ILUVMTL

I just returned from a 7 day cruise circumnavigating Cuba on Louis Cruise Line (website: YourCubaCruise.com). The ship stopped everyday in a different Cuban city and offered excellent excursions. The one non-Cuban stop is Montego Bay, Jamaica and the cruise may be boarded there or in Havana. For Americans it is somewhat easier to fly to Montego Bay than to Havana. The ship, the Cristal, is small and old but quite lovely and the crew is fantastic (half Cuban and half everything else) with Greek officers. Cruise Director Danny is fantastic and the entertainment absolutely first rate. The ship is Greek owned and flagged from Malta, It is leased by a Canadian-Greek company and does weekly cruises from December to April. Most passengers were Canadian wilth a sprinkling of Europeans and Central and South Americans. There were also a number of Americans some in a group called "Road Scholars", and some traveling on their own. I highly recommend this cruise. Also gay life is much more open in Cuba than it used to be. I hired a wonderful gay tour guide (Website: cubagayparadisetours.com)and went to gay clubs, cruising places and the gay beach about a half an hour east of Havana, as well as to the historic sites, and an unforgettable performance of the National Ballet of Cuba. If these websites are blocked and you want more info email me at billeeboy@sympatico.ca

I still love the gay classics: Gore Vidal -The City and the Pillar; James Baldwin's - Giovanni's Room; David Leavitt - The Indian Clerk; Edmund White - A Boy's Own Story; anything by Christopher Isherwood. Then there is always Scotty Bowers new book, Full Service, which is badly written but chock full of tell all information about the sexual predilections of Hollywood stars, etc. from the 1950's to the 1900's.

I visited Jamaica once many years ago before I was aware of the virulent homophobia that permeates the culture. The only redeeming feature of the island are its glorious beaches - but glorious beaches are a dime a dozen in the Caribbean! Now, knowing what I know about Jamaica, I try to avoid itineraries that call there. If the ship I am on does stop there I won't get off; I won't spend any of my discretionary dollars in a country whose culture actively foments hatred of any minority group, and more importantly encourages violence against its own gay citizens. Like 'wisebear' above, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I supported the economy of such a country. In fact, I have provided information re: homophobia in Jamaica to several straight friends who have then decided to boycott Jamaica. In addition, I along with many others have lobbied our own (Canadian) government to be more receptive to refugee claims from gay Jamaicans who are at great risk in their own country. In the last analysis we each have to live with our own conscience!

Having worked summers in my youth as a server in a resort, I have always considered myself to be aware of what is involved in providing good service and, consequently, to be a generous tipper for good service. It seems to me that the guidelines provided by Cunard are very clear. The automatic tip covers adequate but unexceptional service; additional tipping is appropriate where service has been exceptional. If my cabin is cleaned but I have no special requests of the the attendant and rarely if see him or her I do not tip extra. On the other hand if I ask initially for ice to be provided twice a day, have frequent cleaning to be sent out, and or require the room to be made up more often than normal and these request are complied with cheerfully and without having to be repeated I gladly tip extra. Similarly in the dining room. If the server remembers my food preferences after the first few meals, makes suggestions as requested, paces the meal well, etc. I am delighted to tip him/her and assistants extra. Also, if I frequent a particular bar and the barman or server routinely remembers my preferences I tip extra. It seems to me that this is exactly in keeping with Cunard's tipping guidelines.