best shore excursions/activities for San Juan, St Thomas, St...

"RICK DAVIS" <RICKER64@> wrote in message
news:22236-47935699-563@storefull-3311.bay....
> San Juan - Most likely your a night stop. Really wouldn't waste you
> time getting off the ship. San Juan at night can be dicey - thats a
> nice word for it. There is really nothing to see here. I was there in
> Dec. and we docked around 5pm till midnight. I stayed on the ship.
> Most people who got off got back on after an hour and said "what a
> waste". At around 10PM I think most people were back on board. I saw
> nobody getting on the ship. Save your money and stay on board (if its a
> night stop). If you do go ashore use your common sense. If it doesn't
> look crowded you don't need to be there. Always be aware of whats
> around you.
>
>
That may be true in San Juan proper, but there are only a few places in
Old San Juan (La Perla, past the cemetery at El Morro) that are dangerous.
We spent three days and nights in OSJ, and never felt at ease or threatened.
There is a huge police presence. OSJ at night, especially if there are any
festivals or celebrations, is a fascinating place to visit.

Pete

Hey Charles, I've been to San Juan a number of times. I look at that
port the same way I look at Ocho Rios....I stay on the ship. I've
walked the streets of OSJ many times. To be honest OSJ does nothing for
me. I liked going to the old El San Juan Hotel & Casino (before it
changed hands) or the Carribe Hilton. Crime in San Juan is bad.
Especially at night. Not to say its not in any other island....just
some worse than others.
They have increased the police presence due to past trouble. Lets
face it a huge amount of money is walking off every ship that docks in
OSJ. The locals know that. This was told to me by a waitress in the
hotel & casino across from where the ships dock. It used to be a
Raddison now it a Sheraton I believe.
She also said she hates walking to her car at night because it usually
when the ships are about to pull out and the police are off the streets
then. She didn't feel safe. She wears a hotel uniform and to the
locals thats a very high paying job. She said the workers often get
mugged leaving work after midnight.

About 2 years ago we were in OSJ for a night stop. We took a taxi to a
rooftop bar we know in the hotel & casino zone . On the way back the
taxi driver told us to lock our doors and keep the windows up. It was
common for taxis to be robbed at gunpoint because the locals know its
tourists in the car. Especially taxis leaving the hotel zones. They
would often rush the car while at a stop light. Demand cash and jewelry
and be gone before the light changed and disappear into the crowds. The
cab driver said the robberies were getting really bad by the capital.
Taxis would stop to allow tourists to take pictures of the capital at
night and gunman would rush the car. This only a couple blocks from the
cruise ships. This told to me by the taxi driver.

I've now been told by two locals who live in San Juan how bad the crime
is. Any reason you can think of why they would make this up? I doubt
San Juan police dept. has cleaned up the crime in just 2 years. If it
was so safe all those police you saw wouldn't be there. I'll just stay
on board and enjoy an uncrowded ship get a good nights sleep and spend
my time and money in St. Thomas the next day.

In article <17657-4794A00C-576@storefull-3313.bay.>, RICK
DAVIS <RICKER64@> wrote:

> I'll just stay on board and enjoy an uncrowded ship get a good
> nights sleep and spend my time and money in St. Thomas the next day.

I get it that you don't like San Juan. But to tell others not to get
off because it is unsafe is just plain wrong. San Juan is not one of my
favorite ports but Old San Juan is not unsafe. No one is telling people
to venture off to other areas of San Juan at night or stay past behind
when the ships leave.

--
Charles

In article
<3aa882dc-48ff-494e-bf14-7b9683e4d239@x69g2000hsx..com>,
Rick <ricker64@> wrote:

> I don't need a gun put in my face to know its not a place I want to
> be or spend my vacation.

Rick, plenty of people vacation in Puerto Rico. I have vacationed in
Puerto Rico. You are making an awful silly rant about San Juan to
justify your preference of staying on the ship. Thousands of cruise
ship passengers get off the ship every week in San Juan and walk around
Old San Juan without problem. I have done it many times. I have even
done it from staying at a hotel, not a cruise ship. I read many cruise
discussion boards and I don't recall any reporting a gun in their face
or even a robbery. Making a sensational statement about guns and
robbery to back up your arguments is not an honest way of proving
something.

--
Charles

"Rick" <ricker64@> wrote in message
news:3aa882dc-48ff-494e-bf14-7b9683e4d239@x69g2000hsx..com...
On Jan 21, 9:52 am, Charles <f...@his.com.remove.invalid> wrote:

> When every large hotel in San Juan
has to post armed guards at the beach/pool deck access that tells me
its
not a very safe place. Every home has iron bars on their doors and
windows
tells me alot also.

What are you talking about? Armed guards at the pool access? Want to tell
me where you've actually SEEN that?

I've been to San Juan probably about 30-40 times over the years on business,
and haven't seen what you're describing.

Sure there are places with bars on the doors and windows. Same in NYC.
Same in many major cities. Does that mean you'd stay on the ship instead of
going into Rome? Or into Paris?

--Tom

On Jan 21, 1:37 pm, "Tom K" <tkani...@> wrote:
> "Rick" <ricke...@> wrote in message
>
> news:3aa882dc-48ff-494e-bf14-7b9683e4d239@x69g2000hsx..com...
> On Jan 21, 9:52 am, Charles <f...@his.com.remove.invalid> wrote:
>
> > When every large hotel in San Juan
>
> has to post armed guards at the beach/pool deck access that tells me
> its
> not a very safe place. Every home has iron bars on their doors and
> windows
> tells me alot also.
>
> What are you talking about?  Armed guards at the pool access?  Want to tell
> me where you've actually SEEN that?

The last two times I stayed at the El San Juan Hotel and Casino
they had armed
guards at the beach/pool access. When leaving the pool deck to the
beach they told us
to make sure we had our key to present when returning. It was also
"suggested" we
not go onto the beach at night.

>
> I've been to San Juan probably about 30-40 times over the years on business,
> and haven't seen what you're describing.
>
> Sure there are places with bars on the doors and windows.  Same in NYC.
Not every house on every street.

> Same in many major cities.  Does that mean you'd stay on the ship instead of
> going into Rome?  Or into Paris?

If I didn't know the city I would go on an organized tour. Not
venture off on my
own.
>
> --Tom