Notes from Armonia Miami-Havana Jan 2019

[JAGR]

15 hours ago, Beamafar said:

 

I'm also from Ireland - down here in the Sunny South-East!  😊

 

I've answered your question on the other thread about the coffee shop onboard Armonia.  Yes - it's Caffe San Marco.  It's not like Al Bacio;  they don't have a range of pastries, cakes, etc available all day.  They have some small pastries/croissants available from 6.30am to 11.30am.

Sorry to hijack, but as South-East encompasses Waterford, I'm trying to find some decent local restaurants there.  We are by Adelphi Quay, but will have a car.

[Beamafar]

3 minutes ago, JAGR said:

Sorry to hijack, but as South-East encompasses Waterford, I'm trying to find some decent local restaurants there.  We are by Adelphi Quay, but will have a car.

 

The only restaurant I knew in Waterford was Fitzpatrick's, on the road heading out of the town towards Cork, just at the turn for Tramore.  Unfortunately it closed down a while ago.  Such a shame - the food was really good.

 

There are a few eateries along the quays;  when we're down that way we usually have lunch in the Granville Hotel on Meagher Quay.  It's a carvery, but very nice and great value (though we haven't been in a while).  It's also extremely popular, so you have to go early to get a table.  It's also ideally located close to the shopping area (literally around the corner).

 

We've had dinners in the restaurant when we've stayed over - the food was really wonderful (as is their breakfasts).   The hotel is beautiful, too, with some great history attached.  Here's a link to their site:

 

https://www.granvillehotel.ie/en/

[sidari]

Just had word from a friend that MSC Opera will not be sailing out of Cuba next season!

[JAGR]

Just now, Beamafar said:

 

There are a few eateries along the quays;  when we're down that way we usually have lunch in the Granville Hotel on Meagher Quay.  It's a carvery, but very nice and great value

Thanks, Bea! I'll look into it.  We are only a few blocks away.

[Beamafar]

2 minutes ago, sidari said:

Just had word from a friend that MSC Opera will not be sailing out of Cuba next season!

 

Maybe they're not selling, Dave - much easier to fly to Miami to board Armonia that to get to Cuba to embark a ship.  Also, the visa situation is more straightforward when embarking in Miami.  You have to get re-entry visas if you embark in Cuba, whereas you only need the one visa when embarking in the US.

[sidari]

Word is its due to uncertainty over Trump, should be news about Armonia in a few days time.

[Beamafar]

2 minutes ago, sidari said:

Word is its due to uncertainty over Trump, should be news about Armonia in a few days time.

 

I can't see how Trump can affect non-US passengers sailing from Cuba.  I would have thought that the majority flying to Cuba for Opera would have been Europeans.

[sidari]

Bea ... I agree but there must be something, the guy I admin a Facebook page for has a good contact in MSC. Will have to wait to see what the official line is.

[Beamafar]

I'd considered an Opera cruise a couple of years ago, but wasn't keen on the ship (or the flight situation to get to Cuba).   When I saw an ad, from a TA that I've booked with numerous times before, for the package they'd put together to include flights, hotels and Armonia cruise, I went ahead and booked immediately.  I am so glad I did, now.

[emerald6273]

38 minutes ago, sidari said:

Word is its due to uncertainty over Trump, should be news about Armonia in a few days time.

Will be gutted if Armonia is affected. Booked my first MSC cruise for May 2020. Booked because of Cuba itinerary. Wonder if Armonia is affected would they offer refunds or just adjust itinerary? 

[sidari]

There are no bookable cruises beyond January 2020 on the UK website for Opera.

[Beamafar]

Wonder where she'll be deployed to?  🤔

[Fogfog]

On 2/10/2019 at 7:47 AM, Beamafar said:

We visited the western (?) side of the island - which is a conservation area with no residences or electricity - where we stopped at one of the bars on the beach for a drink.  I had a Marguerita that had me buzzing for the afternoon LOL.  s.

 

Hi @Beamafar  

Enjoying reading this thread you suggested.

Super excited about our upcoming B2B

 

On a side note-- We had heard about people hiring a taxi to "bar hop" the western side and that they deal only in cash "because they don't have electricity"

Is it cash only?

And do they have COLD bev and ICE? Meaning electricity?

See my point?

 

Onto read more of your great review!

TYIA

[Beamafar]

They use generators for cold drinks and to make ice.  IIRC it was cash only (we used US$).

 

Glad to know you're enjoying the review (though it veered off-topic quite a bit at times.  🙄)  I thought you might just scroll through to the posts with the menus and food photos lol.

[Fogfog]

On 4/7/2019 at 5:18 AM, CruisingFox27 said:

John, we have done a B2B which returned to Miami, although not this itinerary. There  are two options. Leave the ship in the morning for an excursion or your own visit to Miami and clear customs and immigration on your return.  Or, if you wish to stay on the ship for the day, you are requested to meet and wait in a lounge on board. We met at 10am. Once all of the passengers have departed, you're escorted to customs and immigration. You can then re-board. How long this process takes depends entirely on how quickly people disembark. It was around and hour and 30mins for us. 

 

We stayed in the same cabin so did not move our belongings and didn't need a new card. We did have to check in again with the concierge/guest services.

@CruisingFox27

 

Helpful as we have B2B in Miami. So on that day can we just do breakfast in YC first? We have same cabin for both sailings

TYIA

[Beamafar]

3 minutes ago, Fogfog said:

@CruisingFox27

 

Helpful as we have B2B in Miami. So on that day can we just do breakfast in YC first? We have same cabin for both sailings

TYIA

 

CF is currently on a cruise and hasn't been posting so she may not respond just yet.  However, I can tell you that you certainly can have breakfast in YC first.

[CruisingFox27]

Thanks Bea. The ship wifi and mobile data is currently very poor, must be all of the mountains! Every thing else is fabulous 😀

[Beamafar]

Delighted to hear it CF.  Looking forward to hearing all about it!  😄

[TXgalSAM]

On 4/7/2019 at 3:19 AM, Beamafar said:

....We stayed over for a couple of nights in Miami as there was no direct flights home 'til then. 

 Beamafar, thanks for all the great info that you've posted for us so far!  

 

We are planning to spend a few days in Miami, as well. 

Any hotel recommendation or "things-to-do" recommendations?

Also, how (and at what time) did you get from the hotel to the ship?  

Any input would be greatly appreciated!  🙂

[Beamafar]

We stayed in Pestana Hotel on James Avenue which was perfectly adequate for our needs.  It was close to Lincoln Road where we found a Cuban restaurant, Havana 57, for a great breakfast @ only $6!!  Highly recommend it - the Cuban toast was delish!  There was also a free trolley service nearby that we took to the other end of South Beach and then had a lovely stroll back.  The hotel had a pick up and drop off to either the Sawgrass Mills Mall or to the Dolphin Mall.

 

 

We went to the former and spent an enjoyable day there.

 

We had stayed in the Holiday Inn the night before the cruise.  We took a taxi (or Uber) to the pier - we left the hotel at 11.50am and were onboard the ship by 12.20pm - in other words in half and hour!

 

 

[TXgalSAM]

Thank you, Beamafar.  We have already booked a couple of days in Little Havana but want another option if we decide to stay in Miami a couple of more days before we return home.  I'll check out the Pestana Hotel on James Avenue.  Maybe we'll swing by for that $6 breakfast. 🙂  It was also good to know about the trolley, too.  All your encouraging words about MSC have us eager for our Sep 9 Armonia trip to get here!

[ColdCruise]

@Beamafar

 

Excellent thread! I’ve enjoyed reading your trip review and drooled over the menus and your food pics. 

 

We’re booked for October 2019 on Armonia and you’ve provided a good sense of what to expect. We were on Sinfonia in January (western Med out of Genoa)  and really enjoyed that ship and itinerary. Looking at MSC’s and others’ photos I think we’ll have a similar experience. 

 

One thing I’m curious about, has you or anyone heard or experienced whether Armonia has kept the same menus (esp Cuban themed one) now that they’ve jiggered the itineraries to replace Havana with western Caribbean ports?

 

I sure hope not because I’m already planning my meals using your menus!

[Beamafar]

Thank you for your kind comments!  😊

 

Another poster who's done the new itinerary has stated that the menus I've included here were the same.

 

If you liked Sinfonia you'll enjoy Armonia as they are practically identical.  We did a couple of cruises on Sinfonia and loved them!  The crew seem happier on the small ships which adds to the ambiance.