Can You See Cuba from the Ship?

[Shaken_Bake]

We're leaving three weeks from today on our first cruise (Enchantment)! I was looking at a globe this weekend and noticed that we have skirt around the western tip of Cuba to get from Key West to Cozumel. I'm just curious - can you actually see the coast of Cuba, or even the lights of Havana, on this route? How about when you're sailing from Cozumel to Belize - does the ship stay within view of the coastline? That might make for a pretty view.

 

Sailing on Enchantment July 5, 2004

[mabinbklyn]

sometimes. I think it depends on which shipping lane they're in. Usually the Captain will make an announcement.

 

Mary

 

BOS: 2004

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until the Norwegian Dawn!

 

 

 

[FinelyCruising]

Yes, you can see it off on the distant horizon.

[SAYHEYRENEE]

Make sure your out on the deck while leaving Belize. You pass at least 20 mini islands some that have houses on them, some people just pulling up by boat fishing off the beach, etc. It is so pretty.

 

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[Criscomia]

Was on Volendam 2003 and was heading the Southern route. Woke up to see Cuba and at 10:00 pm we could still see the lights of Cuba. It's a very long island.

[TBRay]

Renee is correct. I was amazed at just how many inhabited islands we passed during our trip. We could clearly see Cuba both going and coming back.

 

And also how many ships are out there with you. Seems like everyone's in the shipping lanes.

 

9/19/2004 Mariner of the Seas

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[glo1]

I hope so..it will be the closest I will have been to the place of my birth since I was 4 years old. We are going to the Navigator in Aug of 2005, and am hoping.....

 

Til my cruise on the Navigator of the Seas

 

[Matisse05]

I have seen Cuba on 2 past cruises. Binoculars really helped on the second cruise (a tad bit foggy).

 

Happy Cruisin',

BichonBabe

(Michelle)

 

Explorer 10-24-04

Navigator 12-14-02

Sea Princess 10-9-99

 

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[hess2201]

Last summer on the Grand P, we went very close,,,,you could make out buildings.

 

Oceanic 1988

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[Shaken_Bake]

This is very cool! Thanks for the replies. Having never cruised before, I got the impression that once we left port, all you could see was open ocean and that's it. Is there any kind of bridge tour that will let the passengers see where the ship is - or any detailed charts available of where exactly the ship is sailing? I love maps and would love to get a clue of where this ship is at the time.

 

Sailing on Enchantment July 5, 2004

[pcbeck]

Our family saw Cuba two years ago with no problems after we left Jamaica. When I lived in Guantanamo Bay I remember seeing the cruise ships sail by wishing I was on one of them.

[Maria65]

We had a very clear view of Cuba on the Western Caribbean route of Voyager last year. I'm not sure how close we were in miles but it seemed very close.

 

I was very surprised how many other cruise ships you see along the way too. Some of them, like the Grand Princess, have a very distinctive silhouette and are easy to pick out.

 

You can follow the ships progress at sea on your cabin TV which will tell you the precise location.

[BEVEROO]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by pcbeck:

Our family saw Cuba two years ago with no problems after we left Jamaica. When I lived in Guantanamo Bay I remember seeing the cruise ships sail by wishing I was on one of them.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

My father was in the Navy and we were stationed in Gitmo too! When were you there? We were there in 1963 - 1965 (I was a kid then). That is when I fell in love with the Caribbean and have been back several times (of course, not to Cuba). Happy cruising!!!!

Bev

 

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[Kimba1910]

We could see Cuba from the Navigator in February

 

until I turn the big 40

 

 

Enchantment of the Seas 10/02

Navigator of the Seas 2/04

Mariner of the Seas 2/06

 

until our bi-annual family cruise on the Mariner

 

[Hoopster3145]

At night, you can see a lot of light houses and towns along the side of the island,

 

As has been stated it is a long island, so it goes in and out of view for several hours!

 

THe best view i have had has been going from Miami to Cozumel.

 

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[imsulin]

Every time we fly to Cancun from Atlanta (and back) , we pass near Cuba, and the pilot points it out.

[jrm9999]

Shaken_Bake - On the Enchantment they do not have a bridge tour, but there is a real time map they run on the TV in your room showing where you are.

 

On Voyager class ships, they have some windows you can look into the bridge from and watch them drive the ship.

 

- Jeff

[D4]

Shaken-Bake: Most ships sell the nautical map of the itinerary in the gift shop.

[TPKeller]

As far as I know, all the Voyager class ships have the "peek-a-boo bridge" where you can go look into the bridge from a deck above and behind. In this viewing area, they have computer consoles which display the current charts and location of the ship. (This area is only open during the day, not at night.)

 

Also, this is a great excuse to go out and get yourself a hand held GPS receiver! Most of them won't have maps of the Caribbean, but any good paper chart will have lats and longs, so you can plot your way along, and keep the crew "honest" with their position updates!

 

If you're new to hand held GPS receivers, http://gpsinformation.net/ is the best place on the net to find information.

 

Theron

 

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[cbcloud]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Shaken_Bake:

...Is there any kind of bridge tour that will let the passengers see where the ship is - or any detailed charts available of where exactly the ship is sailing? I love maps and would love to get a clue of where this ship is at the time.

 

Sailing on Enchantment July 5, 2004<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

Not sure about the Enchantment, but the Voyager class ships have the "peekaboo bridge" where you can see down on the bridge (or part of it), and there are radar displays on the peekaboo with the ship route, heading, winds, geographical features, etc. VERY interesting..! My ship routine was to get on deck before sunrise...get a cup of coffee, get some sunrise pics, then head to the peekaboo bridge, strike up a conversation with anyone else who happened to be there...then take the DW a cup of tea...

 

And I think ALL the ships have 24-hour display of ship's course, distance traveled, distance to next destination, weather, etc. on one of the TV channels as well as a pic off the bow of the ship...

 

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[boingy300]

In 1991 My husband and I , on our honeymoon Song of America- RCCL, ran up to the top deck at 4am- just to see Cuba-we were right on top of it according to the TV map. I still chuckle when we get up there- it is pitch black, and an older gentleman standing on deck smoking a cigarette. I'll never forget my disappointment!LOL! Eventually you could make out the outline of a mountainous range. Too funny.

Karen O.

 

Song of America 1991

Majesty of the Sea 1993

Monarch of the Sea 1996

Sov.of the Sea 1999

Disney Wonder 2001

Explorer 12/13/03

Mariner of the Seas 6/19/05

[goldenshroom]

To answer the original question, Yes, you will most likely see Cuba and if you take a portable tv you can watch Cuban TV. If you are going towards Labadee, you will probably not see Havana as it is near the western tip of cuba. Most ships don't pass close enough on that side.

 

Mariner Of The Seas, Back to Back 10/10-24/2004

Caribbean Princess 05/28/2005

[cbcloud]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Shaken_Bake:

...Is there any kind of bridge tour that will let the passengers see where the ship is - or any detailed charts available of where exactly the ship is sailing? I love maps and would love to get a clue of where this ship is at the time.

 

Sailing on Enchantment July 5, 2004<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

I found a picture of the Voyager bridge, taken from the peekaboo bridge. You can see it here:

 

http://www.pbase.com/image/30197006

 

Legend of the Seas - 8/2002

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[allisons]

Can you see the islands of the Bahamas?

 

We are going on Navigator of the Seas Western Caribbean in January 2005 and we have a port side balcony, but the starboard side of the ship will face Cuba. Should we change to the other side of the ship so that our balcony faces Cuba? We are going on Explorer of the Seas Western Caribbean in January 2006 and we have a port side balcony again. However, that cruise goes in the opposite direction so the port side of the ship will face Cuba.

 

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Days until my next cruise . . .