MSC World America Eastern Caribbean Cruise Review – Day 4: September 8, 2026

Good morning from San Juan, Puerto Rico, one of those cruise ports I’m always happy to see on an itinerary.

Yesterday in Puerto Plata was a good reminder of why the actual experience in a port can make or break a port day. I like Puerto Plata and still prefer docking at Taino Bay over being isolated out at Amber Cove, but the nonstop parade of people trying to become my personal tour guide got old very quickly. Today was pretty much the complete opposite.

Outside of the ABC islands, San Juan is one of my favorite Caribbean ports. Old San Juan is right outside the cruise terminal, the historic district is incredibly easy to explore on your own, there are plenty of places to eat and drink, and you don’t need to spend half the day sitting on a bus to see something interesting. Even better, MSC World America wasn’t leaving until 11:00 p.m., which meant there was no reason to rush through the day.

That late departure completely changes things from say, a cruise where you have to be back on board at 3:30pm. You can head ashore in the morning, wander around for a few hours, come back to the ship to cool off or take a break, then go right back out for dinner and drinks. San Juan is one of those ports that gets even better after dark, so having enough time to experience both the daytime and nighttime versions of the city is a big plus.

MSC World America arrived around 9:00 a.m., and the gangway opened for passengers at about 8:50. At first, we were the only ship in port, but that didn’t last long because Carnival Magic was on her way in and would be docking directly across from us.

Dr. E, our overly enthusiastic cruise director, made an announcement that if you wanted to get off immediately, you should probably do it because the gangways were going to close at 9:30 for about 20 minutes while Carnival Magic maneuvered into position. That timing ended up being almost exactly right. At 9:30, the gangways closed, Carnival Magic came in, and about 20 minutes later everyone was moving again.

We also had a few on-and-off showers during the morning, which is pretty standard for San Juan. They never turned into anything serious, but the rain did make one thing worth remembering even more important – those famous blue cobblestones get slippery as hell when they’re wet.

The original cobblestones date back to the late 1800s and were made from iron slag, a byproduct of iron smelting, before being shipped over from England and used to pave the city’s streets.

Over the years, weather, traffic, and plain old wear and tear gave the stones that distinctive blue-gray color. Not every stone you see today is an original because plenty have been replaced during utility work and road repairs, but some of the older ones are still easy to spot because they’re more irregular, more worn, and often darker.

They’re also smooth.

Very smooth.

Add rain, and you’ve basically got a historic slip-and-slide running through the middle of the city, which is why I keep telling people to wear decent shoes.

No Shore Excursion? No Problem!

One of the things I like most about San Juan is that you can walk off the ship and immediately start exploring. There’s no long ride into town, no need to hire a taxi, and no reason to book a city tour unless you have mobility issues or specifically want to get outside Old San Juan.

I put together a full Old San Juan walking tour during one of my previous MSC World America cruises, and it remains the route I’d recommend for anyone visiting for the first time. It starts near the cruise port, heads along the waterfront through Paseo de la Princesa and Paseo del Morro, climbs toward Castillo San Felipe del Morro, then winds back through the historic district past plazas, churches, museums, and some of the colorful streets everyone comes here to photograph.

Along the way, you can hit the Raíces Fountain, El Morro, Plaza de la Rogativa, Museo Casa Blanca, Museo de las Américas, Catedral de San Juan, Plaza San José, and Plaza Colón. If you’re in the mood for something a little less historic and a lot more ridiculous, there’s also Parque de las Palomas, better known as Pigeon Park.

The entire walking route can take four or five hours if you actually stop and explore, but that’s the beauty of doing it on your own. Want to spend an hour at El Morro? Spend an hour. Want to stop for a beer? Stop. Want to sit in a plaza and do absolutely nothing for 30 minutes? Nobody is standing there holding a little paddle and telling you the tour bus leaves in three minutes.

The only real warning I give people is that “walkable” does not mean “flat.” Old San Juan has hills, steep streets, uneven sidewalks, and narrow walkways. Good shoes matter here, especially if you’re planning to spend several hours wandering around.

Parque de las Palomas

One of the stops on my walking tour is Parque de las Palomas, or Pigeon Park, which is only a few minutes from the cruise port and is one of those quirky little places that’s easy to work into your day.

The site actually has some legitimate history behind it. The area formed part of Old San Juan’s defensive system and was once associated with the city’s old cannon positions. Today, the cannons are gone and the pigeons have apparently won the war.

For $2, you can buy a small bag of approved bird feed from the booth inside the park. You’re not allowed to show up with your own bag of seed and start feeding birds wherever you want around Old San Juan, so feeding is controlled here using the food sold on site.

Once you open that bag, every pigeon within a five-block radius seems to know what’s happening. They’ll eat out of your hand, gather around your feet, and if you’re willing, land on your arms, shoulders, head, or pretty much anywhere else they can find room.

If you’re afraid of birds, keep walking.

If not, it’s a fun two-dollar stop and certainly cheaper than most things you’re going to do in a cruise port.

Puerto Rico was still dealing with water restrictions during our visit, something I had written about before this cruise. From the perspective of a cruise passenger spending the day in Old San Juan, though, you would never have known there was an issue.

Restaurants and bars were open, public restrooms were operating normally, and I didn’t encounter any obvious interruptions anywhere I went. One reason the historic district tends to handle water disruptions better is that many hotels, restaurants, and commercial buildings have cisterns that hold backup water for things like toilets, sinks, kitchens, and other basic operations.

That doesn’t mean the larger water situation on the island isn’t serious. It simply means that cruisers visiting Old San Juan may not notice much of an impact, especially in the tourism-heavy parts of the city where businesses are better prepared to deal with interruptions.

MSC’s Mid-Cruise Survey

Sometime during the morning, MSC sent me a mid-cruise survey asking me to rate the cruise so far on a scale of zero to 10. After the initial rating, there was space to provide more detailed feedback and mention anything that hadn’t gone particularly well.

Most cruise lines wait until you’re home before sending the inevitable “How did we do?” email, which is useful for collecting data but doesn’t do much for the passenger who had a problem on the actual cruise. MSC asking halfway through at least creates the possibility that someone onboard could see the feedback and do something about it while there’s still time left in the trip.

The big question, of course, is whether that actually happens. I have no idea if someone onboard is actively reviewing these responses, matching them to guests, and reaching out to fix issues, or if the information just disappears into a giant corporate database until someone looks at a spreadsheet a month later.

If MSC really is using these surveys in real time, then I like the idea. Fixing a problem on Day 4 is a lot more useful than sending someone an apology after they’ve already gone home and decided they’re never sailing with you again.

Dinner in Old San Juan

With an 11:00 p.m. departure, I had no intention of eating dinner on the ship. The main dining room and Yacht Club Restaurant were serving Caribbean-themed menus tonight, but one of the biggest advantages of a late San Juan stay is getting to eat ashore without watching the clock.

MSC World America Main Dining Room Caribbean Dinner Menu - Night 4

Available in Bubbles Restaurant, Esagano Restaurant, Hexagon Restaurant, La Foglia Restaurant, Les Dunes Restaurant

Available on: MSC World America

Starters - Daily Specials

Golden-Fried Crab & Seafood Cake

shaved fennel, seasonal greens, chive rémoulade

Callaloo, Spinach & Artichoke Dip

tortilla chips

Seasonal Melon Salad

shaved honeydew, seedless watermelon morsels, fresh arugula, feta crumbs, honey-lime dressing

Black Bean Soup

root vegetables, chopped scallions

Starters

Caesar Salad

crisp Romaine lettuce, garlic croutons, Parmesan cheese, Caesar dressing

Shrimp Cocktail

classic horseradish cocktail sauce, fresh lemon

French Onion Soup

Gruyère crouton

Entrées - Daily Specials

Jerk Chicken Fusilli

bell peppers, tomato cream

Broiled Swordfish

mango salsa, coconut-lime jasmine rice

Mojo-Marinated Grilled Pork Chop

roasted sweet potatoes, chichiron, fried plantains, broccoli, cumin-orange-lime reduction

Carne Asada

grilled flank steak, spiced tomato salsa, fried potatoes, black beans, cabbage slaw, fresh lime

Vegetable Rundown

pumpkin, sweet potatoes, & beans stewed in coconut milk with mild scotch bonnet & thyme

Entrées

Pennette Pasta

choice of Bolognese, Alfredo, or fresh tomato basil sauce

Grilled Chicken Breast

mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables

Grilled Atlantic Salmon

rice pilaf, seasonal vegetables

New York Strip Steak

choice of herb butter, chimichurri, or green peppercorn sauce

Steakhouse Selection

Broiled Cold Water Lobster Tail

$19.99

hot drawn butter

Linz Heritage Angus

$19.99

8-oz grilled filet mignon or 14-oz bone-in New York strip steak with your choice of sauce

Side Dishes

steak fries or loaded baked potato, sautéed mushrooms, grilled asparagus, sautéed vegetables, steamed rice, or whipped potatoes

Desserts

Caribbean Rum Cake

coconut ice cream

Florida Key Lime Pie

vanilla whipped cream

Grandma's Chocolate Cake

layers of dulce de leche & chocolate fudge

New York Cheesecake

strawberry compote

Lime Coconut Cake

mango compote

Ice Cream & Sorbet

please ask your waiter about our daily selection of ice cream & sorbets

No Sugar Added Ice Cream

please ask your waiter about our daily selection

⬇ Download PDFAll MSC Restaurant MenusAll MSC Bar Menus

🖼️ Menu Images

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MSC World America Yacht Club Restaurant Dinner Menu - Night 4

Available on: MSC World America

Starters

Vitello Tonnato

sliced veal loin, creamy tuna caper sauce, anchovy, extra virgin olive oil

Asparagus in Tarragon Sauce

with golden puff pastry

Classic Niçoise Salad

tuna, steamed potatoes, green beans, tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, onion rings, anchovies, olives and lettuce hearts, French dressing

Black Bean Soup

root vegetables, chopped scallions

Entrées

Paccheri Pasta with Traditional Cured Speck

arugula and pine nut pesto sauce, roasted tomatoes

Radicchio and Red Wine Risotto

mascarpone cheese and hazelnuts

Ligurian Cioppino

rich fish and shellfish dish in white wine tomato broth with garlic crostini

Breaded Chicken Breast Kiev

stuffed with garlic and parsley, roast potatoes, spinach and beetroot mousseline

Vegetable Rundown

pumpkin, sweet potatoes and beans stewed in coconut milk with mild scotch bonnet and thyme

Classic Favorites

Grilled or Steamed Fillet of Salmon

garden vegetables, hollandaise sauce

Broiled Beef Filet Mignon

thyme-roasted vegetables, natural jus

Grilled Chicken Breast

lemon oil, roasted vegetables, green asparagus

Sauces for your Steak

Madeira sauce, green peppercorn sauce, creamy mushroom-mustard sauce

Baked Just for You

Every day a different selection of fresh-baked bread

Kornspitz whole wheat bread with sunflower seeds - Country white rolls - Olive oil focaccia - Wild fennel grissini

Desserts

International Cheese Selection from the Trolley

fruit and vegetable preserves, jellies, honey, dried and fresh fruit

Caribbean Rum Cake

coconut ice cream

Chocolate Soufflé

vanilla anglaise, ice cream

Tiramisù

mascarpone cream, ladyfinger biscuits dipped in coffee and bitter cocoa powder

Grandma’s Chocolate Cake

with layers of dulce de leche and chocolate fudge

New York Cheesecake

strawberry compote

Lime Coconut Cake

mango compote

Selection of Ice Cream and Fruit Sorbets

ask your waiter about our daily selection

Ice Cream

ask your waiter for our daily selection

Petits Fours

Deliciously Healthy

Herb and Citrus-Marinated Seafood Salad

shrimp, calamari, sea scallops and black mussels, creamy aioli emulsion

Broiled Amberjack Fillet

potatoes, asparagus, cream of peas, crunchy fennel

Fresh Fruit Plate

⬇ Download PDFAll MSC Restaurant MenusAll MSC Bar Menus

🖼️ Menu Images

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My first choice was Sophia’s, an Italian restaurant about a 10-minute walk from the port that had very good reviews and a 4.7 rating on OpenTable. Google said it was open, so off I went.

It wasn’t open.

The metal gates were down over the doors, which settled that pretty quickly.

From there, I walked over to Marmalade, where I had a very good and very expensive dinner on a previous visit. That meal ran more than $200, so I already knew what I was getting into. I looked through the window and didn’t see a single person inside, and while the restaurant was technically open, I really didn’t feel like being the only person sitting in there having dinner.

Next.

I thought about going back to Princesa Cocina Cultura, where I ate during another San Juan visit, but then I remembered something else.

Señor Frog’s was gone and someone else moved in.

Yes, that Señor Frog’s, the legendary cruise-port tourist trap where the basic business model always seemed to revolve around getting passengers drunk enough to forget what ship they came off.

The space is now Ocean Lab Brewing Company.

Ocean Lab is a family-owned Puerto Rican craft brewery founded in 2017 in Isla Verde, and the Old San Juan location opened in the former Señor Frog’s space earlier this year. It has a large dining room and bar, but before you reach any of that, you first get funneled through the gift shop.

Think Disney.

Before you get the beer, here’s your opportunity to buy the shirt.

The restaurant wasn’t particularly busy when I arrived around 8:00 p.m., so I grabbed a seat at the bar and started with one of their beers and an order of manchego croquettes. The menu is a mix of familiar bar food and Puerto Rican dishes, and since I was in Puerto Rico, I decided it was time to give kan kan pork another chance.

If you’ve never had kan kan pork, picture a giant bone-in pork chop that includes the loin, belly, skin, and a glorious ring of fat curling around the outside. When it’s cooked properly, you get tender pork, crispy skin, and plenty of flavor.

This was my third attempt.

I had one at Kueros that wasn’t bad. I had another at Princesa Cocina Cultura that was absolutely terrible.

Third time’s the charm, right?

This time it actually was.

The chop at Ocean Lab was large, tender, and properly cooked, with crispy skin and none of the dried-out toughness I’d run into before. The rice and beans on the side were also excellent, and for the first time I finally understood why people get excited about this dish.

By the time I was finished, I had the croquettes, the pork chop, three beers, and the tip, and I was still out the door for under $100.

Would I call Ocean Lab a destination dinner restaurant? Probably not. It feels much more like a place I’d recommend for lunch, a few beers, and something casual to eat while walking around Old San Juan. They have burgers, tacos, and other bar-food items, and I’m told the brisket sandwich is excellent.

As a convenient place to grab a good beer and a bite within walking distance of the cruise port, though, it worked out very well.

After dinner, I planned to wander around Old San Juan for a little while longer before heading back to the ship. That lasted until I felt the first drizzle and then got an alert on my phone telling me moderate rain was about to start and continue for the next half hour.

Message received.

I grabbed one last photo of MSC World America lit up at the pier and headed back onboard. Once I was on the ship, the rain really settled in, so the sailaway was basically a washout.

That was disappointing because evening departures from San Juan are usually beautiful. Sailing away with the city lit up behind you and El Morro along the shoreline is one of those cruise moments I never really get tired of.

Tonight, Mother Nature had other ideas.

So instead of hanging outside for sailaway, I had a glass of bubbly and called it a night. After spending most of the day walking around Old San Juan, eating a giant pork chop, and drinking three beers, that wasn’t exactly the worst ending imaginable.

At the end of the day it’s easy to see why San Juan remains one of my favorite Caribbean cruise ports.. We had nearly 14 hours in port, I never felt rushed, I could walk almost everywhere I wanted to go, and there was enough time to explore during the day, head back out for dinner, and still have hours before sailaway.

I also continue to think San Juan is one of the easiest places for cruisers to skip the organized shore excursion and explore independently. If you can handle the hills and uneven streets, Old San Juan is sitting right there outside the terminal waiting for you, and you can build the day around whatever interests you instead of someone else’s schedule.

We’re spending the next two days at sea as we head to our final stop on this cruise, MSC’s private island in The Bahamas, Ocean Cay Marine Reserve.

More tomorrow!

MSC World America Daily Planner – Day 4

Also available as a PDF by clicking here.

MSC World America Day-by-Day Cruise Review