Pre-cruise: We spent two nights in San Juan at the Embassy Suites in Isla Verde. The hotel was in very good condition, and we took advantage of the 2 bedroom suites, which offered plenty of room--and the always favored two baths! We ate the first day at a local Puerto Rican restaurant 2 blocks from the hotel, Mi Casita, which was very reasonable in cost and provided a local dining experience. We also ate at the Outback in the hotel--about what you would expect, but favored by the kids.

On Saturday, we rented a car and drove out to El Yunque (http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/caribbean/). It was an easy, well marked drive, and the trails in the forest made for a great day of hiking. La Mina falls was a hit. Footwear is definitely key--no flip flops on these trails.

As there we were a party of five with lots of luggage, I was anxious about finding taxis for airport and port transfers, so I checked with several private car companies. We chose Fairway Transportation (http://www.fairwaypr.com/), which provided awesome service. We were met by the same driver for each segment, who was very professional and helpful. Having a vehicle waiting and avoiding the cab line was great for arrival and departure. Read more