belkin

Another vote for I Love Cuba Photo Tours, Yosel will not disappoint.

We just did a tour with Yosel for the second time. This time was 2 days. He is a great guide who takes you to places you would never see on the ships tour. He is also very good at explaining the history of Cuba and daily like. He will tweek the tour for anything you want to do. His pictures really capture the spirit of the Cuban people and their culture.

We have toured 3 days now with Yosel and he does not disappoint.

I got a call from the upgrade fairy for my upcoming cruise on the Horizon in December. It only cost me 56.00 to upgrade from a cove to a balcony on the 9th floor.

 

 

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We have done both and really prefer the Lido deck balconies.

The guidelines are now basically that if you check People to People you need to do a cruise excursion or tours with another US based tour company. Please don't do this. Support for the Cuban People allows you (per regulation) to support local small businesses and book locally owned tour companies. Not only is this important to the success of growing private businesses in Cuba- but also a much more authentic way to learn about the country. I've used a few different ones and strongly recommend I Love Cuba Photo Tours. They do customized tours and will make your day whatever you want it to be, and are also professional photographers who will document your trip for you. You can find them on Facebook or TripAdvisor (they are #1) or email the owner Yosel at yoselvazquez@yahoo.com.

I agree, we toured with Yosel last October and had such a good time we booked another cruise with 2 days in Havana for August 18th. We have him booked for both days. He is the best!

Last October there was priority for Diamond and Platinum guests.

Still waiting to see the "Stormin Norman" business page with reviews. Don't come here and bash 3rd party tours because you got burned by some random guy. That's like handing money to some guy hanging out by the port and being shocked that you didn't get what you paid for, Don't be so naive.

I think the OP has every right to come on here and share her experience so not sure why you feel the need to tell her not to post about it.

Norman and Di cruise several times a year and seem to be well known to people who cruise a lot, especially on the journey's cruises like Hawaii, Panama Canal, TA's, Europe.

They usually join other social media websites/roll calls and then proceed to set up tours. It all seems fine on the outside. It just looks like a fellow cruiser putting together tours for the group to enjoy. The problem is they are in it to make money and refuse to tell those that ask who the tour operator is.

I think what bugs most people is they come across as fellow cruisers when what they are really doing is a money making business.

The website is thecruiseduo dot com

Wow, that would have been pretty scary to me, especially being that you were not with your husband.

We have a journey cruise booked for February and he has several tours set up. I did not book anything with them because this is not the first time I have heard of negative experiences.

We always take a picture of the Fun Times with the ports emergency contact number and the time to be back on the ship.

John Heald said one cruise. When the Legend went over to Sydney in 2014 from Long Beach, it was a 23 night (actually 22, we lost a night).

 

Belkin,

 

Where do you see that cruise from LB to Singapore on Oct 5, or is it secret insider info?

 

Somebody posted the supposed itinerary on another social media site. Only 5 ports, Maui, Honolulu, Guam, Malaysia, and Viet Nam. 18 sea days. Since you lose a day crossing dateline, it’s really 23 nights. Whether this is true, we will see.

I have had the same PVP for 10+ years. I called her and she looked it up for me. It is there in the system, but no prices and can't be booked yet. She gave me the date 10/5 for 24 nights and the itinerary and it matches postings I have seen on other sites.

Splendor is leaving Long Beach and going to Singapore on October 5th, 2019. It is supposed to be a 24 day cruise.

Here is the link to the Florida home port here on CC. Lots of good information here to search through.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=495

We usually stay at the Intercontinental on Chopin Plaza and lots of people also stay at the Holiday Inn Port of Miami, both are close to the Bayside Market place.

We have done the tour with Irie in Curacao and it was pretty fun.

http://www.irietours.com/all-west-beach-hopping-tour-

The ports of call board has lots of information as well as Trip Advisor. Here is the link to the ports of call board.

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=587

Help! I don't know what YCC is?

Your Captains Club and you will have to figure out where because we are not allowed to mention here.

I would like confirmation that you can wait and obtain the VISA and the affidavit when you check in at embarkation. I don't mind doing it ahead of time, but it's easier just to do it at the port. Can someone confirm they've done this?

We sailed to Cuba last October on The Carnival Paradise. When you do the online check in your affidavit will be there. 2 copies should be printed, you have to turn one in at check in and the other is for you to keep.

They will look it over and make sure you have all of the appropriate boxes checked. At this time is when they will give you your visa. We were charged $75 each to our sign and sail. It was pretty easy.

Suite guests get priority boarding, debarkation, tendering and guaranteed dining.

On Carnival we were charged $75pp to our sign and sail.

This was posted by a PVP that I follow on another site on March 2nd.

Based on that description, you are in a category 4B cabin. The category PT cabin would be considered a down grade and that is not allowed with the Early Saver rate. Sorry, one of the restrictions of the Early Saver rate. Perhaps if you call again and explain that you are not looking for any money back, just the PT cabin they will allow it but I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

For the poster who stated that the category PT cabins are only located on deck 1, you are wrong. There are approximately 4 of them located on multiple decks on the ship.

On the Sunshine there are 4 on deck one and 2 on deck two. Portholes are only on decks 1 and 2.

I heard I have to fill out some paperwork onboard the ship. Will I be given a card or a sticker to put in my passport (I don't like bringing my passport ashore)?

You are given an affidavit which you turn in when you board. At that time you will be given a Visa. On Carnival the cost is $75.

When you go ashore you are required to bring the visa and your passport as they will review it before allowing you to enter their country.

How much should I tip my tour guide percentage-wise?

For me that is a really hard question to answer as tipping is such a personal thing. If I am really happy I tip 20%, if not maybe 10%. Hope this helps.

On the Vista last year they had self assist and for Platinum it started at 6am.

I will be leaving on my cruise with Holland America soon and will be in Cuba on March 22.My travel agent told me to check the "People to People" box even if I have a private tour. However, my Havana tour guide (Blexie) stated in his confirmation email that I should check the "Support of the Cuban people". It seems that Blexie may be more informed than my travel agent. I need some guidance before I contact my travel agent again. Which one is right? Thanks!

Blexie is correct you need to check the Support for the Cuban people. The People to People is on the old affidavit and will not even be a choice anyway.

Also when you turn it in they will look it over and have you check any other boxes that you should have checked.

Thank you for the information. I'm on Royal Caribbean and they have me questioning whether I can keep my private tour.

A friend of mine is sailing to Cuba on RC in May. She said the info they are giving out is making people think you have to book with them, but when she called she found out otherwise. Her group has the Old Car tours booked.

If it costs more if you want the photos, and less, if you don't, does that mean you are not allowed to take pics with your own camera? Or is it because his photos will be more professional?

As far as I remember it is your choice. He took a lot of photos that we never would have taken so I thought it was worth the extra $50. Plus we were able to just focus on the sights and not worry about capturing the photos.

Do you mean they take photos of you at the sites?

 

Also, how many people on the tour? Is this private, or is there a group?

 

 

Thanks!

He will take photos of all the sites and photos of you as well. He e will provide you with an SD card.

This is a private tour.