Cuba

some friends are boiling water but others have power.. we have over two months and i feel anything can change by then. not saying we are going or not. but i lived thru my share .two months a lot of good things can happen. as far as flooding goes TX friends already cleaned out the ruin house. so in two months havana might want us and our money. the buildings you want to see are mostly outside visits. Hemmingways home survived many hurricanes and still there in two countries. shows we know what to do. again 2 months is a long tme.

more are in worse shape than Cuba right now.

The ability to dock or safely tender and the extent to which it is assessed as safe for guests ashore will be what determines the outcome for cruises in the coming month. The cruiselines insurers will have a major say in that decision, I am sure if all the right boxes are ticked, cruises will go to affected islands but this is a monster job - think of the demand for skilled people across the area, where will they go first.....

After reading through the thread about the TA and all the difficulties associated to it, I have an honest question.

 

What is the huge draw to Cuba? It looks to me like AZ is expending huge effort and lots of $$$ and saying 'ohboyohboy we get to go to Cuba with our small ships'. Isn't the US the only country that had restrictions on travel to Cuba? There has to be a finite number of US citizens who 1)haven't been to Cuba and 2)are rabidly excited at the chance to go to Cuba ( and 3)willing to pay the big money AZ seems to think it's worth). I personally am not all that interested; I might go on a cruise that stopped in Cuba on its way to islands I like, but I'm not about to book a Cuba-intensive cruise. As to other US citizens, isn't Cuba caught in a time warp? There aren't any luxury all-inclusive resorts, casinos, duty-free shopping malls, etc. It's picturesque because of the old cars and bright colors, but is that enough to cause repeat visits? And with repeat visits, won't the above mentioned tourist traps start to appear, and then Cuba will look like all the other islands?

 

I obviously don't see the draw. And, I know that the TA apparently got screwed up because of a charter, but then I see a cruise that looks like it is all about Cuba right in that time frame, too.

I totally agree w you but not for the reason that you expect. I don't think that anyone should take a cruise to Cuba. The only way to truly experience Cuba is to take a 2 - 3 week land tour in Cuba and spend 2/3 of your time outside of Havana. Spending 2 days in Havana or even spending a day or so in some of the other cities is like saying that you spent 2 days in NYC and a day each in Philadelphia, Chicago, Phoenix and saying that you have seen the US. Cuba is like 3 countries - Havana, non-Havana cities and rural Cuba and they are almost completely different countries. You do not have a chance of understanding Cuba until you have experienced all of Cuba.

DON

I totally agree w you but not for the reason that you expect. I don't think that anyone should take a cruise to Cuba. The only way to truly experience Cuba is to take a 2 - 3 week land tour in Cuba and spend 2/3 of your time outside of Havana. Spending 2 days in Havana or even spending a day or so in some of the other cities is like saying that you spent 2 days in NYC and a day each in Philadelphia, Chicago, Phoenix and saying that you have seen the US. Cuba is like 3 countries - Havana, non-Havana cities and rural Cuba and they are almost completely different countries. You do not have a chance of understanding Cuba until you have experienced all of Cuba.

 

 

 

DON

I think the same can be said about visiting just about anywhere in the world. Can you imagine your only experience of Rome being the few hours you get bused to from a cruise? Or never experiencing Denali, but seeing Alaska? You can't see all there is of the world if you only see it from a cruise ship. But a cruise is a great way to get a little taste.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

The other thing about cruising is that as you get older it's a great way to travel. In our younger days we did lots of land trips - safari's, Far East trips, driving across Canada, one country tours, driving tours in Australia etc, but as we get older it's lovely to be able to unpack once and relax, knowing that we still get to see new places but in great comfort.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I think the same can be said about visiting just about anywhere in the world. Can you imagine your only experience of Rome being the few hours you get bused to from a cruise? Or never experiencing Denali, but seeing Alaska? You can't see all there is of the world if you only see it from a cruise ship. But a cruise is a great way to get a little taste.

I totally agree. And go back to places that impress where you can see yourself spending more time.

Phil

I totally agree. And go back to places that impress where you can see yourself spending more time.

 

Phil

Totally agree, we visited Hydra on the Quest a few years ago, last year we returned and stayed for 5 days as we liked the look of it on the cruise.

DH&I are in San Miguel de Allende, when not in CA (or on a cruise ship.)

Hi Bonnie, I'm pursuing this board in San Miguel de Allende while deciding whether to book the Jan. 5, 2019 Journey to Cuba. We've probably passed each other on the Ancha! We're near the end of our winter stay and going to Uruapan and Patzcuaro for a few days next week.

Thanks for all the helpful information.

Hi Bonnie, I'm pursuing this board in San Miguel de Allende while deciding whether to book the Jan. 5, 2019 Journey to Cuba. We've probably passed each other on the Ancha! We're near the end of our winter stay and going to Uruapan and Patzcuaro for a few days next week.

Thanks for all the helpful information.

Hi mljatsea,

We love visiting Patzcuaro!

And coincidentally I’m currently sailing on the Azamara Quest in Cuba. Today we visited Cienfuegos and I took a Land Discoveries tour to the historical town of Trinidad, which reminded me very much of Patzcuaro, at least architecturally.

Bonnie, will you be posting a blog or trip report on your cruise to Cuba?

We are considering the Cuba cruise in March 2019 on Journey, not so much for Cuba itself, but for the length of the cruise, price, departure point and it fits our schedule.

We did Sicily on Journey a few years ago and did a Godfather tour there…. I wonder if I can find a Godfather tour for Cuba????

Yes I’ll be writing about my cruise to Cuba!

And I’m curious what is a Godfather tour?

Ms. MacLaird -- I noticed you said you were enjoying a shore excursion from a port stop in Cienfuegos. Since there are NO ship's excursions listed in Cienfuegos for our November 10, 2018 Cuba intensive cruise ... I'm wondering if you are on a "test" trip .. or research. Or, more broadly, I'm wondering whether or not the excursion brochure we've received will be amended later to include more choices overall, and specifically something for Cienfuegos.

Yes I’ll be writing about my cruise to Cuba!

And I’m curious what is a Godfather tour?

Bonnie:

Sorry… that was a bit of a joke. A few years ago when we were in Taormina, Sicily with Journey, we did a tour of locations that were used in the Godfather movies. It was a lot of fun.

Knowing that there are also locations in the Godfather movies supposedly in Havana, I made the facetious inquiry as to a Godfather tour there.

If you find one, please let me know, lol.

Ms. MacLaird -- I noticed you said you were enjoying a shore excursion from a port stop in Cienfuegos. Since there are NO ship's excursions listed in Cienfuegos for our November 10, 2018 Cuba intensive cruise ... I'm wondering if you are on a "test" trip .. or research. Or, more broadly, I'm wondering whether or not the excursion brochure we've received will be amended later to include more choices overall, and specifically something for Cienfuegos.

Hi kcscrapper,

There were at least three tours offered in Cienfuegos. I took the tour to the historic town of Trinidad and loved it. There was also a tour of Cienfuegos and its botanical gardens. And I don't remember the third tour that was offered.

I'm sure there will be at least the same three tours, and maybe more, offered on your November cruise.

I'll be in Havana in October on the Transatlantic. Is Cuban currency available on board? Since US credit cards aren't accepted, what do you recommend for making payments while on shore? I don't know how much local currency we will need and hate to get too much and then have to reconvert it back to US dollars, but don't want to have too little.

I'll be in Havana in October on the Transatlantic. Is Cuban currency available on board? Since US credit cards aren't accepted, what do you recommend for making payments while on shore? I don't know how much local currency we will need and hate to get too much and then have to reconvert it back to US dollars, but don't want to have too little.

Hi cruisevirginia,

At each of the three ports there has been an official government run exchange office next to the immigration office. It’s super easy. The rate is .87 CUC per 1USD.

But to tell the truth there is very little to buy besides cigars, rum, linen or cotton shirts and trinkets. I’ve not seen one store. There are very few consumer goods on the island. Point being you won’t need as much money as you’re used to having for shopping.

So far I’ve bought a handheld painted fan, set of leather maracas, a small inlaid domino set, a shell barrette, a shell bracelet, a small bottle of Havana Rum, a guayabera linen shirt, two linen runners with handiwork, and a wooden cat...all gifts to take home, and I’ve spent in total only 42 CUC. Everything is inexpensive and they’re thrilled to make a sale.

Thanks, Bonnie, for the helpful information. DH wants to buy a box of cigars and we may want some extra drinks at the Cabaret Parisien.

Thanks, Bonnie, for the helpful information. DH wants to buy a box of cigars and we may want some extra drinks at the Cabaret Parisien.

Update: I walked by a few retail shops in Old Havana today, on the pedestrian streets. So this is the town to do any shopping!

And I forgot to add in my expenditure report to you that I have tipped the tour guides, sometimes 5CUC and sometimes 5USD...so add another approx. $25usd to my running tally

Thanks for the information on money, Bonnie. We sail next week and wondered how much to convert. I know we don't plan to buy any rum or cigars, just gifts to take home, so we may not need as much as we thought.

Kathy

I purchased Canadian dollars via AAA and will convert them to CUC once in port. No conversion fee of 13% for Canadian or Euros. As Bonnie said, my travel agent also mentioned there isn't much to purchase but I do want to be prepared in case something catches my eye. Our credit cards are invalid in Cuba.

I purchased Canadian dollars via AAA and will convert them to CUC once in port. No conversion fee of 13% for Canadian or Euros. As Bonnie said, my travel agent also mentioned there isn't much to purchase but I do want to be prepared in case something catches my eye. Our credit cards are invalid in Cuba.

One warning about Credit Cards not many places accept them and they charge a 20% service fee. Credit cards use the Internet. Internet access is not good in Cuba.

Cuban do not have the internet in their homes. They will buy prepaid cards and find wifi spots outdoors to connect. On the Hemingway tour we stopped in Cojimar and it was Saturday afternoon and we saw many locals standing near the Hemingway momunet. We asked the guide and she explained how the internet is very poor in Cuba.

Havana in an AMAZING city and well worth seeing. You'll be amazed at the buildings and old cars in Cuba. The people are friendly and warm.

Bonnie it was great travelling with you I don't believe we got a change to chat, I did pass you on the deck yesterday as we sailed from Havana.

I used a lot more as I was there by ship,before laws changed. A bottle of good seven year old rum was fifty dollars but I paid in local cash. Taxi,s run about ten each way to the National Hotel and I did my own classic car tour. Plus lunches out. The best coffee and fresh juice was across from the ship.

Thanks Bonnie for your updates on Cuba. We are actively seeking for cruises there, which touch several ports. Not a caribbean cruise with one port in Cuba, but just Miami to Cuba to Miami, with several ports in Cuba. Hopefully we will find something like that.

Ivi