candydane

Does anyone know which restaurant hosts breakfast for suite passengers?

Every car that the tour company we used and the other one that we contacted has A/C

What tour companies were they? Did you enjoy the tour you took?

Can someone post the menu for Los Lobos?

Thanks for posting the Sports Bar menu.

Is that menu available in mid afternoon? Appertisers look good.

There are 2 types of Montecristo, Partagas, and Cohiba brands. Cuban versions and non-cuban versions. They do not sell the non-cuban versions in Cuba. The non cuban versions are made primarily in and contain tobacco from the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and Nicaragua and can be purchased in the United States. They contain no cuban tobacco. The cuban versions of those brands are not available for purchase legally inside the United States and contain exclusively cuban tobacco.

 

The cuban Partagas factory is in Havana and can be toured from 9AM-1PM for $10 and tour tickets can be purchased at the Saratoga Hotel. Also they have a cigar shop that you can buy from without doing the tour. Hopefully that clarifies the differences between the two types of brands. Here is a list of all the main cuban brands that you can buy in Cuba, made with cuban tobacco and rolled in Cuba.

 

(Bolivar, Cohiba, Cuaba, Diplomáticos, El Rey Del Mundo, La Flor De Cano, Fonseca, H. Upmann, Hoyo De Monterrey, Jose L. Piedra, Juan Lopez, La Flor De Cano, La Gloria Cubana, Montecristo, Partagas, Por Larranaga, Punch, Quai D'Orsay, Quintero, Rafael Gonzales, Ramon Allones, Romeo Y Julieta, Saint Luis Rey, San Cristobal, Sancho Panza, Trinidad, Vegas Robaina, Vegueros,)

 

The Romeo Y Julieta/H. Upmann factory is also in Havana and tours are $10 and also has a store. The other factories do not have official stores at them and some of the stores next to them are not the best. As a former cigar retailer and long time buyer I can confidently say that you should smoke what you like and realize your taste preferences are all your own. I personally love cuban cigars and think they are some of the best in the world but I would also say that non cuban brands such as Padron (Nicaraguan) are on par and in many cases surpass cubans. Don't be afraid to try different ones and smoke what you like. With that said I plan on purchasing at least 15 boxes for my personal consumption because I love cigars from all of the cuban brands

Thank you. That is a great answer that explains why I've read comments that you can buy the same brands in the US as are sold in Cuba!

Do the LCDH stores sell cigars made in other countries? Will the salespeople tell me which are made in Cuba?

Are Montecristo, Cohiba, and Partagas cigars all actually made in Cuba?

Holland said they do not want people that have high temps getting off ship . Maybe they should do that when you board for cruise .

Well said!!!

Thanks so much for the list of places to buy cigars. Exactly what my husband wanted.

He would also like to know the costs of the boxes of cigars to get an idea of how much CUCs he'll need to buy at the port for shopping.

Also, do you bargain for cigars in the stores you listed or are they fixed pricing?

I just returned on Friday. There are two outdoor places to smoke.....pool deck has a small area portside on the opposite end of the bar, and a small area above the Great Outdoors.

My husband always enjoyed the cigar lounges so disappointed none on the Sun anymore. The good news is our cabin is on the pool deck so will be relatively close for him.

To clarify, do you mean opposite end of the Sports Bar or Topsiders Bar?

Is the smoking area above the Great Outdoors on deck 12 or somewhere between decks 11 and 12? Hard to understand from the deck plans.

Thanks.

Any recommendations for places to buy cigars? My husband plans to buy some but we've read of conterfeit cigars.

Did the taxi drivers speak English?

Why do they take temperatures?

From what I've read, you should select Support for the Cuban People on your Cuban affidavit if you plan on a private noncruiseline tour. The Visa doesn't matter.

Were people allowed to smoke those cigars at the show?

Where is the dinner with officers held (we'll be on the Sun)? Is there a special menu? Is wine or an alcohol drink included?

:cool: That's great since our cabin is portside on the pool deck!

My husband has always enjoyed comfort of the smoking rooms on ships but it looks like the Sun doesn't have one anymore.

Where are the smoking areas on the Sun? Are they covered for shade or shelter? Comfortable chairs or just straight back dining type?

I agree which cigars to buy is strickly personal taste.

It's really where to buy and a cigar factory tour that I'm hoping to get advance intel.

Will be watching for you report when you return. Thanks.

Is there any shade? Umbrellas?

Has anyone done a private bungalow with 7 adults?

How did you find your Uber car when you got off the ship?

Looks like the 2 articles were written the end of 2011.

Please post what you found on your trip. Or anything else you discover about touring cigar factories and/or buying cigars.

We're going first of September and that's what my husband wants to do.

From the map, looks like Hop On beach route goes both directions on the same route. Is that correct?

Thanks. Your 2rd link is awesome. Lots of good info in the Sun.

Thanks. I hadn't seen your awesome 3rd link. Wow! Loved it!