Topic: Puerto Rico becoming the Caribbean cruise destination of choice

A growing number of cruise holiday vacationers could soon be ranking Puerto Rico ahead of Jamaica and the Dominican Islands as the top port destination in the Caribbean.

That's according to Nicole Rodriguez, chief marketing officer at Puerto Rico Tourism Company, who revealed that Puerto Rico saw a four per cent rise in visitors this year.

This rise came despite the ongoing recession, which has seen many cut back on holiday spending, meaning a further rise could be on the cards once the financial markets begin to recover.

Speaking at London's World Travel Market earlier this month, Ms Rodriguez outlined the tourist board's plans for attracting UK travellers like cruise holidays, to the region.

She said: Our main goal in the UK market is to let them know that we're not that far away, and second of all that Puerto Rico has a lot more to offer than great beaches."

"You can drive or walk around and enjoy a lot of good products," she said.

Chief among these is the famous music and fine cuisine that has been a popular fixture of Puerto Rico for the last twenty years.

With prices proving competitive, the emergence of Puerto Rico could signal major chances in the world of Caribbean cruises.

Have you ever visited Puerto Rico? Would you consider a visit there as part of a Caribbean cruise?

 

We spent a few days in a beautiful hotel in San Juan after our Azamara cruise. We certainly want to go back
ASAP.....
It is a beautiful island and quite different from the other Caribbean islands.

QUOTE:

A growing number of cruise holiday vacationers could soon be ranking Puerto Rico ahead of Jamaica and the Dominican Islands as the top port destination in the Caribbean.

That's according to Nicole Rodriguez, chief marketing officer at Puerto Rico Tourism Company, who revealed that Puerto Rico saw a four per cent rise in visitors this year.

This rise came despite the ongoing recession, which has seen many cut back on holiday spending, meaning a further rise could be on the cards once the financial markets begin to recover.

Speaking at London's World Travel Market earlier this month, Ms Rodriguez outlined the tourist board's plans for attracting UK travellers like cruise holidays, to the region.

She said: Our main goal in the UK market is to let them know that we're not that far away, and second of all that Puerto Rico has a lot more to offer than great beaches."

"You can drive or walk around and enjoy a lot of good products," she said.

Chief among these is the famous music and fine cuisine that has been a popular fixture of Puerto Rico for the last twenty years.

With prices proving competitive, the emergence of Puerto Rico could signal major chances in the world of Caribbean cruises.

Have you ever visited Puerto Rico? Would you consider a visit there as part of a Caribbean cruise?

 

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Well he would say that wouldn't he? .....Neil

I stayed in San Juan for five nights pre cruise and whilst it didn't feel very caribbean I did rather enjoy it. Plenty of nice restaurants and a good feel about the island.

Trouble is almost all the flights are via America and Miami seems less hassle !

We stayed there after a cruise and absolutely loved it. Friendly, excellent hotel choice at good prices and loads to do with nice weather. We'd go back any time.

The only issue we had was arrival at the port and our experience with US immigration officials. It took over 4 hours to disembark and meant we had to miss a half-day tour. I'm afraid the officials were rude, officious and patently inefficient. They were an awful introduction to this friendly island. We've seen a number of cruise reviews where similar comments have been made about arriving in San Juan port.

We stayed in Puerto Rico both pre and post cruise. The old town of San Juan, which has cobbled streets and squares, is being completely refurbished with heritage funds, is absolutely beautiful and so is the weather. We went to the bus station & caught the bus back & forth to our hotel (it cost about 50p). We were staying in a very grand 1950's built American hotel with fantastic pool & lush gardens fronting onto the beach. Most of the hotels on this strip have casinos as that is where the Americans went to do their gaming, being illegal in America at that time. We also went to a very large American shopping Mall on our return from our Caribbean cruise, where there were 2 department stores and lots of American designer shops. This was a delight as you had both Caribbean island experience and Western experience all rolled into one. We would definitely go back as I would like to explore the other side of the island where there is a rainforest. We had absolutely no problems either boarding at Puerto Rico or disembarkation, it was completely smooth. We went with Celebrity cruises / Virgin Holidays and flew Virgin Atlantic from London to Puerto Rico with a short stop off for refuelling & people to get off (about an hour) in Antigua. It is the best cruise we have ever been on, and we have been on many. Celebrity service and food were exceptional and the islands we visited were gorgeous. Our favourite was the Dutch island of Curacao. I wish there was more competition on this route (BA?) to bring airfares down and so there would be no need to call into Antigua in order to fill the plane with sufficient passengers.

Stayed there pre cruise, we were given the most fantastic bedroom complete with complimentry wine. Lovely old town and weather was fantastic. Certainly wouldnt mind another visit to San Juan.

QUOTE:

I stayed in San Juan for five nights pre cruise and whilst it didn't feel very caribbean I did rather enjoy it. Plenty of nice restaurants and a good feel about the island.

Trouble is almost all the flights are via America and Miami seems less hassle !

There are some flights direct with BA at about £540 return, economy. ....Neil

January ,1998, our first cruise, we have sailed into Puerto Rico on Thompson Esmerald. At that time it was a regular port stop on the coral island caribic itinary. I remeber the cruise port terminal as one of the most impressed ones. Our "small" Esmerald full of brits and 2 belgian passengers, against all these tall american ships with voluminous people on board!
Neverless, great stop! stroll away from the terminal you visit the historical part of San Juan.
For Harley Davison fans....the police station is just across the terminal with all this beauty standing outside!
Of course to be able to enjoy Puerto Rico you need american visa; but this was a handling on board before arrival.
You will not regret this pearl of cruise port!

We were on Norwegian Dawn sailing back to Miami in November 2009 when the ship's engines stopped. We drifted from 9.00am with no air-con, emergency lighting on the stairs and corridors. We finally limped into San Juan, Puerto Rico in the afternoon. We were allowed off and we looked around the little cobbled streets. We venture out in the evening and saw the locals in the square, singing and dancing. We stayed on the ship overnight and some people in the inside cabins took their pillows and bed linen up on the decks to sleep on the sunbeds. We were then flown back to Miami in the morning. It was an extra port to our Caribbean cruise.

Chrissy