San Juan sodas and wine

[robgvic]

We are sailing on The CB Dec 6. Where is a good place to buy some diet coke and some wine for the cabin?

Any comments on staying at the Holiday Inn Express there?

We have booked a return flight at 110. Hope that is enough time for a 7 am arrival

[CruisingJs]

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express, although we weren't there for long. Due to flight delays, we didn't get there until 1:00 am. The rooms are fine if you're looking for basic sleep the night before your cruise. I probably wouldn't spend more than one night there. The bathrom was so small you could only carry one thing in there at a time. But the room was clean and adequate.

 

After you check in at the pier, there is a liquor store that has water and sodas as well. It gets pretty busy, but it's convenient.

 

Enjoy your cruise. We loved the Southern Caribbean.

[LeeW]

One of the reasons we like the regular Holiday Inn in the Isla Verde area is that it is only a block from the Pueblo Market. Large grocery with wine. There really isn't much near the hotels in the Condado Beach area. Other folks have suggested having your cab driver stop at a market.

 

Assuming you are sailing from Pier 4, there are a number of shops in Old San Juan, including a small wine shop next to the Sheraton. Several small markets on Calle de San Francisco and Calle de la Fortaleza, with Pueblo Market on Calle de San Francisco at Calle de la Cruz. You can often get on the ship at 11:30 or so, and since it doesn't leave until 11 PM, you can drop your carryon in your cabin, get lunch, and then head into the city.

 

Can't recommend the shop in the cruise terminal. Wine brands are total unknowns, with little choice. Don't think they even sold Coke. Basically they push high-end liquor and rum.

[robgvic]

Which dock does CB us in San Juan? Pan American? New Frontier?

[Ash's Aunt]

We sailed on the CB in May 2009 from the Pan Am pier. We bought Diet Coke from the store in the Pan Am terminal. We're not big drinkers so can't comment on wine.