Bacardi Rum Distillery - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

Chudley · 05-30-2007, 08:26 PM

Destination: Caribbean

Port/City: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Bacardi Rum Distillery

Learn about San Juan history and the development of its unique sugar cane industry. At the plant, you will be able to see the giant fermenting tanks that turn sugar cane into molasses and finally into rum. You will be able to follow the process from vat to barrel to bottle, and then have a chance to sample the results. The tour will end at the pier.

This tour will give you the opportunity to learn about San Juan's History and the development of its unique sugar cane industry. Bacardi Corporation is the largest rum distillery in the world. At the plant you will be able to see the giant fermenting tanks that turn sugar cane into molasses and finally into rum. You will be able to follow the process from vat to barrel to bottle, and then have a chance to sample the results. You will also have the opportunity to visit the Bacardi shops and museum. The tour will end at the pier.

MCcruiser · 05-30-2007, 08:42 PM

While I wouldn't do this as an excursion from the ship (too much else to see in San Juan!), DH and I did do this with his aunt and uncle who live near SJ. It was interesting to learn the history of this company and about the move they made from Cuba when that country went communist. There is an opportunity to try the rum and they are NOT stingy with the samples.

We were able to try some new flavors there before they were available here in the continental US. They also sell a 151 proof in the gift shop that you can't get here as well. If you want to take a chance of flying home with the bottle (we were told you are not allowed to bring it on the plane), it could make a nice gift or souvenir.

Cruise Planner · 05-31-2007, 11:09 AM

I agree that this is not one of those excursions you'll want to do - if you have to go there, you can do it by taxi or renting a car and doing it. But it's quite a distance from the piers and there's nothing else out there to see.

However, there were 10 of us who did the tour and were really looking forward to seeing the distillery, but we all thought it was a waste of our time. While the history was interesting, the distillery itself was only semi-interesting, and the tour was boring, too long, and not well designed. The after-tour samples were good, actually the only good part of the tour.

If you really want to see an interesting distillery, I suggest the Mont Gay rum distillery in Barbados.

But I also agree there are many more interesting and fun things to do in San Juan than to visit the Bacardi distillery.

As for bringing alcohol on the plane, if you purchase alcohol inside the secured area at the airport, they will tag it so you can carry it on the plane. We were just there and brought 3 bottles back with us.

And speaking of alcohol, the best prices we found were actually on the cruise ship pier. Bought two bottles of Patron Reposado tequilla, put them in my backpack and walked right on the ship. They are $35 a bottle there whereas here they are $53 a bottle. It was great sitting on our balcony, drinking beer, doing shots of a wonderful tequilla, and enjoying my cigar.

Krazy Kruizers · 05-31-2007, 02:30 PM

We did the San Juan Rum factory tour in 2003 and were very disappointed. They gave each an audio box. As you went from one area to another you punched in the appropriate number and listened to a speech about that area. Very boring and a waste of money. We did not get to tour any part of the distillery.

Cruise Planner · 06-01-2007, 10:34 AM

They must have done away with those audio boxes as they didn't give them to us. But the tour guide acted like she was bored to death and wanted to be anyplace other than doing what she was doing. The bad thing is that they don't do much on the weekends, which is when most of the cruise ship passengers visit. So you don't get to see them actually doing anything.

Perhaps the audio boxes, although boring, may have been just a little less boring than our guide. lol

Pete

tour46 · 09-02-2007, 10:01 AM

the Bacardi distillery is a place to visit but next time please check out the Don Q store right in fornt of pier # 2. They sells bottles, souvenirs, provide information about the rum and of course some rum tasting

canarymoon · 04-19-2008, 10:43 AM

Thanks for that tip, Victor.
I know you posted it a while back, and for some reason, I just ran across it. Your tips are ALWAYS worthwhile!

MCcruiser · 04-20-2008, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cruise Planner

They must have done away with those audio boxes as they didn't give them to us. But the tour guide acted like she was bored to death and wanted to be anyplace other than doing what she was doing. The bad thing is that they don't do much on the weekends, which is when most of the cruise ship passengers visit. So you don't get to see them actually doing anything.

Perhaps the audio boxes, although boring, may have been just a little less boring than our guide. lol

Pete

Pete we went during the week, and we did not get to see any work associated with producing rum either. (We went in 2005, and we got the audioboxes.) At the end of the tour, which was mostly historical, there was a demonstration by a bartender. That's it.

I felt that it wasn't a bad tour with the self-paced audio, but there were certainly more important things to see in San Juan. Victor's alternative sounds a lot better if you only have one day in San Juan.