San Juan cruise port transfers with BlaakLane.com run between the cruise piers of Old San Juan, the Pan American Pier in Isla Grande, and Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU), Condado, Isla Verde or Dorado. Choose the pier and vehicle, see a fixed fare, and meet your chauffeur at the pickup zone the port designates for pre-arranged cars.
How booking works in San Juan
Enter the airport flight number or hotel as pickup and your pier as the destination. Select a class and confirm the fare on screen. San Juan is a major home port for Caribbean sailings, so book both legs: airport to ship and, a week later, ship to airport. Trips in Puerto Rico are driven by a vetted local affiliate from the LimousineWorldwide.Directory network under the BlaakLane.com written standard, and the confirmation names operator and chauffeur.
The piers of San Juan
Cruise ships berth in two areas of San Juan Bay.
- Old San Juan piers. A row of piers on Calle La Marina along the south edge of the walled city, a short walk from Plaza de Armas, the cathedral and the shops of Calle Fortaleza. Most turnarounds and port calls use these.
- Pan American Pier. Across the bay in Isla Grande, near the Puerto Rico Convention Center, used by some of the largest ships. It is not walkable to the old city, so a car or taxi is needed.
Read the pier on your ticket. From Old San Juan to Pan American is about 10 minutes by car, but a wrong pier on a turnaround morning costs more than that.
Drive times
| From the piers to | Distance | Usual time |
|---|---|---|
| SJU airport, Isla Verde | 8-10 miles | 15-30 minutes |
| Condado hotels | 2-3 miles | 10-15 minutes |
| Isla Verde beachfront | 8 miles | 15-25 minutes |
| Dorado | 20 miles | 35-50 minutes |
| El Yunque National Forest | 30 miles | 50-70 minutes |
| Bacardi distillery, Catano | 6 miles by road | 20-35 minutes |
Airport to ship at SJU
Most passengers fly into SJU from the US mainland, and because Puerto Rico is a US territory, those are domestic flights with no customs on arrival. Include your flight number: the chauffeur is timed to the landing, with 30 minutes of waiting on domestic arrivals and 60 minutes on international flights. Standard pickup is at the airport's designated pre-arranged area outside baggage claim. An arrivals-hall meet is an add-on offered in selected locations only. Our SJU airport page explains terminal detail.
Embarkation in Old San Juan
The old city's streets are narrow, cobbled and often closed off near the piers on turnaround days. The chauffeur follows the traffic route the port and police set for cruise drop-offs and stops at the designated passenger lane, where porters tag bags. Aim for the start of your check-in window and carry passports or ID and medication yourself.
Disembarkation and the pre-arranged pickup zone
Ships return early. US citizens coming back from foreign ports clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the pier; then you collect bags and exit to the area set aside for taxis and pre-booked vehicles. Book the time your group will be ashore; 15 minutes of waiting from the booked time are included, and after that waiting is charged in 15-minute blocks. Flights to the mainland pass a USDA agricultural inspection of bags at SJU, so allow time before check-in; a flight after about 12:00 is a comfortable choice.
Travellers from outside the United States
Puerto Rico follows US immigration rules. If you are flying in from another country to join a ship, you need the same documents as for any US entry, such as a visa or an approved ESTA, and you clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection at SJU. International arrivals include 60 minutes of waiting from the actual landing, which usually covers passport control. Non-US passengers on round-trip Caribbean sailings should also check the entry rules of each island on the itinerary.
San Juan tours by the hour
Private tours are booked by the hour, three hours minimum, through the hourly chauffeur service.
- Old San Juan and the forts: Castillo San Felipe del Morro and Castillo San Cristobal, run by the National Park Service, plus the Paseo de la Princesa.
- El Yunque: the rainforest east of the city; check the Forest Service's current entry rules before you go.
- Bacardi and Catano: the distillery tour across the bay.
- Dorado and the west coast beaches: an afternoon between flights and the ship.
Which vehicle class to choose
| Who is travelling | Recommended class |
|---|---|
| Two guests, two bags | Standard Sedan or Luxury Executive Sedan |
| Anniversary couple | Executive First Class Sedan (Maybach), where available |
| Family of up to six, six bags | Standard Black SUV or Executive Black SUV |
| Up to 12 with small bags | Sprinter Van |
| Up to 7, carry-on only | Sprinter Luxury Jet Van |
| Party of 8 or 14 | Luxury Stretch Limo or Party Bus, light luggage |
Child seats come free on request. See the fleet.
Hotels for a pre-cruise night
Old San Juan's small hotels are walking distance from the piers. Condado, ten minutes away, has the big beach hotels, and Isla Verde is next to the airport. Dorado's resorts suit a longer post-cruise stay. The San Juan chauffeur page covers city trips, and Discover Puerto Rico lists events and opening hours.
Groups and cruise staff
Wedding parties, incentive groups and crews moving between ship and airport are planned by a coordinator and confirmed in writing; see cruise lines and ports and group transportation. The complete range is on the services page.
Fixed fares and cancellation
Your fare includes the vehicle, the chauffeur and included waiting, with no meter. Cancelling more than 72 hours out is free. At 72 hours or less the fee is 10% of the fare, at 48 hours or less 50%, and at 24 hours or less or for a no-show 100%. For airport information see the SJU airport site, and for how fares are built see rates.
