doublebzz

I'd much rather be in the city. Quite frankly the cruise terminals are pretty close to town....really close actually.....and in between the terminals and the airport is, at least to my one trip through that area, mostly light industrial. Not much to be gained by not going into town.

As a part-time Barcelonian, you are correct. There are some suburbs between downtown and the airport but there is really no reason to stay there. Downtown offers the most convenient and inexpensive way to get to the airport either by the "aerobus" from Plaza Cataluna or Renfe train from Sants. Passieg de Gracia or Estacion Franca. If your need to be close to the airport is predicated on catching an early morning flight, then there some hotels within a 10 minute cab ride from the airport.

What cabin category are you in?

Not all cabins on the Volendam have mini refrigerators.

Does the Eurodam have fridges in all categories?

There are many hotels in the vicinity of Plaza Cataluna where the airport shuttle runs very frequently.

I'm an American citizen but would love to do this cruise. Are you sure it's kosher if I board/depart in Jamaica?

The following quoted from a recent article in the N.Y. Times:

"Embargo-Flouting

This is not a method that we recommend. Hundreds of Americans — maybe thousands — go to Cuba every year by flying through a third country, usually the Bahamas, Mexico or Canada. Cuban immigration officials, eager to welcome visitors and their dollars, rarely if ever stamp American passports, so it is possible to have an unrestricted visit. But it’s not a wise idea. While traveling to Cuba is not itself illegal, the moment you buy your first drink, you’ve broken the law. Paying for anything at all means that you’ve violated the embargo and risk fines of up to $250,000. And if you lie to United States customs officials to hide your trip to Cuba upon re-entry, you will be violating a whole different set of federal laws that have nothing to do with the embargo. Tourists are rarely penalized for violating the embargo — the Obama administration has focused its enforcement efforts on businesses — but those bold or dumb enough to try to smuggle home a few Cuban cigars shouldn’t expect to get away without a hassle and some serious legal bills."

Can't answer you question directly but nobody is going to stop you from having your parents join you for the embarkation lunch.

I love the animals and wish they would do more!

You need to buy yourself a furby.

How does the Pride ride in the seas? My wife is prone to seasickness and never been on a ship smaller than Sojourn.

Good'un. As I understand the travel conditions, a US citizen could well take this cruise out of Jamaica and go ashore at any and all ports as long as they do not engage in commerce within the country. But as all costs including shore excursions are payable to Cubacruise Inc. Calgary, Canada, this condition is then met. I note that even the intended gifts that accompany the family in question were purchase outside of Cuba, again meeting the criteria.

Perhaps. My wife is a U.S. citizen of Cuban birth and will not be admitted to any Cuban ports without a special license by the Cuban government so this eliminates the cruise for us. This is probably true of Canadian citizens of Cuban birth as well but I'm not sure. When will all this nonsense stop?

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowTopic-g1-i10703-k6858809-Louis_Cristal_Cuba_Cruise-Cruises.html (Alabama)

Yes, I saw that too but they could be residing in Alabama as foreign nationals. Of course, some believe all Alabama residents are foreign nationals.

Thanks for your review. I really didn't experience much difference between HAL and QE/QV ships. On the other hand, I believe the Queen Mary is a unique ship and offers a different experience.

For those who have been on the cruise, can you tell me if there were any Americans on board as they are not likely to post here.

Here is a link to the first review of Cruise Cuba that I've seen: See Thread #31 in Link.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g147270-i91-k6487342-o30-New_Way_to_Cruise_to_Cuba-Cuba.html

This cruise company just partnered with some educational institution in the U.S. which has a Cuba travel license and will allow U.S. citizens to legally book Cruise Cuba through them. If I recall, the itinerary includes 3 days in Havana listening to propaganda in addition to the cruise. The cost was something like $4,800 per person compared to about 800 Canadian dollars if you book only the cruise directly with Cruise Cuba. I am very interested in reading the reviews from folks who have taken the cruise although its unlikely many Americans will want to publicly admit to breaking U.S. law.

I also don't enjoy people taking an hour standing in one spot to decide what they want.

 

Cruz chic formerly lorekauf

Spoken like a true New Yorker.

Never knew Vermouth was considered a wine.

Yes; considered a "fortified" wine because herbs and spices are added, but is basically a wine. I enjoy it solely mixed in Martinis and Manhattans but some folks like it straight or on the rocks. I can't believe some misguided security person would confiscate vermouth or sherry. I have never been questioned and even purchased a bottle of port in Funchal as gift for a HAL staffer.

No.

Why not? Vermouth is wine.

Personally.....and I'm putting on my flame-resistant clothing....in retrospect I now consider the advent of the Signature of Excellence (SOE) program as a smoke screen for what I think have turned out to be the gradual degradation of the HAL experience. Sure, some aspects were good and, like the new beds that were introduced early on in the program, some were actually outstanding. Maybe it's nothing more than coincidence but the SOE program came about around the same time they made what for us turned out to be terrible changes to venues like the Crow's Nest and the slow but sure loss of first crew bands then contract bands that used to perform nightly. Probably unfair to blame SOE but it marked the beginning of the end for us and things have not been as excellent as they once were.

I tend to agree with and am standing by with a charged fire hose.

Yes we always enjoy the lunch in the MDR, technically you are supposed to be a Mariner but I am not sure they turn anyone away.

You are absolutely right. I never saw anyone check ID's and doubt any of the staff care.

Yesterday I booked a cruise for Dec. 1 which is less than a week away. Our category is HH Guarantee. I was already sent an upgrade offer: VQ-VH or CA-F for $79 or $39 respectively. From what I've read so far about the staterooms, I'm not interested in the deal for some of those categories, and the final price ends up close to what I could have booked some of those cabins originally. The offer does not say whether we'd remain in "Guarantee" status with potential for another upgrade at no additional cost (e.g. offer gets us VH but potential for VC, etc.).

 

Did I receive this offer in lieu of being given (without extra charge) a higher category based on the Guarantee? It would be nice to first see what cabin we'd be giving up.

 

By ignoring the offer, will I be forfeiting a chance at another upgrade (either the no-charge kind, or a different offer that has a charge?

 

Thank you.

I assume this is a 7 day cruise. Of course, each to his own preference, but to me a guaranteed balcony over a possible no view HH is certainly worth another $25 a day.

Huh? What does that mean?

See Oldsalt's response above - it explains it clearly.

We just got off the NA today after 2 weeks.

I noticed more vibration on this ship than any of other HAL ships.

Our cabin was on deck 7, midship.

Did not really bother us, but it was noticable

I do believe this vibration thing has become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Not everyone WANTS to buy the unlimited laundry. I quite enjoy doing laundry while on vacation, it is a nice relaxing break for me. I realize not everyone will agree with that :D Our last two cruises we had unlimited laundry and (honestly) I rather missed doing it myself :eek:

Quite right! Actually, I love sitting on my veranda watching my underwear dry.

I had a SPA cabin on NA for a recent TA. There were times when vibrations were noticeable but not as severe as you indicate. Vibration if a function of ship's speed and will vary accordingly.

Doesn't sound like much of a deal, I guess thats why they are not selling very good. How much extra were those 5 bottles of water if one paid regular price?

If one computes the differential between a veranda guarantee and a VQ cabin, it worked out to about $125 a bottle.

 

What I have never understood is the Canadian Law that regulates only one bar open per deck while in port in Canadian waters.:confused:

Maybe it has something to do with restraining the Mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford.