San Juan Cruise Port Faces Ongoing Challenges
The San Juan Cruise Port in Puerto Rico is currently unable to accommodate Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class cruise ships, including the popular Symphony of the Seas. This situation has left thousands of passengers disappointed and frustrated. The cruise line has had to revise itineraries for multiple sailings, forcing the mega-ship to skip San Juan entirely. This article explores the ongoing issues at the port and the impact on cruise itineraries.
Ongoing Itinerary Changes for Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean recently announced significant changes to the itineraries of the *Symphony of the Seas*. The ship, which can carry up to 5,518 guests, was originally scheduled to dock in San Juan during its upcoming 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise. However, due to ongoing construction and repairs at the port, the cruise line has opted to skip San Juan for multiple sailings. The first of these changes occurred for the sailing departing Miami on December 22, 2024. The port authority informed Royal Caribbean that the pier would not be ready in time for the ship’s visit.
This marked the third time the *Symphony of the Seas* had to be rerouted due to the pier’s technical issues. The cruise line communicated these changes to guests, stating, “Due to ongoing construction at the pier in San Juan, the port authority has advised us that the port will not be ready in time for our visit.” As a result, the ship will now visit Falmouth, Jamaica, and Nassau, Bahamas, while maintaining a stop at Royal Caribbean’s private island, CocoCay. Unfortunately, the planned stop in Philipsburg, St. Maarten, has been removed from the itinerary. This domino effect of changes has left many passengers feeling frustrated and disappointed.
San Juan Pier Remains Closed Indefinitely
The San Juan Cruise Port consists of three piers, but only Pier 3 is capable of accommodating Royal Caribbean’s massive Oasis-class ships. Unfortunately, this pier has been closed due to damage caused by an unspecified incident involving an MSC cruise ship. The damage affected a crucial mooring dolphin, which is essential for docking large vessels. As of the latest updates, repairs are ongoing, but no timeline has been provided for when Pier 3 will reopen for cruise operations.
The closure has persisted for over a month, with the *Symphony of the Seas* first skipping its scheduled port call in mid-November. The lack of information regarding the pier’s reopening has led to growing frustration among both passengers and local residents. Many have expressed their dissatisfaction on social media, accusing Royal Caribbean of poor customer service and a lack of transparency. One passenger noted, “The dock has been out of commission for a while. RCCL is hurting their brand by not being upfront with the situation.”
While Royal Caribbean has been in contact with the San Juan Port Authority, it remains unclear how much information the cruise line has about the progress of repairs. Passengers are calling for more transparency regarding the situation, hoping for timely updates on future sailings that may include San Juan. Until the pier reopens, the cruise line will continue to adjust itineraries, leaving many travelers in limbo.
