Carnival Cruise Line has officially returned to San Juan, Puerto Rico, following the devastation the city sustained during Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria.
The Carnival Conquest sailed into the port early November 30, marking the line’s first call at the destination since the hurricanes. Dozens more port calls are planned in San Juan over the coming weeks.
Carnival said that it would also resume sailing from San Juan as an embarkation port when the Carnival Fascination begins a schedule of year-round seven-day southern Caribbean cruises starting February 18, 2018. The Carnival Fascination is currently being chartered by FEMA to house relief workers in St. Croix.
Carnival said that during today’s call in San Juan by the Carnival Conquest, the ship’s 3,200 guests could enjoy a wide range of shore excursion choices as well as opportunities to experience and explore Old San Juan’s many restaurants, shops and boutiques.
Fellow Carnival Corporation brand Seabourn has announced that it will return to San Juan starting December 18. Holland America Line has said it will return December 7; Princess Cruises on December 20; and Costa Cruises on December 17.
Additionally, as scheduled, Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas also called at San Juan on November 30. Combined with the Carnival Conquest, over 7,000 travelers visited the island yesterday.
"Freedom of the Seas and Carnival Conquest passengers were greeted with an extremely warm welcome—Puerto Rican style," said a statement from Puerto Rico Tourism. “Festivities ranged from free salsa classes, rum and coquito tastings, to traditional BatuPlena percussion bands, artisan markets, street performers, children fairs and much more."
Freedom of the Seas has continued onto Labadee in Haiti.
Royal Caribbean has been homeporting in San Juan since October 7 when Adventure of the Seas began regular sailings after a number of humanitarian voyages to affected islands. Royal Caribbean also says that all scheduled calls to San Juan (and St. Thomas) across all 10 ships in the fleet will operate as planned.
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