Hurlymcgurly

Can I ask how much she charged?

 

 

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I'm not sure if she quotes the same for everyone as it is probably based on how many people and maybe the time of year, but she charged us $120 a day for the 3 of us and did pictures for $75 and gave them to us on an SD card at the end of the trip. We got some fantastic pictures from her! The show was booked by her separately and was $60 apiece for a dinner show.

This blog states they do take credit cards with just the 3% charge towards American $

 

Will try this first, if not available will have to go back the next day with a fish load of cash.

 

http://yulcigars.blogspot.com/

Just a heads up! I didn't find anyplace that took cards and they state on the boat that you can only use cash in Cuba. Also, if you would plan on getting cash from the ship at an ATM for second day if you couldn't use your card first day, *WARNING!* At least on our RCL ship, the Empress, when the casino closed the night before we arrived in port, they shut down the ATM until after leaving Cuba! Make sure you have your cash at least the night BEFORE you arrive in port!

We ended up docking an hour late and took us over an hour to get through customs first time (after that it's pretty much right on and off). Were supposed to meet our guide at 10, but got to the square at 11. She took us to a place to exchange money. We found out before we hit Key West that we would be docking an hour late so we reached out to her to let her know. She saw it and responded, but it is not usually that easy to make sure they receive messages. If you just find you're standing in line and are going to be late, you won't be able to send a message letting them know! Better to make it a little later or book with a guide like mine who understands the challenges and delays of the ships and customs.

Posted a lot of this as a thread response, but figured it is worth embellishing on and giving its own post! We went off a recommendation of a Cruise Critic member who went for 2 days to Havana in July and were thrilled with our guide on our August 15/16 visit! Her name is Duramis Carrillo Sosa and she is a professional photographer also so we got some wonderful pictures for a great price too! She is totally fluent in English, French and of course Spanish. She works with Genuine Cuba and you can email her at duramis@nauta.cu

She was very knowledgeable about the history and culture and took us everywhere we wanted to go and everywhere she thought we should see that time allowed. There was plenty to keep us busy the full 2 days we were with her! There were 3 of us, myself, my husband and our 17 year old son, and we were an hour late to meeting up with her due to our boat arriving an hour late and the long lines getting off the boat (Plan on at least 1 to 1 1/2 hours to get off ship first time! After that, getting on and off is a breeze) so she just gave us an extra hour the second day. We did a 3 hour walking tour and an hour in a convertible on day 1 and she arranged tickets for us to a show that evening and took us to exchange money when we met with her. Day 2 we did 2 hours walking tour, 1 hour in a convertible and 3 hours in an air conditioned car. All our cars were classics and we got to pick which convertibles we wanted out of a big string of amazing cars. The air conditioned car was gorgeous and we would have picked it if it were in a line up!

We had a fabulous journey with her! Just a heads up on emailing to Cuba. We saw the long lines of people outside a shop waiting to get cards for internet as it isn't something they can just pay for monthly like most of us do and they generally have to go to internet parks where you see tons of people sitting around trying to get on line instead of just being able to hook up anywhere they go, so be patient with any of the companies you get with as it may take at least a few days before they can get someplace to check and reply to you.

Oh! 1 more note!!!! It does rain heavily there on occasion! We were very fortunate to just miss a huge downpour, but the group she had after us was not so lucky! The boat does NOT sell umbrellas or rain ponchos and we could not find anyplace off ship that did either! Make sure you bring them with you on the ship for just in case!!!!

Have a GREAT trip!!!!!

We went off a recommendation of a Cruise Critic member who went in July and were thrilled with our guide on our August 15/16 visit! Her name is Duramis Carrillo Sosa and she is a professional photographer also so we got some wonderful pictures for a great price too! She is totally fluent in English, French and of course Spanish. She works with Genuine Cuba and you can email her at duramis@nauta.cu

She was very knowledgeable about the history and culture and took us everywhere we wanted to go and everywhere she thought we should see. There were 3 of us, myself, my husband and our 17 year old son, and we were an hour late to meeting up with her due to the long lines getting off the boat (Plan on at least 1 to 1 1/2 hours to get off ship first time! After that, getting on and off is very fast) so she just gave us an extra hour the second day. We did a 3 hour walking tour and an hour in a convertible on day 1 and she arranged tickets for us to a show that evening and took us to exchange money when we met with her. Day 2 we did 2 hours walking tour, 1 hour in a convertible and 3 hours in an air conditioned car. All our cars were classics and we got to pick which convertibles we wanted out of a big string of cars. We had a fabulous journey with her! Just a heads up on emailing to Cuba. We saw the lines to get cards for internet as it isn't something they can just pay for monthly like most of us do and they generally have to go to internet parks where you see tons of people sitting around trying to get on line instead of just being able to hook up anywhere they go, so be patient with any of the companies you get with as it may take at least a few days before they can get someplace to check.

Just got back from a sailing to Havana. There were times where the skies let loose and it absolutely poured! Make sure to pack umbrellas just in case. They did not sell them on our boat (RCL Empress) and we could not find ANYWHERE off boat that sold them! Just a heads up! Here's to good weather!(yn) Have fun!!!

We just got back and we took private tours both days. There was plenty to see and keep you busy for 2 days with a tour guide! Havana totally exceeded my expectations! Just amazingly beautiful. Our tour guide did a walk tour for 3 hours and an hour in a convertible first day and 2 hours walking, 1 hour in a convertible and 3 hours in an air conditioned car second day. Just make sure when you set up a time to meet your tour guide, you allow yourself plenty of time to get off the ship! First time going through takes quite a while sometimes. It took us over an hour and a half and there will be no way to contact your guide if you are running late. Places I recommend are Fusterlandia, which is an area full of quirky, colorful mosaic buildings, the grand theatre which is an architectural stunner and tour the fortresses. The Jesus monument was very cool and just walking the streets and admiring the churches and European influence and flair of the buildings and cobbled streets is fascinating. You can stumble across some great art galleries and open markets and just absorbing the culture and people watching is such a phenomenal treat. If you're an animal person, there are tons of cats and dogs roaming the streets. Many dogs have cards hanging around their necks that have their names on them and say stuff like "I'm nice. Please don't hurt me" that are adopted off the street by businesses that vaccinate and feed them, but they come and go as they please. We never crossed any animals that were skittish, but they also weren't beggars. I would just recommend a bottle of Purell in case you see any that are to cute to resist petting. ;) If I had known ahead of time, I would have brought treats with me. If you only have the tour guide for a day, I recommend Fusterlandia and the island with the 2 fortresses and Jesus statue on it and possibly the rain forest if you have time as those are further out from the ship and harder to get to without transportation of some sort. Hope this helps. Have a great cruise!

Just got back on August 18th sailing on the Empress. We were in the inner dock and both days we were there, there were bigger ships on the outer dock. First day an NCL and second day an RCL and both were larger than the Empress. There are talks of them trying to get another dock to take ships on, but the other 2 that are there right now are in completely unusable shambles. I wouldn't be surprised if they do fix them at some point though as the tourist industry from the ships is bringing in a lot of money to the people (and more importantly I'm sure, to the government) of Cuba.

So glad to be hearing these responses! We are getting ready to head out on the Empress mid August and I really prefer to take off ship tours! Thanks for all the info!!!

So looking at the date of your sail, you've cruised already and now it is I looking at cruising in August. So what did you find out?

We always board early. Around 11ish. As for BirdTravels' remark on finding no value, to each their own, but I think it is great to board early as you get to start your fun that much sooner! The earlier you board, the better your chances of finding a place to sit in the Windjammer to eat your first official cruise meal. You can check your seat assignments in the dining room and if you end up at a table you don't like, such as next to a bus station, you are more likely to be able to get it changed the earlier you go! Being able to explore the ship before you cruise is always fun too so you are more familiar with where to go and what to do once you are done waving goodbye to the port!

Hi Ladies (and gentlemen!),

Been a long time since I've posted up here, but I've constantly lurked. Getting ready for a cruise so it's time to shop! Got a double reason to right now. On top of the cruise in a few weeks, we are having a big party this weekend. It's themed on the Hunger Games if any of you are familiar with that and the adults all dress "Capitol" so I get to find a pretty dress for the cruise formal night and something very over the top gaudy for the party! lol. Going to try to find a few more for semi formal and casual too. Hopefully I'll have something to share soon! You all look stunning by the way. ;)

I think you're trying to get me in trouble too as they are actually in the final stages of putting one in my mall. lol :p

You are all going to look stunning! How can you be too formal when it is formal night. It's called formal night for a reason! Our family loves dressing up too. Go! Shine! Enjoy! And make sure to share lots of pics when you get back!:D

How about getting something long with a large slit so you can go formal and give him incredible, sexy sneak peeks? ;) Play your cards right and he'll shorten it for ya when you get back to the room! :cool:

Hi ladies, been a while since posting, but I lurk constantly. ;) Loving what I'm seeing! Welcome Donna to this fantastic lil spot on the boards. Love your long gown and the color is awesome.

Marie, hope you're feeling better soon! I'm battling a cold myself. Blah. Your red dress is stunning by the way!

Lisa, just wanted you to know that I just finished reading your live (well wasn't quite live for me, but..) RC trip and you did a fantastic job. Thanks so much for taking us all along for the ride! The pics were phenom and I was drooling while reading the menus and doing a lot of dreaming as I read the daily happenings. 175 more days for me till I'm Freedom bound.... This winter is taking way to long.

Sour Kraut, Pickles and anything Curry! Blah! I can't even be in the smelling vicinity of any of these without throwing up in my mouth a little. Yack.

I go on a cruise for a guilt free fun time and that includes the food. It's vacation! I was told that there are no calories on vacation. All that weight I gain is water weight, right? lol. Food to me is all part of the experience of a cruise. I mean, who goes on a cruise and doesn't think about all the gluttonous food they're gonna devour? It doesn't take me that long to lose after a cruise so if I want 2 desserts, I get 2 desserts. If I'm eating those 2 desserts and my husband is raving about the one he got, I'll get one of those too! And wash it down with my 3rd or 4th drink of the day! I sometimes eat until I'm ready to explode and go back and take a nice little nap before dancing for hours with another drink of the day in hand of course! I don't always eat to bursting, but I never go away hungry. We keep pretty active on the boat and off, but we don't do anything that I consider exercise. I don't like that word. I do enough of that at home. I do FUN stuff! Snorkeling, zip lining, para sailing. Vacation is all about doing what you don't do on a normal basis. I watch my weight on a normal basis... blah. Come on Cruise Time!!!!:D

So we're sailing RCCL on the Freedom in August. I have always gone traditional late seating and already put in for that, but now I am starting to rethink. There are 5 of us, my husband and I and our 3 sons, 21, 16 and 13. I really like the socialization with table mates. It has always been one of the things we've really enjoyed. Now it looks as if with any time dining, we can get the same wait staff and just request a large table so we will have table mates? And if we really connect with a group, we can just meet up with them again? This is really starting to appeal to me. We've never sat at a table where we've disliked our table mates, but there have been a few that have been very bland and it became a little quiet at times. When we took our oldest on a graduation cruise, they set us alone and we kind of had to fight it to get a larger table with table mates. I spend all day with these guys. I want to play with others! lol. I'm glad I read this thread. Think I'm going to talk to my hubby about seeing what his opinion is.

Normally I start after lunch with a drink of the day. If it's an awesome flavor, I stick with it. If not, I switch to some other foo foo drink. Pina Coladas, Sex on the Beach, Malibu Rum with a splash of Pineapple Juice, etc. etc.

Probably average around 4 to 6 per day along with few shots, but if we get the drink package this time and I don't have to think how much I'm spending per drink, that may stretch up a bit. ;)

Hi all! We are coming up on our 25th wedding anniversary in August and have booked a week cruise to the east Caribbean on Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas. Was shopping for a dress for a formal event and the white dresses started calling to me and I fell in love with one. :p So I have heavily been playing with the idea of doing a vow renewal on the ship. It would be very simple. Just us and our 3 boys and maybe some friends we meet along the way before hand on the Roll Call. More of a symbolic renewal and then we will possibly have a small reception with family when we get back to Florida.

Has anyone ever done a vow renewal with RCL before? What kind of experience did you have? Thanks so much!!!

I always shove mine between my back and my backpack through the straps and carry it on with me as do 2 of my 3 kids.

Love the ship, but we are definitely porters. We normally do 1 shore tour and then do a bit of shopping or hit a bar if there's time.

263 loooooong days to go.... Until then, I will live vicariously through all you sailing before me. :p

Lovin the dresses ladies!!! Keep em coming! :D