bjm07

We have been in the inside cabins on Deck 11; they are not noisy. Very quiet and nice because they are relatively new. They were added at the time of solsticization. Handy to run down to the oceanview cafe for coffee, etc. in the morning and to the sunset bar on Deck 10 where we tend to spend a lot of time visiting. Also, they are handy to the aft elevators to go down to dinner in the mdr in the evening. We enjoyed being in that location.

Regards,

Barbara

After hearing about the weather in the rest of Canada, Victoria had some frost. this morning in some areas, the first this month. It only got up to 10C yesterday, down from 14C the other day. Had no rain for a while. Now 12C today, have to get the lawn mower out soon.

wu687: It sounds like it is about time for you to get out there and start the flower count. (LOL)

Has anyone else noticed that the Cristal appears to have been "docked" for the last several days at Syros. I wondered if they are putting on the flowers....

Cubaholic,

Sorry to hear that you were not able to make the last cruise of the season either and wish you a speedy and solid recovery so maybe we will have a chance to meet up in the coming season. We, also, were not able to make the trip - and lost our flight and cruise expense - as my husband suddenly had a stroke and has been in hospital since 17th March. We were so much looking forward to the cruise but I guess it is better that it happened here rather than there on the ship. This was the second "failure to start" for us in the 2013/14 cruise year. We hope for better luck next year.

To others, I also hope that everyone will continue to post on this thread rather than starting a new one. You can see even in the most recent posts that this thread has a wealth of information for others contemplating participation in the coming year(s).

We will continue to be looking for additional posts from all. It's been a blast keeping up with the thread and definitely contributed to our overall knowledge of cruising and especially about Cuba.

Regards to all,

Barbara

Yes, Ont-CA, we would also be interested in the answer to this question. From the west coast we need to look at all possible options so an additional choice would be great. This time we got lucky and found a Sunwing flight for under $800 but for those you have to stay a full two weeks. Other choices from here include silly prices and silly travel times such as 25 hours - yuck.

Barbara

Cubaholic,

We'll be looking forward to meeting you on board although I suspect that you will blend in with the rest of the canucks more than we will. Our party of four is me, my husband and his sister and her girlfriend. Look for a large bigote (moustache)(Oh! on my husband). We are all in inside cabins on deck 7. So much looking forward to this trip although probably those from eastern Canada have been suffering a bit more this winter than we have out here.

Regards,

Barbara

Yes, indeed, Cubaholic. We will be with you on March 24th and will be excited to meet up with you on board. We will be arriving at Varadero at 3:30 a.m. on the 24th and then travelling from VRA to Havana in the wee hours (arranged by Pototo). I hope they let us on the ship really early so we can get rid of our baggage and have a bit of rest after travelling all night.

Looking forward to seeing you on board!

Regards,

Barbara

Hello again,

In our experience the Cubans do get to keep tips; one told us that because of the tips she received from us (which probably was about 20-25 CUC), her family had the best Christmas in many, many years. Also, we have heard (from Cubans) that some people who were qualified as doctors (Cubans again) actually quit working as doctors and worked at some of the all-inclusive resorts because of the tips they could make, which made a real difference to them.

We expect to do our usual tipping which will be added to our shipboard account and then we typically give out some extra for those who have been special. However, I do hope that the amount which is added to our account would be shared with all, otherwise only a few would receive a portion of that and those who work behind the scenes would not get any.

Regards,

Barbara

I could sure use a "like" button on here.

Thank you for the recent pix of buildings, glass etching and restored buildings; I've really been enjoying them. It is great to see some of the buildings being restored to their former glory. I guess that is the key though; they were originally great structures when built so the restoration brings back to light that which was already there.

Also really enjoyed the pedicab story and glad that you had a good laugh at the whole incident.

Regards,

Barbara

Hello All,

First of all, thank you so much to all those of you who have contributed here. I think this is one of the very most helpful and responsive Cruise Critic threads that I have seen, never mind participated in. Those who have gone before us have contributed so much to the preparedness and, therefore, the enjoyment of this cruise and travels "where no one has gone before." Well, not exactly no one but really few in this inaugural cruise season for the Louis Cristal and for Cuba.

From the tracking of the Cristal coming across the pond to the (sporadic) tracking of it around Cuba - in Havana harbour, once in Antilla, once or twice in Cienfuegos and as it approaches Montego Bay to the much anticipated reports from those sailing, I have truly enjoyed all of your contributions.

I thought that this year I was going to have to enjoy this cruise only vicariously through all of you but as the stars have aligned, we also are going, sailing from Havana on the 24th of March, the last cruise of the season. We will be flying in to Varadero at 3:30 a.m. on the day of sailing; usually I much prefer to arrive at the port a couple of days ahead but with the limited flights from Vancouver and, therefore, the very high cost of many of the flights, it was the best we could do. I have contacted Pototo, who several have mentioned as being very helpful, and we are hoping for him to help us make our connection with the ship in Havana. Because of that close-cutting of our arrival, we will have to make our other travelling around after the cruise, hopefully including a trip to Vinales, a bit of touring around in Havana and making use of Pototo's connections for a casa in Havana and back out at the beach in Varadero for a few days prior to our return flight.

So much looking forward to all aspects of this trip.

Regards,

Barbara

For those possibly interested in Trinidad, I did visit there in the 70's when there was a lot of restoration going on. However, since that time it could be that not much has been done, since there has been little money to spend on such things more recently. However, I do recall that the streets were the original works from the 1400's (they told us) and that there were a lot of old buildings making for very interesting sightseeing. I plan to go there myself as soon as we are able to do this cruise.

Barbara

ONT-CA,

The last time we were there - 2010 - they had the two currencies but as tourists we only had to deal with one and we didn't even see any of the other. Mostly, the other currency is only for Cubans to use so there was no confusion for us. Cubans, however, may have to deal with both currencies. Of course, if you ventured out of tourist areas or into the Cuban stores which are mostly for Cubans you may find the second currency. But in the areas where the ship is expected, they will probably be prepared for tourists.

That said, things might be different further south and I've only been as far as Trinidad and Cienfuegos and that was in the 70's. A lot of things have changed since then.

Barbara

Hello to all sitting in on this very exciting thread.

Tonight I am observing sadly, because we are not on it, but, joyfully, because the first of the Louis Cristal cruises for the 2013/14 season is now showing on my tracking as just having departed its berth in Havana harbour and is now just outside of the harbour and making its turn to begin its journey to the south. This is the very cruise that we had hoped to join but because of various circumstances of work and an unexpected family death, we were not able to fulfill this dream this year. Truly, we wish the company organizing these cruises a very great and successful season so that they will be able to continue in future years. We wish this not only for the organizing company but also for the people of Cuba who need the opportunities to improve their incomes. I am also sorry that we will not be able to report to all of you, as I had hoped, on just how was the ship, the visits at the various ports and how everyone handles all of the details that have to be in place for this unique and historic endeavour. Bon voyage Louis Cristal!

And thanks to all of you who have contributed here to make reading this thread almost as exciting as the cruise.

Regards to all,

Barbara

The 10 yr passports just came out in July for Canadian citizens renewing a couple months early should not hold you back ;)

http://www.ppt.gc.ca/index.aspx?lang=eng

LHT28!! Thank you so much for the good news. Too bad they didn't come last year when we paid the entry fee for Chile; but better late than never.

Thanks for sharing this good news.

Regards,

Barbara

Hi all!

 

 

bjm07 ~ did you book yet? You're our best chance of getting a review before we sail. If my memory's correct I'm next but not going until Jan 31. I would have liked to go in Feb but didn't want to renew my passport months early to do so.

 

Just Googled how many cabins on Cristal & the breakdown is: 10 balcony, 307 ocean view, 163 inside for a total of 480. 77 still available for the 1st sailing doesn't seem too bad to me 3 months out, what do you all think?

 

~ Jo ~ :)

Hello All,

retiring soon: No, we can't book until more (of the future - crystal ball required here) is known. Perhaps in October but more likely in November we'll know if we can go. Yes, I know you are all waiting to hear. We also would have to renew the passports early - four months is not six months. We should be so lucky to have passports valid for 10 years! But luckily it doesn't take too long to get them.

And, yes, I was impressed with how many of the cabins have sold already. It really does look promising. And, some of the cruises later than what we are looking at are sold even more than that first cruise.

I am wondering if any of you have sailed with Louis previously. The reviews that I have read of their Med cruises claim that the food is really quite good.

Keeping our fingers crossed... because I'd just love this itinerary.

Regards,

Barbara

Hello ONT-CA,

I didn't "register" for anything to find this information. I just followed the web pages through as if I were making a booking. The availability shows up after you have gone through a few steps. I suspect that one would not "register" until a booking was actually made. Does this help?

Barbara

Hi all!

 

Did the tour operator give any indication of how the ship's selling

 

~ Jo ~ :)

Hello retiring soon,

I have been checking on how it seems to be selling for the various sailings by checking the website at http://www.yourcubacruise.com/booking/CategoryInput.aspx as there is a listing of cabin availability there. I must say it does seem to be moving as some of the sailings are down to six or seven categories. Of course, there may be someone adjusting these to make it appear so.

Barbara

Hello,

Well, I've been lurking out here for several months now. From the number of views of this thread, I am not the only one! Certainly, there appears to be quite a lot of interest in these cruises; we have been hoping for something just like this to happen for many years now. Looking at the website and monitoring how many cabins are remaining in each category for various dates, it does appear that the booking is definitely happening, particularly later in the cruise dates.

Our situation is such that the first cruise on December 16th would be the best date for us. Does anyone have a comment on how iffy it might be to take the first one, where they might be still working out any problems, either with organization on the ship or the arrivals and departures from the various ports?

Regards,

Barbara

cruz.n.carebear,

Thanks so much for taking the trouble to write this review. We have wondered about the pullmantur cruises and it is very helpful to hear of your experience; I am sure that there are others who will appreciate your comments as well.

Regards,

Barbara

I can't resist this opportunity to tell about the staff who made our very first cruise so memorable. September 2004, Barcelona to Venice on board Millennium.

Dining room staff head waiter Hayden, from South Africa, Oliver, assistant waiter, from Bosnia, Devon, bar service, from Jamaica, Gunther, Sommelier (sp?) from Austria. Outstanding!! Dinner was the entertainment for the day - these guys knew what they were doing and made good judgements of their customers and were witty, kind, efficient and jokers. They were so awesome that we remember each of them still in 2009. I keep hoping we will run into them again somewhere.

They are each completely responsible for us being hooked on cruising.

The internationality of the service group on Celebrity impresses us so much; all from different parts of the world, they work together to make incredible memories for their customers.

That's why we sail Celebrity... We miss them still.