Rum buying question

[ShellinTX]

I’d love it if you wise folks could help me find a nice bottle of rum to celebrate my wedding on my upcoming cruise. I’m looking for something along the lines of Zacapa Centenario XO (typically $100-$125 stateside). Another brand would be fine, too. I’m looking for something similar in quality.

I’m traveling to St. Kitts, St. Maarten and San Juan. Which port would be best and do you have recommendations for a particular shop?

 

(In an effort to keep this thread from going awry: I plan to follow RCI rules for purchasing alcohol in port!)

 

Thanks!

[ctcontrol]

I have always found St. Maarten to be the best place in buying duty free alcohol. There are duty free shops at the port. As you enter the shops area there is a shop to your left. Fab little store for rum and cigars!

[ShellinTX]

Thanks for the recommendation [emoji3]

 

My fiancé will like to purchase some cigars, as well. What are the rules for buying tobacco? Can you take cigars bought in port on the ship with you? Or is the process similar to alcohol purchases?

[Chrome Diva]

There is no problem bring cigarettes or cigars back on to the ship. There is a limit to how many you can bring back to the United States.

 

As for Rum look for a special bottle called 7 fathoms Grand Cayman.

Research the 7 Fathoms Rum it’s a special story.

 

 

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[Merion_Mom]

Thanks for the recommendation [emoji3]

 

My fiancé will like to purchase some cigars, as well. What are the rules for buying tobacco? Can you take cigars bought in port on the ship with you? Or is the process similar to alcohol purchases?

No one cares about tobacco, IME.

[alfaeric]

I’d love it if you wise folks could help me find a nice bottle of rum to celebrate my wedding on my upcoming cruise. I’m looking for something along the lines of Zacapa Centenario XO (typically $100-$125 stateside). Another brand would be fine, too. I’m looking for something similar in quality.

I’m traveling to St. Kitts, St. Maarten and San Juan. Which port would be best and do you have recommendations for a particular shop?

 

(In an effort to keep this thread from going awry: I plan to follow RCI rules for purchasing alcohol in port!)

 

Thanks!

 

Can you get more than one bottle?

 

Find the Ron Zacapa, for sure. But keep you eye out for other special rums- in San Juan, you can get some very nice special Don Q rums at a store Casa Melaza- http://casamelaza.com/ - they have their own special bottle of DonQ.

 

St Kitts has its own local Rum, too.

 

Basically, taste as much as you can, and get what you like. All the islands have their own special way and taste for rum, and it's quite interesting.

[Airrace]

I have always found St. Maarten to be the best place in buying duty free alcohol. There are duty free shops at the port. As you enter the shops area there is a shop to your left. Fab little store for rum and cigars!

 

 

 

Do you remember the name of the shop?

 

Thanks

 

 

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[ShellinTX]

Can you get more than one bottle?

 

 

 

Find the Ron Zacapa, for sure. But keep you eye out for other special rums- in San Juan, you can get some very nice special Don Q rums at a store Casa Melaza- http://casamelaza.com/ - they have their own special bottle of DonQ.

 

 

 

St Kitts has its own local Rum, too.

 

 

 

Basically, taste as much as you can, and get what you like. All the islands have their own special way and taste for rum, and it's quite interesting.

 

 

 

Yes, I would love to buy more than one bottle. I’m concerned about getting them home, however. We plan to use luggage valet and our plane doesn’t leave until 2ish. We will have to see about carrying them. Maybe I can pack a bag to use for this? We each can take 2, 750ml bottles through customs, correct?

[Airrace]

Yes, I would love to buy more than one bottle. I’m concerned about getting them home, however. We plan to use luggage valet and our plane doesn’t leave until 2ish. We will have to see about carrying them. Maybe I can pack a bag to use for this? We each can take 2, 750ml bottles through customs, correct?

 

 

 

If you do a Google search there are a lot of devices to holding alchol.

 

 

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[SC_Floaters]

Fortunately, Sue & I can drive to the Florida ports and have not problem bringing any alcohol purchases home.

 

We have a small collection of rums that we've picked up on some of our Caribbean cruises.

 

I am not a rum drinker so they are a collection (I prefer bourbon)..

 

In Barbados, during a tour of the Mount Gay Rum distillery we purchased a nice bottle of the Mount Gay Rum 1703 Old Cask Selection.

 

In San Juan, during a tour of the Bacardi distillery we purchased a nice bottle of Bacardi Reserva Limitada..

 

We visited Martinique and during an excursion to one of the many local distilleries on the island we purchased a bottle of RUM DEPAZ, Single Cask 2003, Old Rum Ageless.

 

In Antigua, visiting St. John's we purchased a bottle of English Harbor Reserve 10 Years Oak Barrel Aged.

 

Our at home (purchased locally) includes Pyrat XO Reserv, Captain Morgan Private Stock, Meyer's Original Dark and some Barcardin 151....

 

Dennis & Sue

[robtulipe]

Try Dufry Duty Free at Port Zante on St. Kitts as this shop has a good selection of rum at reasonable prices. It is just to the left when exiting from the gate structure of the pier area.

Typically I don't buy higher end rum so I am not sure about those here but they did have lots of variety. I got two 1.14 litre bottle of Puerto Rico Bacardi white rum for $18US for both, so $9 each, but had to buy two to get that price.

We're Canadian so we're allowed to bring back that larger bottle but IMO it wouldn't be a problem for US residents.

On St. Maarten you likely do better in downtown Philipsburg on Front St (Voorstraat) than at cruise port.

I always check out the second street (Speetjens), just west of the Diamond Casino which is on Kanaal Steeg, the first street, when walking into town from the cruise port. There is a shop run by an Indian couple on the west side or the right, about three shops down from Front when coming when approaching from that street. It will be on the left when coming up from the boardwalk/beach area.

They have several displays of liquor bottles outside in front and usually have a sign with that day's specials which typically only go until noon.

[ShellinTX]

Try Dufry Duty Free at Port Zante on St. Kitts as this shop has a good selection of rum at reasonable prices. It is just to the left when exiting from the gate structure of the pier area.

 

Typically I don't buy higher end rum so I am not sure about those here but they did have lots of variety. I got two 1.14 litre bottle of Puerto Rico Bacardi white rum for $18US for both, so $9 each, but had to buy two to get that price.

 

We're Canadian so we're allowed to bring back that larger bottle but IMO it wouldn't be a problem for US residents.

 

On St. Maarten you likely do better in downtown Philipsburg on Front St (Voorstraat) than at cruise port.

 

I always check out the second street (Speetjens), just west of the Diamond Casino which is on Kanaal Steeg, the first street, when walking into town from the cruise port. There is a shop run by an Indian couple on the west side or the right, about three shops down from Front when coming when approaching from that street. It will be on the left when coming up from the boardwalk/beach area.

 

They have several displays of liquor bottles outside in front and usually have a sign with that day's specials which typically only go until noon.

 

 

 

Thanks for the specifics!!

[Merion_Mom]

Do you remember the name of the shop?

 

Thanks

 

 

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The area is quite small. There are only a few shops on the left.

 

You can have fun checking them all out! [emoji6]

 

 

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[Airrace]

The area is quite small. There are only a few shops on the left.

 

You can have fun checking them all out! [emoji6]

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

 

 

How many cigar shops are their?

 

 

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[alfaeric]

Yes, I would love to buy more than one bottle. I’m concerned about getting them home, however. We plan to use luggage valet and our plane doesn’t leave until 2ish. We will have to see about carrying them. Maybe I can pack a bag to use for this? We each can take 2, 750ml bottles through customs, correct?

 

Actually, you can take 2L each (which is why many bottles on board are 1L instead of 750ml). But we've reported 5 bottles once and they didn't even bat an eye. Remember, all you are paying is the extra tax, not that it's illegal to bring more in.

 

As for packing, we've never had problems packing them in our bags and letting the baggage handlers take care of it. Bottles of wine, vinegar, olive oil, booze- nothing has broken. Just pack it in the middle.

 

If you were FLYING out of San Juan- I'd tell you to just go to the duty free stores and get rum there. They even have Ron Zacapa. But it sounds like you are flying either out of FLL or Miami....

 

The places you buy it from all know you are taking it home, so many will wrap it in bubble wrap for you.

[steveru621]

The law says one liter per person. You can purchase 5 liters if one of them is purchased and product of/in PR or USVI.

 

Anything over those amounts you are taking chances. But as others have said they aren't always interested in charging you duty.

 

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/424/~/bringing-alcohol-from-u.s.-insular-possessions-into-the-u.s.-%28u.s.-virgin

[hancock]

If you have room in your luggage, you can buy more than a bottle each. Just be sure to declare what you buy. If the extra duty is less than $10,they usually wave the extra. Don't fool around with customs. Always declare!

[PigsCanFly]

I am a rum fan. My favorites at home are Mount Gay Eclipse and Bacardi Black (formally Select). I also recommend Appleton estates and Don Q. We visited a distillery in Nassau in January that had several different varieties of Rum. I did not try them, but the shop thought that they were worth a small fortune. They did offer tastings, but I chose not to try it. (in case I really liked one).

I typically buy on ship for take home. It seems that Royal offers Bacardi Black for 4/$10 each. I have also seen a spend $80 , get $10 off. I bought 8 1L bottles of Bacardi Select for $70. More than the allowed limit, but I reported it to customs for the 2 of us, and there was no extra duty charged.

[ORV]

Two of my favorites are,

 

Flor De Cana, it is made in Nicaragua but is found in many Duty Free shops. It's all good, the choices range from 3 year old to 25 year old.

 

Havana Club, any vintage, make sure you get the real stuff from Cuba, which is available in many Duty Free and Caribbean ports. There is a Havana Club made by Bacardi, you don't want that one.

[island lady]

The DH is a big rum fan. Our favorite "stock up" store is in St. Maarten. If you take the water taxi over, the shop is right at the end of the dock. We have checked out just about every liquor store in town, but none can compete with their pricing.

 

One of his favorites is a Haitian rum called Barbancourt. It is not expensive, but very smooth. He also like Flor De Cana.

[ShellinTX]

Actually, you can take 2L each (which is why many bottles on board are 1L instead of 750ml). But we've reported 5 bottles once and they didn't even bat an eye. Remember, all you are paying is the extra tax, not that it's illegal to bring more in.

 

As for packing, we've never had problems packing them in our bags and letting the baggage handlers take care of it. Bottles of wine, vinegar, olive oil, booze- nothing has broken. Just pack it in the middle.

 

 

Yes, we are flying out of FLL.

 

We will take your advice, and other posters, and taste a variety. If we find some to our liking, we’ll buy more. We’ll just have to see how many bottles we can manage to get home.

 

I suppose there’s all types of souvenirs. Some prefer art, some jewelry. I’m looking forward to shopping and bringing home a few bottles to serve as memories of our wedding cruise. [emoji3]

[island lady]

Yes, we are flying out of FLL.

 

We will take your advice, and other posters, and taste a variety. If we find some to our liking, we’ll buy more. We’ll just have to see how many bottles we can manage to get home.

 

I suppose there’s all types of souvenirs. Some prefer art, some jewelry. I’m looking forward to shopping and bringing home a few bottles to serve as memories of our wedding cruise. [emoji3]

 

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding and have a fantabulous cruise! :D

[ShellinTX]

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding and have a fantabulous cruise! :D

 

 

 

Thanks!