One of the highlights for me on an Eastern Caribbean cruise is visiting one of my all-time favorite ports—San Juan, Puerto Rico. While not every Eastern itinerary includes a stop here, I always recommend picking a cruise that does. And if you can find one that stays late into the evening—some ships remain in port until 10 or even 11 p.m.—that’s a big bonus. It gives you extra time to wander the streets of Old San Juan, grab dinner at a local spot, and soak in everything that makes this city so special. Plus, sail away after the sun has gone down and the lights of the city are turned up make it extra special.
Carnival Celebration pulled into port just before 10 a.m., and we were cleared to go ashore shortly afterward. With an all-aboard time of 6:30 p.m., that gave us a solid day to explore. We were the only cruise ship in port, which helped ease some of the usual crowding. That said, it’s summertime, so the streets were still crowded.
One thing that stood out this trip was the pier we docked at. Although we were still at the main port in the heart of Old San Juan, this time we were at the recently re-opened open-air terminal. This particular pier had been closed for quite a while due to damage caused when an MSC cruise ship struck and took out one of the mooring dolphins—the structures ships tie up to. The closure forced cruise lines like Royal Caribbean to skip San Juan altogether for their Oasis-class ships, since this was the only dock that could accommodate them. With repairs now complete, ships are once again returning here, and work has moved to the adjacent indoor terminal, which is currently undergoing renovations of its own to spruce it up a bit.
If you’re looking to explore, San Juan offers plenty of excursions. You can book a visit to the world-famous Bacardi rum distillery, head out to the El Yunque rainforest, or a walking tour of the city’s historic sites – more on this one in a bit. These are all available through your cruise line or through third-party vendors. However—and I’ll say this until I’m blue in the face—it’s always safest to book directly with the cruise line. Why? Because if something goes wrong or your tour runs late, the ship will wait for you. If you’re on your own and miss all aboard, the only boat you’ll be seeing is the one sailing away without you.
For beach lovers, it’s worth noting there’s no beach right near the port. If sand and surf are what you’re after, you’ll need to book a beach day excursion—Condado Beach is a short ride away.
Now, do you need to book an excursion in San Juan? Honestly, no. That’s the beauty of this port. There’s so much to see and do right off the ship. You could easily spend the entire day walking around and still not see it all. The city is compact, walkable, and full of charm. While some cruise lines offer walking tours, you can save the money and do it yourself. Across the street from the port is the historic district, with its blue cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and a mix of shops ranging from local boutiques to big-name chains like Marshalls. You’ll also find plenty of casual spots to grab Puerto Rican food, drinks, or one of those famous mojitos.
If you’re a history buff, you’ll want to head to El Morro, one of two historic Spanish forts that overlook the city. The views of the ocean and San Juan Bay from the top are incredible. The other fort, Castillo San Cristóbal, is just a short walk away and equally impressive. And if you’re visiting El Morro, don’t miss the cemetery at the base of the fort along the ocean—it’s hauntingly beautiful and packed with history. I filmed a walkthrough of it on a recent visit, so scroll down to check out the video.
In terms of safety, San Juan is one of the most traveler-friendly places in the Caribbean. The people are welcoming, the U.S. dollar is the official currency (since Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory), and you’ll feel perfectly safe exploring on your own during the day and into the early evening.
Pro tip—if you forgot to pack something or need to restock your toiletries, there’s a Walgreens right across from the ship. It’s a full-size store with normal prices (not the tourist trap kind you see in some other ports), and it’s always full of fellow cruisers and crew members picking up snacks, supplies, and essentials.
More Upsell Food Options on Carnival Celebration
Now let’s talk about something that always gets cruisers fired up: food. As I mentioned in earlier posts, Carnival has started to introduce more à la carte pricing for select menu items in specialty restaurants, and it doesn’t stop there.
First up is Masala Tiger, a pop-up-style Indian eatery that’s taken over part of the buffet. It’s a pay-to-play experience open for lunch and dinner, with starters ranging from $4 to $10, entrées from $7 to $30, and desserts between $2 and $5.
Next is Empanada and Pie, which is open a few hours each day and serves—you guessed it—empanadas and pie. You can grab a single empanada for $1.50, a four-pack for $6, or six for $8. They’ve also got dessert pies available for an additional fee.
Over at Miami Slice, you can still get your standard pizza for free, but they’ve added two specialty options that come with a $6 charge: Teriyaki Chicken and Korean Steak BBQ.
And if wings are your thing, check out All Things Wings in the Street Eats section on Lido. Prices start at $6 and go up to $19 for a bucket of 24. You can also order wings at Pig & Anchor Smokehouse during dinner for the same price.
Speaking of dinner… I originally had a reservation for Bonsai Teppanyaki at 9 p.m., but around 5 p.m., I got a call saying they were canceling my reservation because I was the only one booked. Ironically, the same thing happened to me a few weeks ago on MSC World America—except they offered to cook for me anyway! I declined and rescheduled then, and I did the same here—moved the reservation to tomorrow.
Main Dining Room Dinner Menu – Day 4
Dinner at Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse
So, with dinner plans derailed, I decided to grab a drink at the Fahrenheit 555 bar to figure out my next move. Well, one drink turned into a few, and before I knew it, it was 9 p.m.—past closing time for many venues. Luckily, the steakhouse manager noticed I hadn’t eaten and invited me in.
Download the Fahrenheit 555 menu as a PDF by clicking here.
Dinner was a hit. I started with a shrimp cocktail and tuna tartare—both solid. Then I went with the 18 oz. spiced ribeye, served with broccoli and fries. At $52 per person, the steakhouse includes two starters, an entrée, sides, and dessert. I skipped dessert this time, as the steak was more than enough.
After dinner, I headed to the casino. Unfortunately, the slot machines weren’t feeling generous tonight, so after a short session, I decided to call it a night.
Next up: St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. We’re scheduled to arrive bright and early at 7 a.m., so stay tuned for that in tomorrow’s report. Thanks for following along!
FunTimes for June 25, 2025:
The Funtimes for June 25, 2025 is available as a PDF and can be downloaded by clicking here.