Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas Returns to Puerto Rico Following Major Pier Upgrade

Puerto Rico’s upgraded pier can now host the world’s largest cruise ships — and soon, the newest Icon-class vessels.

San Juan has reclaimed its place among the world’s elite cruise destinations. This week, Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas became the first Oasis-class ship to dock at the city’s Pier 3 since the completion of a $10 million infrastructure upgrade — a project that restores San Juan’s ability to host the largest cruise ships afloat and paves the way for Icon-class vessels to visit for the first time.

The return of Wonder of the Seas brought more than 6,500 passengers and crew to Old San Juan, generating an estimated $700,000 in local economic activity in a single day. Over the next five months, San Juan Cruise Port said it expects about 15 calls from mega cruise ships, creating new opportunities for local merchants, tour operators, restaurants, and transportation providers.

A Strategic Investment for Puerto Rico’s Cruise Future

The Pier 3 upgrades were funded and led by San Juan Cruise Port, part of the Global Ports Holding network — the world’s largest cruise port operator. The project is a key element of a broader $52 million modernization plan to improve capacity, streamline operations, and position San Juan as a premier homeport and port of call.

By restoring the pier’s ability to handle Oasis- and Icon-class ships, SJCP has not only future-proofed its cruise facilities but also enhanced Puerto Rico’s competitiveness in the Caribbean tourism market.

Pier 3 Transformation

The multi-phase project combined engineering precision with regulatory coordination to meet the demands of mega ship operations. Work began with detailed structural assessments to confirm Pier 3’s load-bearing capacity for the world’s largest cruise vessels, followed by dredging to achieve the depth and draft required for ships exceeding 200,000 gross tons.

The port also installed new and upgraded bollards to handle increased mooring forces and repaired or replaced mooring dolphins to enhance docking stability. A newly constructed platform, specifically engineered to berth Icon-class ships, completed the transformation

Economic Ripple Effect

The economic benefits are immediate and significant. Each Oasis-class call brings thousands of passengers into Old San Juan, where spending on dining, tours, shopping, and transportation directly supports local jobs and businesses. As cruise itineraries expand to include the port’s enhanced capabilities, SJCP anticipates sustained increases in passenger volumes and ship calls.

“The arrival of Wonder of the Seas is a powerful demonstration of our commitment to strengthening San Juan’s position as a premier cruise destination,” said Clarivette Díaz, General Manager of SJCP. “With the Pier 3 upgrades — part of a $52 million infrastructure program underway this year — we’ve enhanced capacity, efficiency, and readiness to welcome the next generation of cruise ships, bringing even greater benefits to Old San Juan and the wider Puerto Rican tourism industry.”