Does Anyone Know Why Western Caribbean Cruises Leave Earlier Than Other Caribbean Cruises?

Question

I've been on numerous cruises, about 9, and i am about to depart on a western caribbean cruise. I noticed that they leave a good six hours earlier than southern caribbean cruises. Can anyone help me as in to figuring out this phenomeon?

Answer 1

I'm a travel consultant and completely agree w/ KevenH. Those flying in from the West Coast usually have to change planes in Miami before going on to San Juan so flights don't get into San Juan until later in the day.

Answer 2

From U.S. ports, most cruises leave around 4:00-5:00PM local time.

Ships sailing from San Juan, Puerto Rico generally leave later in the evening (usually between 10:00PM and Midnight) because of the increased travel time that it takes to get to San Juan.

Also flight options to San Juan are sometimes not as plentiful as they are to say, Miami or Fort Lauderdale, etc...so that is also taken into account, when planning ship departure times from San Juan.