My Cuba Cruise

[bjm07]

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

[jinky]

 

If you took those photos - let me congratulate you. I recognise many of them and you've caught the essence of Cuba with each one. I'm pleased that you went to Vinales. I've never been to Biran, or the Isle of Youth so must make the effort there.

 

Thanks a million for the treat!

 

Dee :)

 

Thanks Dee. They are indeed my own photos. I do a little bit of part time wedding photography and such in UK so should manage the odd good one ;). That said I had a wedding booked first day back so was forced to use one of my back up cameras which was misbehaving a little. So relieved when most turned out OK

[ONT-CA]

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af114/Yarkerhill/AntillaBahiadeNipe.jpg

 

So near and yet so far. It is a shame we cannot dock at Bahia de Nipe for the water depth is a problem, aggravated by tides. The second week we managed to get much closer to the dock before tendering in than we did during the first week. Tides dictate. But perhaps in time the Cuban authorities will be able to dredge a channel here so that the Cristal could tie up in lieu of having to use the tenders.

[Cubaholic]

Thanks Dee. They are indeed my own photos. I do a little bit of part time wedding photography and such in UK so should manage the odd good one ;). That said I had a wedding booked first day back so was forced to use one of my back up cameras which was misbehaving a little. So relieved when most turned out OK

 

Yeaa, Jinky!

 

I emigrated from Blackburn, Lancashire in 1957 and have lived in Ontario Canada ever since. Funny idf we used to be neighbours, eh?

 

I also loved photorahy (amateur) and videography until my (Dry) Macular Degeneration made it impossible to pursue that hobby. In fact, any type of close work is impossible now, but thankfully, I can enlarge conpuiter text and images, and truly appreciate your work.. You certainly covered a lot of ground in one week and the resulting photos will keep the memories alive forever. Congrats. again!

Hey Barbara:

 

Two weeks today and we're on our way. We're flying from Toronto to Havana with Air Cubana, where much greater baggage allowance and wider seats, compensate for the lack of on-board entertainment.

 

Yes, I'll be sure to look out for a moustache, if you'll look out for my friends' brimmed Tilley Hat, with white heir popping out from underneath. He's quite slim. If you see somebody who can't read the menu...that's me...not quite as slim! This will be the 4th Cuba trip on which he's escorted me. Thank goodness for that. I only wish I had his energy You'll see what I mean if there's a dance floor. LOL!

 

Keep Smilin'!

 

Dee :)

[ONT-CA]

...Two weeks today and we're on our way. We're flying from Toronto to Havana with Air Cubana, where much greater baggage allowance and wider seats, compensate for the lack of on-board entertainment... Dee :)

 

Could we please ask you to elaborate on how to book Cubana? They are not listed on the search systems and their computer site gives little information. Our Toronto to Havana flight (return) cost us over $1,200 pp via AC and we certainly would like to avoid that again. But we are told that Cubana does not have a direct Toronto to Havana flight and go through a third country making the journey over twice as long. Is this so? Any information you can give us on how you did your booking would be most appreciated. Thanks

[bjm07]

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

[retiring soon]

HI all!

 

ONT-CA ~ good question as I'd be interested in going Cubana. Have used them before to Santiago de Cuba & they were fine.

 

We had a big problem at Antilla as a line broke due to the wind & mud was sucked up into intake delaying our departure for a couple of hours.

That made our arrival at Santiago de Cuba late thus leading to some excursions being cancelled or reduced.

 

Don't know if you check the cruise reviews feature but I noticed a new one today.

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=251129

 

I forget who mentioned the port entries & who went to Pinar del Rio but which port had the most interesting/tight entry & did you see a hotel called Los Jasmines near PdR? It had such a beautiful setting I thought.

 

Looking forward to more pictures & prose.

 

~ Jo ~ :)

[ONT-CA]

... Yes ont ca - loved that taxi - just so many cars to shoot! ...

 

Here is what we believe to be the oldest car that crossed our path, which we think is a 1936 or 1937 Ford. It is one thing to be a collector and preserving an item like this in storage but to be running it as a taxi, wow, even if the transmission is from a Pontiac and the differential was taken from a Chrysler. We had hoped to but didn't see a car with a rumble seat but then there are few of you who would know what that was.

 

http://i999.photobucket.com/albums/af114/Yarkerhill/Havanacars.jpg

[Cubaholic]

Could we please ask you to elaborate on how to book Cubana? They are not listed on the search systems and their computer site gives little information. Our Toronto to Havana flight (return) cost us over $1,200 pp via AC and we certainly would like to avoid that again. But we are told that Cubana does not have a direct Toronto to Havana flight and go through a third country making the journey over twice as long. Is this so? Any information you can give us on how you did your booking would be most appreciated. Thanks

 

Definitely NOIT, ONT-CA!

 

Hola Sun (Toronto), sister to Caribe Sol (Quebec) is affiliated with Cuba and frequently uses Air Cubana, which pleases me. I've flow direct with them from Toronto to the North Shore Cayos but this time, we're flying via Cienfuegos, which is only a 1 hour flight from Havana anyway.

 

Without any upgrades, the whole thing, booked through Hola Sun came to 1,2.99 and that included all air / transfers / accommodation at the (high-rise) Occidental Miramar for 1 night before the cruise and 3 nights afterwards. Breakfast and dinner are included in the accommodation.

 

I couldn't understand why people would prefer to go to Jamaica, which is a beautiful country. unfortunately, many locals there, leave a lot to be desired, unless one stays within the confines of their resort.. I prefer to go where I can walk freely, night or day, without being accosted. I would hate to be a Cuban who harmed, or created real problems for a tourist. Their life wouldn't be worth living.

 

Dee :)

[ONT-CA]

... We had a big problem at Antilla as a line broke due to the wind & mud was sucked up into intake delaying our departure for a couple of hours. That made our arrival at Santiago de Cuba late thus leading to some excursions being cancelled or reduced....~ Jo ~ :)

 

Jo it sounds as if you did in fact tie up at the dock, is that right? I know the Captain was very specific about why the tender operation was necessary when there was a dock facing us but his explanation of so much debth/draft/ratio or something or other made me think that they may have tried it before. Also, when we were at the new bar venture ashore they were watching the ship at anchor shift with the wind with the stern turning towards the shore. The owner picked up the phone and called someone in the upper observation point who in turn called someone. The penny has dropped as to why the concerns.

[retiring soon]

HI all!

 

ONT-CA ~ we tendered but there was a dock line tied up which snapped & apparently injured a worker's hand causing him to go to the hospital (we heard but did not witness this). We didn't arrive at Santiago de Cuba until 11:30 am next day because of the problem.

 

Dee ~ sounds like a great package you got.:D I wonder if you could have boarded the ship at Cienfuegos. That's too much time in Havana for me. Different strokes eh?

 

New people are enjoying our ship tonight. Lucky them!

 

~ Jo ~ :)

[jinky]

Too much time in Havana? !!! We had 4 nights there before we boarded and half a day there when we finished the cruise and I`d have liked another couple of days there myself. Was reading some blogs on Havana and hearing of places I`d love to see that we didn`t even know about / get to. Loved Havana so much I`d even consider a Havana / Varadero cheaper break at some time in the future to go back.

[Jearwig Wimples]

Leaving on Friday the 14th for Cuba cruise. We have not booked any tours yet and hope to get some good suggestions from anyone who has been there, or join another group already booked..

[retiring soon]

HI all!

 

Jearwig Wimples ~ lucky you!:DSure wish I was leaving this winter behind!

A lot who did the Cuba Life tour from Antilla enjoyed it. The Punta Frances stop is a beautiful beach with possibly a snorkelling excursion available.

Lots to do in Havana, I did the morning walking tour which I enjoyed & at night DH & I went to Tropicana which was worth seeing.

 

If you have time read back through these pages for peoples' reviews or under the review section above for Louis Cristal.

 

Have a great time!

 

~ Jo ~ :)

[retiring soon]

HI all!

 

I was just checking to see if there was any new reviews for the Cuba cruise & came across this. What a glowing recommendation!

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=774

 

Have a nice weekend. Anybody just back with their comments?

 

~ Jo ~ :)

[ONT-CA]

Thanks Jo, another convert to "our" Cruise. One has to wonder why so many of us are planning on returning for the next season. Was there not enough time in each port to satisfy our curiosity? In some ways we would and will do things differently on a repeat, for one learns as one travels. Plus when we view the multitude of cruise brochures directed at us, finding only the same old same old, this cruise was a breath of fresh air. But I have to wonder at what point any increased passenger numbers would change that for the low numbers turned this cruise ship into a private yatch for us. And in spite of our negativity towards embarking at Havana we will repeat that, having since had a full and satisfying conversation with some Cubanholics who basically told us to toughen up and be more assertive. None of what we encountered would have been tolerated by them in the least. A lesson well learned.

[Balloon Man]

We had no problems at all at Havana airport. Whether that was because we came in on a flight from Europe I can't say. In fact we had no problems anywhere in Cuba. A taxi driver tried to rip us off in Jamaica, but when I pretended to take a photo of his licence he departed rather quickly.

 

We enjoyed the Louis Cristal, though in all honesty it is a luxury ferry - that's its job in the Mediterranean - rather than a cruise ship. Staff were good; entertainment was of a very high standard; drink prices quite reasonable (and nobody cared what you brought on board).

 

The food was mediocre (more tinned fruit than fresh fruit in the Caribbean?) and this view seemed to be shared by others who had cruised previously. However the many I spoke with on the ship for whom it was their first cruise thought the food great.

 

We arranged all private tours through Potato, who I recommend even though his guide was a no-show at one port.

 

Hopefully this is the first of many successful seasons for this company, this ship and this crew and their Cuba cruise. I'm certainly telling everybody I know this is an experience not to be missed.

 

So, as the OP of what has turned-out to be a surprisingly popular, incredibly interesting and very valuable thread, my thanks to everybody who contributed and now it's time to say hasta la vista.

 

Now where did I put my mojito?

 

Alan aka Balloon Man.

[ONT-CA]

Alan, where would we have been able to express ourselves if you had not opened this avenue to comment and critique. Many thanks for that. We bet you had no idea, as did we that the subject would be so popular and so informative. The birth of this venture will eventually yield a better cruise and a better experience because of our input. We see this ship as not only a home for an escape from our winter but a delivery to an itinerary that will take us many bookings to completely explore.

[jinky]

Yes thanks to all who started this off/ contributed and helped make our Cuba trip such a success with all the great advice. I rarely go back to anywhere twice with so much world to see but I would love to get back to Cuba one day - especially Havana. Not sure I`d do the cruise again a I really fancy the idea of getting myself around and stopping wherever I choose but it was great fun and worth every penny. Not likely to look back in here much again - if anyone has any questions about going / trips best get me through my blog links I posted.

[retiring soon]

HI all!

 

Balloon Man ~ thanks for starting the thread it's been great!:D

 

jinky ~ nice hearing your views too.

 

ONT-CA ~ I'll be hanging around this thread for a while longer, you too?

Here's another review from TA from a person who has been to Cuba many times & started the cruise in a different way which sounds appealing.

We don't usually go back to the same place (except I have been to my Cuba resort 3 times) BUT if we get to go on this cruise again there could be a lot of variables perhaps more pax, different excursions, different staff whatever. I think it's worth another time for us.

 

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

 

I sure hope people sailing this month will give their reviews of the cruise.

 

Happy 1st day of Spring, lol!!;)

 

~ Jo ~:)

[ONT-CA]

Well Jo (and my name is Ron for easy reference), there are so many locations where information about the cruise is being posted that I am lost. The TA thing seems to have more than one and now someone is referring to an UK section that I had no idea about and unable to find. Other than that I am still hanging around. I’m sure there could be few comments from anyone that would surprise us for we know how the whole adventure goes. What I am waiting for is the new booking offers. Indications are that the S category will be heavily sought after and so I anticipate price adjustments. We are torn between wishing that this winter getaway is a total success and the fear of it becoming so popular that it will alter the intimacy of the cruise that we enjoyed so much. And too the anticipation and fun we all had in watching the Louis Cristal cast off from Greece, with our daily accounts of her position in her inaugural voyage to the Caribbean will be missed for next season.

 

PS Aren't we lucky that this cruise package is in Canadian dollars...

Edited March 21, 2014 by ONT-CA

[retiring soon]

HI all!

 

Ron ~ yes I was surprised that there was more than one thread on TA & have no idea about a UK one. It will be a different experience for sure now that we know so much about the cruise.

 

I see next year is ready to be booked starting April 1 at a 20% discount. Would you book so far in advance or wait for other info? We never book our Feb. trip this far in advance so will wait. I'd like an all inclusive rate going to Havana this time.;)

 

Have a nice weekend, can you believe this weather?!

 

~ Jo ~ :)

[ONT-CA]

HI all!

Ron ~ yes I was surprised that there was more than one thread on TA & have no idea about a UK one. It will be a different experience for sure now that we know so much about the cruise.

I see next year is ready to be booked starting April 1 at a 20% discount. Would you book so far in advance or wait for other info? We never book our Feb. trip this far in advance so will wait. I'd like an all inclusive rate going to Havana this time.;)

Have a nice weekend, can you believe this weather?! ~ Jo ~ :)

 

Hi Jo

Well, considering the fact that we booked the Cristal last March for the following February sailing, yes, we will probably book early again this year. I trust we will not have to pay up in full at time of booking as we did back then. But as you know we wanted that SI suite and that was the surest way of getting them to commit to us. You might well understand then our keen interest in following the ship over from Greece for at that point we were not positively sure there was to be a cruise at all and here we had paid for it in full.

Here we are well into our fifth month of winter weather and not much sign of relief in sight. This was one of the worst for us even though the weatherman rationalizes historical data telling is that it wasn't all that bad. It was horrendous and I hope we don't see another one like it again in my lifetime. We are reluctant to make any travel plans that will take even one day of our summer from us.

[lang519893@gmail.com]

Check this weeks the Waterloo Region Record on line news paper travel section .

Large artical in travel section

[retiring soon]

HI all!

 

Ron ~ I didn't realize you'd booked so far ahead & paid too!! That would have been scary not knowing if the cruise would be a go. Good luck getting your suite again! Yes this has been a winter like I hope not to see again! I'm sitting here with my feet frozen & wishing I had them in some nice warm sand!

That reminds me next season the stop at the Island will be longer.

 

lang.... ~ welcome to Cruise Critic & thanks for that info. I'll check it out. Are you thinking of taking the cruise next year? A lot of us who did it this season liked it enough to do again next time.

 

Have a nice week! Let's hope for no snow & double digits temps ABOVE 0!

 

~ Jo ~ :)