X cruiser sails Azamara to Cuba Jan 15 to 24 2019

[Bimmer09]

16 minutes ago, Mrs Humuhumu said:

So enjoying your review!!!  Thank you Norris.

 

I was wondering if there are any food venues on the ship that are open between 3:30 pm and 6:00 pm.  It looks like only the "Swirl" venue is open between 3:30 and 6:00. 

 

Hi and welcome! I think that was only embarkation day. You'll see that is the case when I upload more Insiders. Muster drill determined the 3.30 deadline.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

13 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

 

Hemingway did!

 

LOL Jazzbeau, but he had time on his hands.

We didn't look into any of the Hemingway haunts or museum. Carol has his books here but doesn't think we would be my style as I like florid writers such as Dickens, Sir Winston Churchill and Richard Wagner. However I will take a look at the Old Man and The Sea and decide whether I like it or no. The Big Game Hunter in him turns me off though.

 

I'm glad to see you reading this as I know you are very partial (and impartial) to Azamara.

Your passion for river cruising in Europe is something I hope to keep hidden from Carol as she wants me to go on one but I am on the riverbank waiting for the rain on that one.

 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

The Cathedral within

No flash allowed but my camera doesn't come with one and that suits me fine as I don't like to use them.

 

Pope John Paul II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wonderful! But now we have to walk a couple of blocks to meet our car and driver. 

Norris

[Bimmer09]

1 hour ago, EatonDoolittle said:

Did your guide Lauren tell you about her? 

I loved the story, and the trivia that she is also on the Havana Club label (made ya' look..)

 

According to legend, sculptor Geronimo Martinez Pinzon created the statue between 1630 and 1634 in the image of Dona Ines de Bobadilla, wife of Hernando de Soto, then Spain's appointed governor of Cuba.

De Soto was obsessed with finding the mythical Fountain of Youth, although his official mission was to explore and conquer the region known today as the southern United States. In 1540, he became the first European to discover the Mississippi River.

Dona Ines, the story goes, climbed to the watchtower every day, looking out to the horizon as she waited for her husband to return from his travels.

It was there that she received news of her husband's death in 1542, dying shortly thereafter from a broken heart.

 

 

Thank you for adding the historical detail. I wasn't with our guide at this point as I drifted off to take pictures.

Norris

[Host Jazzbeau]

4 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

 

LOL Jazzbeau, but he had time on his hands.

We didn't look into any of the Hemingway haunts or museum. Carol has his books here but doesn't think we would be my style as I like florid writers such as Dickens, Sir Winston Churchill and Richard Wagner. However I will take a look at the Old Man and The Sea and decide whether I like it or no. The Big Game Hunter in him turns me off though.

 

I'm glad to see you reading this as I know you are very partial (and impartial) to Azamara.

Your passion for river cruising in Europe is something I hope to keep hidden from Carol as she wants me to go on one but I am on the riverbank waiting for the rain on that one.

 

Norris

 

Have to admire somebody who knows it's a 'bimmer,' not a 'beemer' 

[pd7277]

9 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

 

The link to my last Crown Princess review is in my signature  at the bottom of all my posts but you may have yours turned off.

so go here

Photo/Video review https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2588776

Norris - Loving another wonderful review.  I'm sure you will not remember, but I had shared some photos of the Song of Norway during the review you did that explained your arrival in America.  Great story.

 

May I suggest using a Google Doc for sharing your wonderful review links.  If you have a Google account, go to "Drive", open a new "Doc" and paste all your links there.  In the upper right corner there is a "Share" button, click that and copy that link and put that link in your signature block.  Hope it helps!  There are many who benefit from your time and effort.

 

Shoot me an email (link below) if you need a better explanation.

Edited February 1, 2019 by pd7277

[Bimmer09]

Two cannons which they use to enforce the pedestrian streets lay on the ground. Someone, at some time took the trouble to bring them there on a truck. Unloaded and no one ever came to

plant them in the street.

 

 

Low-key street vendor. "Cool coconut water! Get your watermelon here! Only 50 pesos!

Step right up!" None of that.

 

 

I stepped in here to get some fridge magnets. Very nice service even though I only spent 3 CUC for two. I got some change for toilets we might encounter. In my camera bag was a small roll of toilet paper from Chicago. Don't count on finding it or soap or even running water and towels to dry your hands in Cuba.

 

Many horses and carriages  in Havana

 

We're using a different kind of horsepower.

 

A cherry red Chevy Bel Air from 1955 says Carol's notes

Norris

 

 

[sajlm045]

I finally found your latest review! Better late than never. So far this review is as excellent as your previous ones. You really have a talent Norris. It's time to have an espresso and a Sambuca as soon as you can join me. 

[shiphappy]

Norris - sorry to interrupt - but if you could share where your review of Princess vs Celebrity is located - I would greatly appreciate it.  In this frigid weather I’m doing a lot of reading and catching up on your reviews is at the top of my list!  Thank you!

[DiamondDiva]

We rode in a 1955 red Bel Air like this onefor 2 1/2 hours with our Blexie guide and driver all over Havana in late November....such fun! 

 

[PurpleTraveller]

Thank you for your wonderful review and fabulous photos. I have read all of your reviews and each one is better than the previous one. I have been looking for a new and different cruise line as after my Norway cruise on Sapphire Princess  in June I want to try something else. This cruise or one like it could be just the ticket. I have also been considering Celebrity as I know you have enjoyed your cruises with them. Once again thank you for letting me follow your journey.

[Bimmer09]

1 hour ago, shiphappy said:

Norris - sorry to interrupt - but if you could share where your review of Princess vs Celebrity is located - I would greatly appreciate it.  In this frigid weather I’m doing a lot of reading and catching up on your reviews is at the top of my list!  Thank you!

Happy to help you find that....

 

Comparing Princess

and Celebrity    http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2317130

 

Norris

 

[Bimmer09]

2 hours ago, sajlm045 said:

I finally found your latest review! Better late than never. So far this review is as excellent as your previous ones. You really have a talent Norris. It's time to have an espresso and a Sambuca as soon as you can join me. 

Welcome, friend. 

Sambuca was also included in my Ultimate Beverage Package and I did enjoy that heady  combination more than once. 

Thanks, as always, for the kind compliments.

Norris

[Bimmer09]

57 minutes ago, PurpleTraveller said:

Thank you for your wonderful review and fabulous photos. I have read all of your reviews and each one is better than the previous one. I have been looking for a new and different cruise line as after my Norway cruise on Sapphire Princess  in June I want to try something else. This cruise or one like it could be just the ticket. I have also been considering Celebrity as I know you have enjoyed your cruises with them. Once again thank you for letting me follow your journey.

 

For those who aren't aware Purple Traveller is a writer of very fine photo reviews, especially from the Australian part of the world where I have yet to visit.

We are passionate Princess Cruisers but a change  (Celebrity ) is good as is another change (Azamara)

I am glad you are following along. I have much Cuba and much Azamara to show you.

Norris

[shipshape sam]

3 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

Two cannons which they use to enforce the pedestrian streets lay on the ground. Someone, at some time took the trouble to bring them there on a truck. Unloaded and no one ever came to

plant them in the street.

 

 

Low-key street vendor. "Cool coconut water! Get your watermelon here! Only 50 pesos!

Step right up!" None of that.

 

 

I stepped in here to get some fridge magnets. Very nice service even though I only spent 3 CUC for two. I got some change for toilets we might encounter. In my camera bag was a small roll of toilet paper from Chicago. Don't count on finding it or soap or even running water and towels to dry your hands in Cuba.

 

Many horses and carriages  in Havana

 

We're using a different kind of horsepower.

 

A cherry red Chevy Bel Air from 1955 says Carol's notes

Norris

 

 

Love the old 55 Chevy!

 

Would be interested in hearing about making change for restrooms, etc while in Havana.  Any helpful tidbits would be much appreciated.  I like learning vicariously vs learning the hard way.

 

Did you buy a hat to go along with a fine Cuban cigar?  🙂

[upwarduk]

Following. 

Love your photos of Havana, some where I would like to visit.

[PurpleTraveller]

4 hours ago, Bimmer09 said:

 

For those who aren't aware Purple Traveller is a writer of very fine photo reviews, especially from the Australian part of the world where I have yet to visit.

We are passionate Princess Cruisers but a change  (Celebrity ) is good as is another change (Azamara)

I am glad you are following along. I have much Cuba and much Azamara to show you.

Norris

 

You are far too kind! I can only dream of writing reviews as good as yours! I look forward to following along the rest of your journey, enjoying your photos and getting inspiration for a new cruise. 

Allison

[Bimmer09]

16 hours ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

 

Have to admire somebody who knows it's a 'bimmer,' not a 'beemer' 

 

Bimmer= car

Beemer=motorcycle

Bummer= BMW waiting for AAA

Norris

[Bimmer09]

10 hours ago, shipshape sam said:

Love the old 55 Chevy!

 

Would be interested in hearing about making change for restrooms, etc while in Havana.  Any helpful tidbits would be much appreciated.  I like learning vicariously vs learning the hard way.

 

Did you buy a hat to go along with a fine Cuban cigar?  🙂

 

I only went to three restrooms while onshore. Only one of them had a person attending them and requiring a small tip- 25 pesos (a quarter in our terms). He had toilet paper (not needed)

and paper towels to dry my hands as there was water and a sink and soap. That was in the Botanical Gardens way outside of Cienfuegos. I used the restrooms in the Havana Opera House where there was no attendant. I used the restrooms on a boat dock in Santiago de Cuba. No attendant, no water.

Carol can chime in with her experiences when she sees this post.

 

I think at Carol's first restroom stop in the Museum of the Revolution she gave the lady the smallest coin she had- 1 CUC and from then on we would ask to have some of those broken down into quarters. We exchanged another $100 U.S not CDN next morning and got 87 CUC

and got some small coins for toilets.

 

No hat purchase for me as I don't wear them even though they looked stylish and I didn't buy any cigars but got gifted a couple and enjoyed one on the ship.

Thanks for reading this!

Norris
 

[Bimmer09]

The red Chevy is a big roomy car so instead of using my pocket Canon camera for out of the window shots I have room to use my bigger DSLR and a 24 to 70 mm L lens.

 

 

Lots of tour buses in Havana. Notice at left the huge chunk of uprooted concrete left as a tripping hazard, especially at night.

 

We turn onto the Malecon, the 12 km seawall road but use it only briefly

 

 

 

Down by the Capitol Building on the main wide boulevard, the Prado

 

The Opera House

 

 

We drive up the tree-lined Prado with its statues and public benches to arrive

at our next tourist stop, requested by Carol.

 

Part of the old city wall still stands

 

Beautiful architecture abounds

 

and the not so beautiful 

 

 

 

We are going in to visit the Museum of the Revolution

Norris

[Host Jazzbeau]

1 hour ago, Bimmer09 said:

 

Bimmer= car

Beemer=motorcycle

Bummer= BMW waiting for AAA

Norris

 

Exactly!  While I was away last fall, my 328i decided to turn on the windshield wipers and run them until the wiper motor burned out and the battery died = $2,000 in repairs.  Now while we're snowbirding, it is in my garage with a battery charger because last year it managed to drain the battery in a month. BMW = $$$

[Bimmer09]

It cost 8 CUC each to enter. The guide enters for free and we had to leave our bags at the front desk so I took only the cameras I would need.

 

 

 

The restrooms appear just before you step out into the central courtyard

 

Our first stop is the Granma, the pleasure cruiser that transported Fidel, Raul and Che Guevara from Mexico in December 1956. The boat was designed to hold a maximum of 25 people but they had 83 on board. No pool, no buffet. It is kept in a glass enclosure and you have to climb some stairs to see into it. There is an armed soldier on guard.

 

 

Many exhibits are outside

 

Carol's birthday- read more here...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Revolution

 

 

Explanations of what you are seeing

 

 

 

There were 42 men in this truck!

 

 

More to follow.....

 

 

[Bimmer09]

8 minutes ago, Host Jazzbeau said:

 

Exactly!  While I was away last fall, my 328i decided to turn on the windshield wipers and run them until the wiper motor burned out and the battery died = $2,000 in repairs.  Now while we're snowbirding, it is in my garage with a battery charger because last year it managed to drain the battery in a month. BMW = $$$

 

We have a 2013 328 Xi and a 2004 325Ci which we picked up at the factory in Munich and drove around Germany and France for a week. Have only had one tow-truck experience on the coupe when the water-pump gave out after 130,000 miles. Repairs are expensive but luckily not too frequent given the mileages (touch wood!) The coupe stays off the road in winter.

Thanks for the feedback Jazzbeau!

Norris

[Bimmer09]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More to come....

[CruzinNoony]

Norris,

 

I am enjoying your review so much and your pictures are awesome.  I am getting ready to book a cruise on an Azamara ship to Cuba thanks to you!!