Do you have a Graycliff Chocolate Tour Review or Pics?

[luxlvr]

Background: DS (9), DS (7), DD (5). One child with severe allergy.

I have searched and haven't found a ton of reviews on the Graycliff Chocolate Tour in Nassau. I was wondering if anyone had any personal experience with the tour and/ or any pics? My DS is *really* into food and wants to be a chef! I thought this might be a great tour for him.

Does anyone have any personal experience with the tour or thoughts on it?
Has anyone gone on the tour with an allergy?

 

[Jack15129]

We did this tour in January of 2014 with our DS (17) and DD (20). This was our first cruise. We all enjoyed the tour very much. We had a great guide, I think her name was Kiki. After learning how chocolate is made, we then got to make our own special chocolates. We had on a plate: marshmallows, granola, coconut and a strawberry, maybe some nuts. She gave us all a cup filled with dark liquid dark chocolate.We also had a mold to make your own candy bar. At the end we were given a sturdy wooden box to put it in. We also bought some chocolates in the store at the end!

 

[luxlvr]

We did this tour in January of 2014 with our DS (17) and DD (20). This was our first cruise. We all enjoyed the tour very much. We had a great guide, I think her name was Kiki. After learning how chocolate is made, we then got to make our own special chocolates. We had on a plate: marshmallows, granola, coconut and a strawberry, maybe some nuts. She gave us all a cup filled with dark liquid dark chocolate.We also had a mold to make your own candy bar. At the end we were given a sturdy wooden box to put it in. We also bought some chocolates in the store at the end!

Thank you!! This is very helpful! Do you think little kids would find it fun?

 

[Jack15129]

I think they would. I know we did have younger kids on our tour and they seemed to enjoy it! Especially when it came time to make your own creations!

 

[luxlvr]

I think they would. I know we did have younger kids on our tour and they seemed to enjoy it! Especially when it came time to make your own creations!

Thank you!!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Kiki is awesome. It's fun, but the chocolate they make is much better than what you make. Do the tour, then the next time you're in Nassau just cab or walk there and buy the chocolate they make. Yum.

Fwiw, the building is historic aka old. It doesn't look impressive. So pare down expectations for a chocolate factory. . Some have been weirded out by the old (historic and original!) floor tile etc.

 

[chunkymonkey]

We did the Tru Bahamian Food Tour last year and it included a stop at the Graycliff chocolatier (as well as in the Graycliff humidor for some beer, and lemonade for the non drinkers).
Not sure if you only want to do the chocolate tour but I have a trip report on our experience with Tru Bahamian:

Part 1: http://www.disboards.com/threads/ch...report-completed.3413542/page-3#post-53761110
Part 2: http://www.disboards.com/threads/ch...report-completed.3413542/page-3#post-53765677

There were people on the tour with some allergies, if you tell them ahead of time I think they were able to accommodate them. For example, I think there was a non-shellfish eater in our group, and instead of conch fritters, he got more of the stew chicken. Everything we ate was delicious.

We had a great time! Hope this helps.

 

[SonicGuy]

Its funny - we just yesterday threw away the wooden boxes that they send the chocolate home with you in.

Everyone in our group loved it. Would do again, except we don't really get off the ship in Nassau any more. HAVE FUN!

 

[luxlvr]

We did the Tru Bahamian Food Tour last year and it included a stop at the Graycliff chocolatier (as well as in the Graycliff humidor for some beer, and lemonade for the non drinkers).
Not sure if you only want to do the chocolate tour but I have a trip report on our experience with Tru Bahamian:

Part 1: http://www.disboards.com/threads/ch...report-completed.3413542/page-3#post-53761110
Part 2: http://www.disboards.com/threads/ch...report-completed.3413542/page-3#post-53765677

There were people on the tour with some allergies, if you tell them ahead of time I think they were able to accommodate them. For example, I think there was a non-shellfish eater in our group, and instead of conch fritters, he got more of the stew chicken. Everything we ate was delicious.

We had a great time! Hope this helps.

Wow! This is GREAT!!!!
Thank you

Your images of Nassau and the culture are exactly what I want to show the kids. I use to travel and lived all over before I had kids. I want to tour a little... even if it's just for a few hours! Thank you!!

 

[luxlvr]

Its funny - we just yesterday threw away the wooden boxes that they send the chocolate home with you in.

Everyone in our group loved it. Would do again, except we don't really get off the ship in Nassau any more. HAVE FUN!

GREAT!!!
Thank you!

 

[over50visits]

I'll add to the rave reviews here. The tour is made by Kiki, period. She's great. The factory isn't very impressive, just a room full of machines stirring chocolate, but the session where you make your own candies is really a blast. We didn't have any kids with us, but there were several in the room and they all seem to be having fun. Hint: remember her name, and pay attention during the short tour, there's a quiz at the end with prizes. We got the wooden boxes, a nice souvenir. Nice candies and shirts in the shop there, and we were able to explore the restaurant and garden area for a few minutes before the return van showed up to take us back.

If you make candy with strawberries, don't forget to eat them on the ship. They are listed on the APHIS data base as "import license required." Since you can't bring them into the US, you can't take them off the ship when you debark. I'm sure you can find plenty of people who say they brought (sneaked) them back without a problem...just tell that to the INS agents when they find them in your luggage and decide to enforce the law, especially since you didn't declare them. Just saying....make them and enjoy them on your cruise!

 

[chunkymonkey]

Wow! This is GREAT!!!!
Thank you

Your images of Nassau and the culture are exactly what I want to show the kids. I use to travel and lived all over before I had kids. I want to tour a little... even if it's just for a few hours! Thank you!!

You're welcome! We had a great time. I love local food and culture so it was perfect for a few hours off the boat! There's a bit of walking involved but nothing too strenuous. It was just really hot that day, but we got plenty of water to drink at each stop, plus we brought our own water. Enjoy your cruise!

 

[gruffudd242]

I was on it on our last cruise in December, and I found it a bit underwhelming. The tour guide that we had sped through the whole chocolate making process and seemed to leave some stuff out. There was also an issue where they either miscounted the number of people they expected as they had to find a seat for me and ave I had to ask for the ingredients almost every time we moved on to a new candy making section. Overall I had a good time, but I don't thing I would do it again.