San Juan

Puerto Rico's first inhabitants were the Taino Indians, who encountered Columbus in 1493. The Spanish quickly settled, defending their territory against the Dutch and British. This is evident by the imposing fortresses of Old San Juan, namely the El Morro Castle, dominating the old section of this capital city. In 1897, Spain declared Puerto Rico an autonomous state. Spain later ceded Puerto Rico to the U.S. and residents were granted American citizenship in 1917.

The following Shore Excursions are available for this port on this cruise, and may be reserved beginning 180 days before the cruise begins.

San Juan & Bacardi Rum Distillery
Tour Code: SJU-7339
Duration: 4 1/2 hours
Retail Value: $99.00
Price: Free

Explore Puerto Rico's rich legacy and rum-making process during this tour of Old San Juan and the Bacardi Rum Distillery.

Depart the pier for the drive to the south side of San Juan Harbor for a visit to the Bacardí Rum Distillery, the world's largest distiller of natural spirits. Upon arrival, you and your guide will board an open-air tram for the ride to the Visitor's Building. During your tour, you will see audio and video displays about the history of Bacardí and the rum-making process, visit a gallery displaying old documents, family portraits, rum bottles and other items.

At the Bacardí cocktail lounge, which resembles a 1920s Cuban bar, you will watch a bartender prepare cocktails using Bacardí rum, see some of Bacardi's greatest commercial ads in a room filled with lights and music, and send video e-mails to your friends. Your tour will conclude at the open-air pavilion for some complimentary rum drinks. Bacardí Rum and products may be purchased in the Rum N' Things gift shop next to the pavilion.

Next, your drive will continue through portions of New San Juan en route to Old San Juan, an island connected by bridges to mainland Puerto Rico. Upon arrival, you will drive past Fort San Geronimo to charming Old San Juan, then on to Fort San Cristobal to explore this centuries old fort. Visit the dungeon and Plaza Mayor with your driver/guide and then self explore the many displays available. After approximately 40 minutes you will re-board your vehicle for a city overview seeing many historic sites, including El Morro Fort, the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, San Jose Church, and Capilla de Cristo. Along the way, you will also see beautiful 17th-century Spanish ironwork on the restored old homes, and blue-black glazed cobblestones lining the narrow streets of the Old City. You will be dropped off at Plaza de Armas, the colorful central plaza of the Old City, located in front of City Hall then receive a shopper's map of Old San Juan, and have some free time to browse the interesting shops, boutiques and art galleries or you can also walk to some of the many interesting historical spots inaccessible by vehicle such La Fortaleza, San Juan Cathedral, the door of San Juan or La Rogativa. Following your visit to Old San Juan, you may opt to re-board the coach and return to the ship, or stay a little longer and return to the ship at your own expense.

Please note: Guests will not enter Bacardi's distillery or production area; the tour will be of the Visitor's Building. The walking portion of the tour in Old San Juan involves travel over some uneven pavement and steep inclines, especially within the fortress. This tour is not recommended for guests with limited mobility or guests who utilize a wheelchair. Guests must be at least 21 years of age to be served alcoholic beverages.

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Terms & Conditions:

Free Unlimited Shore Excursions are for full fare guests only, capacity controlled and subject to availability. Requested excursions may not be available at time of booking. Supplement will apply on Regent Choice excursions (indicated by the above) and excludes Private Arrangements and all Adventures Ashore programs. In order to ensure quality guides and sufficient transportation, we must provide the tour operator with passenger counts at least 36 hours in advance. Therefore no refunds will be given within 36 hours of tour departure for cancellations or no-shows. Please pay special attention to scheduling and tour lengths when booking your shore excursions. In many cases, it is not possible to participate in more than one tour per day in a given port. Tours operate rain or shine. Tours require minimum participation levels to operate so please sign up as early as possible. Tours may be cancelled if minimum participation levels are not met. Prices, Itineraries and General Information shore excursion prices are subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases or currency fluctuations. Please consult the Destination Services Desk onboard for information. During local or national holidays, access to certain facilities (such as museums or archaeological sites) may be limited or denied. In such instances, adjustments will be made to minimize inconvenience to guests. Some tours have limited availability. Tours are generally available for reserving 180 days prior to the beginning of a cruise. Please sign up early to avoid disappointment. Regent Seven Seas Cruises reserves the right to require guests to complete a liability waiver for select shore excursions. For more information, please visit the Destination Services Desk onboard.