There's a good chance Royal Caribbean's big ships will finally be able to resume visiting San Juan, Puerto Rico.
For many months the biggest ships in the world have been unable to visit San Juan because of damage to the pier.
Repair work has been slow, and it meant the only pier that was able to accommodate Royal Caribbean's giant Oasis-class ships was unavailable. As a result, it forced the cruise line to cancel visits to the port, often at the last minute.
It now appears that's finally been fixed.
The Port of San Juan posted an update on their Facebook page indicating the proper repairs have been made and authorities have approved it all.
Pier 3 West has been officially restored, after completing a rigorous structural assessment in accordance with U.S. Coast Guard requirements. The slora restriction is lifted and the full use of the facility is enabled.
“It has been a long road, but our priority has always been to meet all the requirements established by the regulatory agencies and ensure the safe arrival of cruise ships in the coming years,” said Clarivette Diaz, General Manager of San Juan Cruise Port.
We deeply thank all the technical teams, consultants and agencies who made this long-awaited breakthrough possible.
We continue to work with commitment so that San Juan continues to lead as the base port of the Caribbean.
El Nuevo Dia reported the repairs are complete as well, "San Juan Cruise Port (SJCP) confirmed this Friday the reopening of Pier 3 West for vessels over 910 feet in length."
Royal Caribbean has not commented or announced any expectations yet related to the pier's status.
According to the port schedule, it appears the next Oasis Class ship scheduled to visit San Juan is Wonder of the Seas on August 6, 2025.
Icon of the Seas will follow with a visit on August 12, 2025.
Other smaller Royal Caribbean ships will visit before Wonder does, but smaller ships have not had an issue docking because they can fit into other piers.
What happened to the pier
While San Juan has a few piers, only Pier 3 West can handle Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships.
Based on reports, damage to the pier that can handle the biggest ships took place in April 2024 when allegedly it was broken after the MSC Meraviglia was involved, however, specific details are not known.
Following that incident, the U.S. Coast Guard assumed operational control of the facility.
In a statement released in November, the Coast Guard confirmed that Pier 3 West would remain closed to cruise traffic until further notice. The decision is contingent upon a series of structural assessments and an on-site inspection. While other piers at the San Juan Cruise Port remain operational, none are equipped to accommodate the largest cruise vessels, including those of the Oasis Class.
“Since the loss of the facility's mooring structure, Coast Guard Prevention personnel have been actively working with the San Juan Cruise Port and the Puerto Rico Ports Authority to determine if the structure remains sound for cruise ship operations,” said Capt. Luis J. Rodriguez, Commander of Coast Guard Sector San Juan and Captain of the Port.
Capt. Rodriguez added, “We understand the inconvenience of this matter, however, it is critical we ensure the safety of the port, the cruise ships and the thousands of people who operate on or visit the island through this port facility. My team stands ready to move ahead immediately once we receive the awaited studies from San Juan Cruise Port and the Puerto Rico Ports Authority.”
The loss of a dolphin mooring structure just off the main pier is the primary issue.
A dolphin is a group of pilings arrayed together to serve variously as a protective hardpoint along a dock.
Repairs and assessment are out of Royal Caribbean's hands, as it's work managed by port authorities and subject to approval by the Coast Guard.
