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Exploring San Juan and the Southern Caribbean with Disney Cruise Line

We’re just six weeks away from our brand-new Southern Caribbean voyages, departing for the first time ever from beautiful San Juan, Puerto Rico! As we count down the weeks until the start of this spectacular itinerary, I’ll be sharing insights on all you can see and do when we visit ports on the islands of Antigua, St. Lucia, Grenada, Barbados and St. Kitts.

Today I want to start with the activities in San Juan you won’t want to miss before or after your cruise. With so much history and beauty in San Juan, it’s difficult to narrow down my favorite places to visit, so here’s just a glimpse of what your family can experience …

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Old San Juan
Think blue cobblestone streets, brightly colored buildings and a history that stretches back to the Conquistadors. You could spend the entire day walking around the old city of San Juan, browsing unique shops and eateries, shopping for arts and crafts in the plaza and exploring the grounds of the fort, Castillo San Cristóbal. Make sure you set aside some time to taste the savory flavors of Puerto Rico’s “Créole” cuisine, called “cocina criolla” by the locals, at one of the many charming cafés.

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El Yunque Rainforest
A lush tropical rainforest, the Caribbean National Forest known as El Yunque is less than an hour away from the city. From high atop the mountains, you can enjoy scenic views of the east coast of Puerto Rico, hike to water falls, explore rugged terrain on horseback or ATV, and more. Keep an eye and ear out for the singing coqui frogs and tropical birds that inhabit the trees.

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Beach and Water Adventures
There are several great beaches near San Juan where you can relax on the warm sand and take a dip in the sparkling Caribbean waters. Isla Verde is one of my favorites for its wide beach, palm trees and close proximity to restaurants and facilities. Adventure lovers can take advantage of the many fun water activities offered in the area, like snorkeling, surfing, jet skiing and scuba diving, just to name some.

Stayed tuned next week for my recommendations on what to do in Antigua. And remember, when the ship’s in port, venture ashore!

Comments

  • Arnaldo, will the San Juan port adventures be available to book pre/post cruise activities for guests sailing on the Disney Magic?

  • I’m disappointed that Disney is not doing this itinerary in 2015. I hope to see it listed for 2016.

  • I was wondering the same thing. We are doing the southern and the repo cruise and would like to do something between the two.

  • I’m confused! I though DCL only organized pre/post cruise excursions in embarkation/debarkation ports when booking airfare & hotel through DCL? I saw the information about Isla Verde (San Juan). When is this being offered? One day prior to embarkation? Afternoon of debarkation? I’m curious, because there is nothing mentioned in my cruise documents.

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