o-state girl

We picked up the car at TPA and dropped it at the Enterprise on Kennedy Boulevard.  They shuttled us to the terminal.

We used Lyft.  Checked Uber and Lyft and Lyft was cheaper by $1 at the time.  We went to the aquarium for a couple of hours (they stored our luggage) before heading to the airport.  Our fare was $14.51 at the time, but I'm betting that demand and pricing will be slightly higher if heading to the airport immediately after debarking.  

If you are docking at the Carnival pier, you can catch the local "Passport" bus (free) to the aquarium.  They will store your luggage for you there, and you can spend a few hours looking around before catching an Uber or cab to LAX.  (We did this at the beginning of December.)

I think we tipped $10 CUC to each plus we brought M&M's and Pringles for them as an added bonus.

You might be happy with a Blexie Tour.   Their tour guide will meet you in the square right across the street from the terminal and will stay with you the entire day.  We had Lauren as our guide, and I would highly recommend that you request her.  She is a graduate student who speaks impeccable English and will work with you to see the areas of Havana that will interest you the most.  I believe the price is $130 CUC for a 6 hour tour (includes guide, and driver in a hardtop classic car).  If you meet someone on the roll call or on the ship that wants to share the tour, the $130 CUC is for the entire car whether it be just you or you and a couple of new friends.

6 hours ago, maldenmusic said:

My husband and I just started looking in to Cuba so forgive me if my questions have been answered elsewhere. The $75-is that billed as part of your cruise cost or do you pay it separate? We will be on a Carnival cruise. How do you pay for the Blexie tour and how much is it? Can we just get off the ship and walk around Havana on our own, eat lunch, shop, etc? Thanks so much for any help.

I believe the Blexie Tour was $130 CUC for the entire car (payable in cash at the end of the tour).  We toured with his company for two days.  On the first day, we split the tour with another couple, and on the second day it was just two of us plus the guide and the driver.  

Another vote for cave tubing with Vitalino's company at cavetubing.bz.

I took a  large can of Pringles, and a couple of movie theater boxes of M&M's and Reese's Pieces.  I had no trouble getting them off the ship.  As well as giving a monetary tip, I gave my guide and driver the snacks.  She loved Pringles, but a can that costs $2 US would be about $7 CUC, so she rarely gets to buy them.  You should have seen her face light up when I handed her the can.  

You might see how economical a one-way car rental option would be.  There are several companies that will let you pick up the car at FLL, drop it off at MIA,and then shuttle you to the cruise port from there.  It might give you more flexibility on hotel locations and the ability to do a little bit of exploring around town.

Did a one way rental with Enterprise.  Picked up the car at the airport the day before the cruise, dropped it off at the Kennedy Boulevard location the morning of the cruise.  They shuttled us to the port from there.  Easy peasy!

Overnighted on the Majesty in late September.  Only one visa was needed.

blexie100588@gmail.com is his email address. 

Thanks for the recommendation.  I found "Cuba and the Camera" both fascinating and emotional.  I even recommended it to a couple of my friends.

Our Blexie Tour was great.  We had Lauren as our tour guide and she spoke awesome English.  Most cars can fit 4 participants plus the driver and the guide for $130 CUCs.

Our flight time out post-cruise was very close to yours.  It was a short walk with our luggage to the aquarium (we were at the RCL dock, so I'm not sure about the distance from the Carnival pier).  They have a luggage storage right inside the lobby.  We spent several hours there and then took a Lyft to the airport (less than $20 for the Lyft).  

Whatever you use to pad the bottles, I would invest in some 2 gallon zip-lock bags and then double bag them with zippers on opposing ends just to be extra careful.  

I'm 5'2" and around 225.  I haven't had problems with it and have done it twice.  I might not look graceful doing it, but I can get in and out of the tubes. 

Post-trip report.....Enterprise did allow us to pick the car up at TPA, drop it at the Kennedy location, and then shuttled us to the cruise port.

One year I hadn't packed a costume, so I just pinned a giant sign to my chest that said, "Cruise Food Victim-I left Galveston weighing 110 pounds." I actually weigh around 200.

You may want to look at a one way rental. Picking up at airport and dropping off at one of the downtown area locations. We are renting from Enterprise at the airport and dropping it off at the West Kennedy location. They said that they could shuttle me to the cruise terminal from that location. I'll find out if this is correct info next week when I try it:D:D.

I believe that we are going to spend part of the evening in Havana at the Fabrica de Arte Cubano. It's kind of like an art gallery/bar/music venue all rolled up in an old factory building. I think it's around 2 CUC to get in. So we thought if we don't love the place, it's not much to lose.

If my Spanish is correct, it looks like the Fabrica de Arte Cubano is temporarily closed from Sept. 3 until Oct. 4...at least that is the info that was posted on their FB page. Just wanted to let everyone know so that they don't take a taxi there for no reason.

I have taken several cruises out of Galveston and New Orleans during the winter. Generally, the weather after the first day is nice and warm, but I always pack a sweater or a light jacket just in case we have a chilly evening.

I don't remember seeing a minimum on any of the menus when we visited.

I can't speak to swimming with the sharks since I haven't done it yet, but I have gone cavetubing twice. Cavetubing.bz has a special going on right now for $35 which includes a Belizean lunch. I really enjoyed walking through the jungle/rainforest on our way to the river and learning a bit about the plants we encountered along the way.

o state girl - It's my wife and I doing the tour and I believe the tour can only accomadate 3 people max in the car (besides the driver and guide). We should meet up for drinks afterwards though!

I believe that we are going to spend part of the evening in Havana at the Fabrica de Arte Cubano. It's kind of like an art gallery/bar/music venue all rolled up in an old factory building. I think it's around 2 CUC to get in. So we thought if we don't love the place, it's not much to lose.