We last cruise with NCL at beginning of 2020 aboard Escape and had a really great time, and really enjoyed our NCL experience. At beginning of 2022, we decided to book this itinerary aboard Epic since we'd enjoyed our previous experience aboard Epic, despite the fact we were on board for the infamous crash into the pier in San Juan in 2018! We had never boarded our cruise outside of the CONUS so thought the adventure of boarding in San Juan would be kinda fun as well. We booked our own air about six months in advance with SW from Nashville. Trip to San Juan was a direct 4 hour flight which was great. Return was a one stop through Tampa, which was also nice. We left San Juan at 2:30 PM and back home by 8:00PM. For the sake of convenience (or so I thought) we stayed at the Hampton Inn and Suites San Juan. This hotel was very close to the airport and we really enjoyed it...It was a 10 minute UBER ride from the hotel. Post cruise hotel was the Hilton Caribe (Wave Wing, 15th floor). Used Hilton points for that and it was an outstanding stay...really enjoyed our nearly 24 hours there.

Embarkation

Here's where things got interesting. So, when I booked the trip had not realized we would be in the heart of a major island-wide festival known as Fiestas De La Calle San Sebastian which runs from just after Thanksgiving through end of January. Lots of crowds and traffic. So, on morning of embarkation we'd scheduled for an 11:30 boarding. Night before a friend travelling with us got some local gouge, that in order to be there we'd need to leave by 0900, despite it being only about 6 diving miles to the port. So, scheduled an Uber for 09:15....the traffic to the Pan American East Terminal (where NCL embarks) was horrendous. Our driver, said he'd never do it again! We arrived at 11:15...2 hours to go 6 miles. From the outside, the terminal just looked like an old warehouse...not a lot of organization. There were still people still coming off previous cruise so there we lots of people going in different directions...we finally figured out where we should be going and dropped out checked bags with the porters and prepared to check in. Waited in line for about another 30 minutes before they started the check in. Fortunately we were inside...it was really starting to get hot/humid for those waiting in the sun outside. Once we were through screening, the rest of check in went very smoothly...we were on board at 12:30 and the fun was about to begin! First stop was Guest Services to try to get passes to Posh (Vibe Beach Club on other NCL ships). Money well spent! We didn't wait in a bar line during the day for the whole cruise! Lary and Noel were just great! Also got out internet package and phone messaging through the app straightened out...proved to be very convenient but a bit glitchy throughout the cruise. We needed the internet due to wife needing to do a lot of work during the trip. Read more