My Cuba Cruise

I am pleased to read that I am not alone in the acknowledgement of the efficiency and friendliness of the members of the crew who hale from Mauritius. These wonderful men and women exemplify the word service.

As their native language is French they not only fill the service needs of those from francophone or bilingual countries but with a minor exception are themselves bilingual. The minor exception, affectionately known to us as "Lurch", due to his overall height and needing to duck the door frame when entering the kitchen, could barely speak a word of English when we first boarded the Crystal. But this year on our most recent cruise, he held many a conversation with us in his new found English language. Well done all.

So, I have been reflecting on the TP issue on board. Somewhere way back in this thread I think I recall someone saying they disposed of the more "stinky" variety in a bag of some sort and then into the bin.

I have been looking for something of this sort and wonder does it need to be a paper type of bag or do you think a plastic type bag would be okay.

If someone is aware of an item that would work for this function, please lead me in that direction.

I haven't had the nerve to tell my hubby yet and would like to have a solution that might be acceptable to him before I tell him.

So, I have been reflecting on the TP issue on board. Somewhere way back in this thread I think I recall someone saying they disposed of the more "stinky" variety in a bag of some sort and then into the bin.

 

I have been looking for something of this sort and wonder does it need to be a paper type of bag or do you think a plastic type bag would be okay.

 

You will find paper disposal bags already in the washroom and you could always ask for more if necessary. Ours were replaced daily and we always had sufficient. No need to leave anything embarrassing in view and when we got back from breakfast and dinner, the bin had always been emptied so odour was never a problem. Without those handy dandy bags I would have been mortified to leave behind dirty tp, but it was really not such a problem.

When I encountered the same need for putting paper in garbage bins in Chile this winter, I found that after Cuba, I felt quite at home. LOL

Oh, wonderful! That solves my problem of finding something to bring for just this issue. Thank you so much for responding.

Just rec'd. a travel newsletter where this ship is mentioned and is being sold by large travel agency as a completely escorted style of cruise with one or more lecturers on board, someone who acts as a sort of tour host. Supposedly it has been arranged that guests take part in a people to people program. It sounds different than how it was done in the review posted above. Looks interesting but I''m hesitant to book and wonder if we would be better off waiting, though knowing how many Americans are dying to go to Cuba, by then it might be so changed we'd miss a lot! I went to high school in Tampa, FL and knew many people who were 2nd generation and a few first generation Cubans. (I would love to have some boliche and plantains right now, LOL!)

We are veterans of many cruises but only on major mainstream lines. Our first cruise was on a 25,000 ton ship so I do have an accurate idea of that size and think we'd be fine. I wasn't expecting a cruise with a whole lot of razzmataz, bells and whistles, but at least hoped for good service and organization. Frankly, almost any Cuban itinerary would probably interest us, but the cruise I saw left from Jamaica as is discussed in some older posts above.

I speak a fair amount Spanish - enough to get by decently as a tourist for sure. I'm so tempted to book this cruise for next yr. but have some concerns besides poor service on board, etc. My dh had a medical issue last fall so his walking is now slightly impaired and one arm is close to being useless. (Thankfully his mind wasn't affected.) He can walk steps and can walk up to a mile and a half, though not as fast as before. He now cannot dive or truly swim, but can go into a pool or into the ocean as long as the surf isn't rough; he wouldn't really be able to dance or hike down steep paths. I wonder how he'd do on this type of cruise? (We did visit an all inclusve in the Dominican Republic a month ago whereas normally we'd have stayed in a hotel and driven all over the place, dined out, etc. He did fine there and there was a fair amount of walking.) He doesn't use a wheelchair or cane. He could handle cobblestone streets (with care) and a flight or two of stairs.

I would very be interested to hear if his type of physical limitation would make this a tough trip for us? Hoping someone who has cruised to Cuba w/or w/out a land trip as well could comment on just how someone with my husband's limitations would do.

Thanks for any helpful input!

 

Just rec'd. a travel newsletter where this ship is mentioned and is being sold by large travel agency as a completely escorted style of cruise with one or more lecturers on board, someone who acts as a sort of tour host. . .

 

. . . My dh had a medical issue last fall so his walking is now slightly impaired and one arm is close to being useless.

 

. . . I wonder how he'd do on this type of cruise?

 

. . . I would very be interested to hear if his type of physical limitation would make this a tough trip for us?

We sailed on the Celestyal Crystal to Cuba in January. There were 800 guests onboard, and perhaps half were from the U.S. The U.S. guests were required to be part of a People to People program.

My DW and I booked the cruise (with P2P program) directly with Cuba Cruise. But there were also five groups of U.S. guests who booked through travel agencies that had tour hosts onboard. One tour group had 172 guests; another had 24.

All U.S. guests were welcome to attend the P2P onboard activities provided by the cruiseline (lectures, dance lessons, tastings). But the hosted groups also had some separate functions and tours with their hosts.

The excursions we went on were mostly big motor coach tours, with designated stops. On our bus, I did not see anyone with mobility issues.

There was a walking tour in Old Havana, right where the ship docks. It was on cobblestones, at a slow pace, with lots of standing.

The day at Maria la Gorda was DIY. That was the only tender port, and the pier is right at the white sand beach. I think entering and exiting the tender might be the most challenging part for your DW, depending on the swells. If it's too rough, you could enjoy a relaxing day on the ship.

Overall, I think your DH might be okay on this type of trip. But you may want to check with a travel agency to see if they can better meet your DH's needs. A host, who is onboard for weeks at a time, might be able to do things like arrange priority debarking at ports (instead of standing in long lines on the stairwells).

Woody

Just rec'd. a travel newsletter where this ship is mentioned and is being sold by large travel agency as a completely escorted style of cruise with one or more lecturers on board, someone who acts as a sort of tour host. Supposedly it has been arranged that guests take part in a people to people program. It sounds different than how it was done in the review posted above. Looks interesting but I''m hesitant to book and wonder if we would be better off waiting, though knowing how many Americans are dying to go to Cuba, by then it might be so changed we'd miss a lot!

 

My dh had a medical issue last fall so his walking is now slightly impaired and one arm is close to being useless. (Thankfully his mind wasn't affected.) He can walk steps and can walk up to a mile and a half, though not as fast as before. He now cannot dive or truly swim, but can go into a pool or into the ocean as long as the surf isn't rough; he wouldn't really be able to dance or hike down steep paths. I wonder how he'd do on this type of cruise? (We did visit an all inclusve in the Dominican Republic a month ago whereas normally we'd have stayed in a hotel and driven all over the place, dined out, etc. He did fine there and there was a fair amount of walking.) He doesn't use a wheelchair or cane. He could handle cobblestone streets (with care) and a flight or two of stairs.

 

I would very be interested to hear if his type of physical limitation would make this a tough trip for us? Hoping someone who has cruised to Cuba w/or w/out a land trip as well could comment on just how someone with my husband's limitations would do.

 

Thanks for any helpful input!

You should be fine. There was an elderly gentleman on my cruise last month who was considerably less mobile than you're describing, and he was able to manage. The ship has elevators to every section except the very top deck (where the helicopter pad is). Most of the touring is done by motorcoach (about 4 or 5 steps up). As Woody described above, there are a variety of tour operators who provide their own hosts and guides (and usually there's an inflated price that goes along with it), or you can book a p2p package using a regular travel agency or through Cuba Cruise directly. U.S. travelers are required to buy the package that includes drinks and excursions. I was already seeing changes in Cuba between last year and my visit last month, so further change is likely inevitable. Personally, I wanted to make sure I got my fill of Cuba this year, while it was legal, and before the usual U.S. corporations started to set up shop.

It sounds different than how it was done in the review posted above.

You may be partly thinking of my review, for which I posted a link last month.

Cuba Cruise is still being marketed for next year for non US nationals, (as well as US nationals), via the Cuba Cruise website. We were able to book the cruise without trips and drinks as that is how it was sold when we booked in March 2015. Since Celestyal Cruises have taken over the running of Cuba cruise dorectly, they have only sold cruises with the trips and drinks included, no matter where customers are from, but obviously the prices are higher than they were without the trips and drinks. The site now shows differently depending where you are in the world, so in Europe the prices are showing in Euros for instance.

As mentioned by another poster, your newsletter likely came from a specific agent who runs one of the 'people to people' groups on board the Crystal, rather than from Cuba Cruise itself.

Regarding service and managing on the ship, the only thing I can think of is the short flight of stairs into the show lounge as the lounge is raked with the rear entrance being higher than the rest of that deck on the ship. I suspect there is another way to get into the lounge for people who cannot manage stairs though, but I did not see it.

There is quite a bit of walking within the terminal from the ship to the port in Havana. Also the city of Havana, as well as all Cuban ports, have a lot of uneven paving/roads, so independent touring may be more difficult than on a tour, when transport is more likely to be provided for short distances and, as mentioned, the group will keep stopping for the tour guide to speak to them.

... I would very be interested to hear if his type of physical limitation would make this a tough trip for us? Hoping someone who has cruised to Cuba w/or w/out a land trip as well could comment on just how someone with my husband's limitations would do. Thanks for any helpful input!

As one who has physical limitations and who has been aboard this ship for three annual Cuban tours, with a 2017 booking, I can tell you that the Crystal has been an ideal ship for me with my conditions. We do take a wheelchair but have used it aboard but once. Everything is within such easy access and our cabin was the furthest point from the dining room. If walking aboard does become tiring there always seems to be a seating area en route to rest; a bar, a lounge or waiting area. The one occasion for the wheelchair was on the second cruise for Muster Drill and only because of the prolonged standing and waiting time experienced on the first cruise. But with the new shorter drill procedures this was no longer considered necessary.

The chair does come into play for the long hauls along the docks in getting from the ship to the immigration buildings and the tour buses. This is a must for myself. But the ship can't do enough for you to assist your embarkation and disembarkation. Should you wish to bypass the arranged tours and venture into the local areas be prepared for very poor footing in both sidewalks (where available) and roads, the later demanding constant surveillance because of the horse and wagon activity and their by-product. Cobblestones are everywhere and at times I found it more convenient to get out of the chair and hoof it rather than the struggle to roll over them. Overall, the few occasions when the chair was a necessity and most appreciated more than offset the inconvenience of bringing it along.

Regarding service and managing on the ship, the only thing I can think of is the short flight of stairs into the show lounge as the lounge is raked with the rear entrance being higher than the rest of that deck on the ship. I suspect there is another way to get into the lounge for people who cannot manage stairs though, but I did not see it.

There is a small lift located off to the side of the regular elevators that goes from the main part of Deck 8 and opens into the back row of the theater. I missed it myself last year, and only discovered its existence this year when I saw people coming into the theater through a door that I had mistakenly assumed was a service entrance for the employees. It turned out to be convenient for me on the final morning when I needed to bring my suitcase with me to the p2p lecture that was held prior to disembarkation in Havana.

I was on the April 1st cruise out of Montego Bay. My friend and I booked it direct awhile back. This was my 35th cruise and by far the smallest ship I have ever been on. I enjoyed the trip quite a bit and found Cuba fascinating and very interesting. I am glad we got to see more of Cuba then just Havana because I think it gave us a more rounded view of the country as a whole. The ports were all different and I admit that we explored each one on our own and had no problems doing so. I have been many places in the world and Havana is one of the safest cities I have been in. I think if a person is open to the experience they will find much of value here.

The ship and cruise itself was nice. The ship has just about everything you need on it. It just all seems scaled down. I enjoyed all the open deck space especially the Terrace bar on the back of Deck 5. The food got pretty monotonous as the cruise went on, but it was fine. We went to the dining room once and it was nice, but preferred to eat at the buffet the rest of the time. Service was good and they would go out of their way to get you something. My only complaint would be having no food available at certain times. However you feel on the subject, this ship has a lot of stuff that can be added on at a price.

Here are some random thoughts.......

-The internet works well, but there are issues with Samsung phones for some reason. My phone would only connect every now and then so I resorted to my Chromebook most of the time.

-As for the internet, almost any outdoor deck will work fine. I used the Deck 5 bar and the pool area a lot.

-They do random food by the pool and it is almost always better then the rest. (I am not referring to the pool buffet, just a table they set up). They had crepes one day and churros another. The fajitas were good as well.

-I don't drink, but there are a lot of good NA drinks available on the menu. The coffee drinks are all good. Since we had the drink package and I love coffee, I took full advantage of this.

- Just like every other cruise, no body uses the gym locker rooms (and more importantly) the shower. There is a small, but nice, steam and sauna in both locker rooms. Plus two large showers that sure beat the cabin shower. I saw one other person in there the whole time and never showered in my cabin.

- Cabin tip to save money. Get an inside cabin at the back of Deck 6 or 7. The back of the ship is open public balconies. You have a huge aft balcony right outside your door.

- My friend and I are very active men in our early 40s. We were pretty young compared to most passengers.

Again, I enjoyed the experience quite a bit. We kept to ourselves for the most part and struck out on our own so I can't really comment on any other aspects of the program. I don't think this cruise is for the typical Caribbean cruiser, but there is a lot to appreciate here. This was one of my cruises that will stay with me and certainly impact me in many ways.

Thanks so much for your review! We are so excited to take this cruise. We are into history and culture so I know this will be an amazing adventure!

... The ship and cruise itself was nice. The ship has just about everything you need on it. It just all seems scaled down. .

Thank you tiggerman101 for a great review of our favourite cruise. That scaled down feeling is what we call cosy, where we have always felt part of the ship, not just on it. And your details about parts of the ship were unknown to us. Thanks

HI all!

I don't have a Cuba cruise booked but still am interested in what you all have to say.

I've been back a week now from my last 2 cruises, a Caribbean & a Bahamas one & I noticed the w/c in the islands also require paper in a container. It got so I wanted to do the same in my cabins. Funny how fast one can adapt!;)

Ron ~ I thought I'd be coming back to warmer weather but no such luck!:( Well at least some flowers are blooming, all my favourite yellow ones.

Have a great week.

~ Jo ~ :)

HI all!

I don't have a Cuba cruise booked but still am interested in what you all have to say.

I've been back a week now from my last 2 cruises, a Caribbean & a Bahamas one & I noticed the w/c in the islands also require paper in a container. It got so I wanted to do the same in my cabins. Funny how fast one can adapt!;)

Ron ~ I thought I'd be coming back to warmer weather but no such luck!:( Well at least some flowers are blooming, all my favourite yellow ones.

Have a great week. ~ Jo ~ :)

Hi Jo

Firstly, to the subject at hand. It amazes me that the bidet, a common feature of bathrooms throughout the world did not find it's way into the general North American habitat nor within the designs of passenger ocean vessels, for that would have solved the problem. And that problem is one of quantity of disposal. Certainly the disposal instructions are being ignored by some, however their fear of damage to the convenience encourages them use common sense. And that in my estimation is and has been the objective all along. Only some tissue need be flushed but it is difficult to convey this unsavoury thought.

Cursed be the weatherman who foretold of an early sudden and warm summer. Wood stoves in May is ridiculous. However, and isn't there always a however, the Daffodils as you say are up in abundance as a consolation. And regardless of the delay of Spring, the Hummingbirds arrive this week and they will be in desperate need of sustenance during this cold period.

Chimo

Ron

It appears Celestyal is going to sail year round, around Cuba.

It appears Celestyal is going to sail year round, around Cuba.

Interesting! Having just returned from the Fathom Adonia, I can say that I think Celestyal is offering a better product for Cuba. The staterooms and pool area on the Adonia are definitely better, but for food, entertainment, activities, ports, internet, overall "vibe" on the ship and more, the Crystal is better. From listening to travelers who had been on the inaugural Cuba sailing (5/1) and had stayed on for the DR, Fathom has a lot of work to do to get things working smoothly. There were a plethora of areas for improvement needed for the DR trips, too, so it doesn't surprise me. Fathom has just announced that they've dropped their lead-in rates for Cuba to $799pp, so it should be interesting to see how things play out.

Interesting! Having just returned from the Fathom Adonia, I can say that I think Celestyal is offering a better product for Cuba. The staterooms and pool area on the Adonia are definitely better, but for food, entertainment, activities, ports, internet, overall "vibe" on the ship and more, the Crystal is better. From listening to travelers who had been on the inaugural Cuba sailing (5/1) and had stayed on for the DR, Fathom has a lot of work to do to get things working smoothly. There were a plethora of areas for improvement needed for the DR trips, too, so it doesn't surprise me. Fathom has just announced that they've dropped their lead-in rates for Cuba to $799pp, so it should be interesting to see how things play out.

Thanks for the comparison. I don't care about the pool area as I never use it and if there is no big screen that is a plus for me.

What is better about the staterooms on the Adonia? I have a JS with balcony so am hoping it is okay. This cruise is all about Cuba so I don't really need fancy, but adequate would be nice. I have read about toilet issues and hopefully that will get cleared up at some point.

I have not seen anything like $799 pp for the Adonia, but maybe you have info not available to me. I'm sure they will get there act together and get the bugs and issues worked out in the next year.

We are booked on Celestyal but would consider Adonia after that if things come together for them and their prices drop for balconies. It would be really nice to sail from Miami vs. Jamaica.

Thanks for the comparison. I don't care about the pool area as I never use it and if there is no big screen that is a plus for me.

 

What is better about the staterooms on the Adonia? I have a JS with balcony so am hoping it is okay. This cruise is all about Cuba so I don't really need fancy, but adequate would be nice. I have read about toilet issues and hopefully that will get cleared up at some point.

 

I have not seen anything like $799 pp for the Adonia, but maybe you have info not available to me. I'm sure they will get there act together and get the bugs and issues worked out in the next year.

 

We are booked on Celestyal but would consider Adonia after that if things come together for them and their prices drop for balconies. It would be really nice to sail from Miami vs. Jamaica.

The offer starting from $799pp came in an email from Carnival Cruise Line on Tuesday afternoon: "Special Guest Offers for Fathom Cuba Sailings": "Our sister cruise line Fathom is offering special community appreciation rates..." Balconies are from $1399pp, plus taxes, gratuities, and Cuban tourist card.

The Adonia stateroom had a lot of storage, a larger shower, a much more comfortable bed, a better TV, a nice sofa, and a toilet that accepted toilet paper :) I also had a balcony on the Adonia, which wasn't a possibility for me last year on the Crystal and this year I missed out on having one of the free upgrades, so I can't really know how the balcony areas might compare between the two ships.

One factor I totally forgot to mention that also goes in Celestyal's favor is how many of the crew on the Crystal are Cuban, which made the experience more immersive and authentic than having the usual cruise ship crew on the Adonia.

It appears Celestyal is going to sail year round, around Cuba.

This point took me back a bit but sure enough;

http://yourcubacruise.com/news/year-round-cruising-cuba

Thanks for the heads up.

I told my hubby about it and we changed our date to June 9. He likes warm weather and it was cheaper as well.:)

Somewhere I thought I read that there is an event held called Rum and Cigars under the Stars. Did I dream this or is it true? We don't smoke but would do this just for the photo op and I guess it just calls a bit to my rebellious side.

Hello all, I just posted a review on this cruise, should be available soon! :)

Cruise was great, fantastic way to experience Cuba. Highlights were the enrichment activities on board and the entertainment which was a mixture of Cuban culture and Cirque du Soleil, fantastic! :)

Hello all, I just posted a review on this cruise, should be available soon! :)

 

Cruise was great, fantastic way to experience Cuba. Highlights were the enrichment activities on board and the entertainment which was a mixture of Cuban culture and Cirque du Soleil, fantastic! :)

Hello,

We are looking at booking this Cuba Cruise for next year, very interested in your review. Where can we find it?

HI all!

Here is the link to all reviews so far of the Celestyal Cristal;

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/getreviews.cfm?action=ship&ShipID=774

Yikes that other thread about Pearl cruises is disturbing!:eek:

Chimo

~ Jo ~ :)

Those who boarded the ship in Jamaica, would you tell me where you stayed prior to the cruise and if you would recommend it.