, from the Fort San Cristobal walls near the port to the National Historic Park and Castillo San Felipe del Morro Fortress.
Puerto Rico's history, culture, food, and sunny shores have made the island a favorite travel destination for many years. Home to the oldest city in the United States, San Juan is a popular cruise port for visitors who want to experience the city, and many return to spend more time there and venture to other parts of the island as well. Cruises from San Juan draw thousands of visitors to the island every year. The Old Town can be crowded in peak cruise season from November to April. However, there are plenty of attractions to visit outside the city.
The cruise begins in Fort Lauderdale in late afternoon, giving guests time to visit the city's shops along Las Olas Boulevard or cruise the Intracoastal Waterway on an old-fashioned paddle wheeler. The next day is spent at sea, and guests can enjoy the Nieuw Amsterdam's restaurants, casino, spa, and entertainment. For voyagers aged 3 to 17, there's the Kids Club, featuring supervised games, sports, arts and crafts, and themed parties.
Across the harbor, the Pan-Am cruise terminal is used by larger mega cruise ships and can accommodate two further cruise ships at the same time. The mountains, rainforest, white-sand beaches, friendly people, and vibrant atmosphere are a few of Puerto Rico's features that attract cruise fans. The opportunity to explore the popular port with the convenience and luxury of a cruise ship keeps San Juan on a variety of itineraries. Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site.
Puerto Rico cruise ports leave you close to many tropical travel destinations, each with their own island flair. See the beaches of Cozumel, Mexico, or the fortresses of Colombia's coastal walled city Cartagena. Puerto Rico is the third largest island in the United States, so it should come as no surprise that there’s a beach here for every kind of adventurer. You’ll find world-class surfing and plenty of water sports in Rincon on the island’s west side. Secluded shores with crystal clear waters and colorful coral reefs on Flamenco Beach in Culebra.
Incredibly attractive introductory rates starting at $149 per Sailor per night, with 9 gorgeous new itineraries to match your mood. In Old San Juan, you’ll find plenty of island fare and criolla cuisine— home cooking flavored by Spanish and African influences. Try some mofongo, mashed fried green plantains often stuffed with meat, or snack on some codfish fritters, called bacalaitos. Strong and beautiful, this fort has helped guard the shore for nearly five centuries while overlooking some of the island’s best scenery. Explore it via spiral staircases between levels, and grab a photo at one of the iconic garita sentry boxes that line the outer walls.
