My Cuba Cruise

[wu687]

It is interesting to note that the port tax for Montego Bay is $173 per person, while Havana with the air the port tax is $590 per person.

Edited September 16, 2014 by wu687

[retiring soon]

Hi all!

 

wu687 ~ wow, that's quite a difference!:eek: Going from Havana I believe they

also had to pay the exit visa amount twice if I remember correctly.

 

I liked the ease of boarding in Montego Bay, just 2 people walking on the ship, very strange!! This time we're not staying the night before as I don't really like the vibe there & have seen what I wanted to see.:o

 

Getting close to 5 months away for us & I'm really looking forward to doing it again.

 

Have a nice day.

 

~ Jo ~ :)

[ONT-CA]

Hi all!...

Going from Havana I believe they also had to pay the exit visa amount twice if I remember correctly... ~ Jo ~ :)

 

Jo, from what I read, the entry visa fee is included in the AirTransat deal so that's further savings. So that will take it down to one extra when the Havana passengers reembark at Cienfuegos. I wish I better understood the tax part of the stated fares if only to be versed when asked about this package, for our's is a done deal and there is no looking back now.

[ONT-CA]

For we repeat Cuba Cruisers, I would like to mention that we had maintained email communication with one of the crew members who gave such wonderful friendly service at Happy Hour's 2-4-1 each evening. If you remember her by name, Dianelys was not sure back then if she would be returning this season but has now advised us that she will be aboard and on duty once again. We look forward to reacquainting ourselves with our crew for they are a most friendly and fun group.

[wu687]

Interesting to note that you can fly to Montego Bay on American Airlines in mid- january, return from Toronto for $882 for two people and take Cuba cruise in Deluxe Outside Stateroom (XE) for total cost of $2818 CND, cost with AirTransit and same cabin $2882.

[retiring soon]

HI all!

 

I was reading the Sat. Toronto Star Travel section today & saw an almost 1/2 page ad from Merit vacations for our Cuba cruise. It was roundtrip Havana from Toronto & included prepaid gratuities, return air & all taxes, $100 OBC per dbl occupancy, & of course all meals & snacks for $1386 inside 1A or $1502 OV XA from Jan 5 - 26.

 

I'll have to see what we paid for it but I can't see making a change as I have the category & almost the location I wanted with my little drink package.

 

Repeat after me "no 2 4 1 deals, please"!;)

 

burm ~ are you enjoying the "Havana nights"? Is it worth buying?

 

~ Jo ~ :)

[ONT-CA]

Interesting to note that you can fly to Montego Bay on American Airlines in mid- january, return from Toronto for $882 for two people and take Cuba cruise in Deluxe Outside Stateroom (XE) for total cost of $2818 CND, cost with AirTransit and same cabin $2882.

 

This all-inclusive approach to the CubaCruise is going to get even more confusing now and especially when I read Jo's input re:Merit. I know that with the AirTransat offer one would have to take into consideration the land transfers and the Cuba Visa payment costs which are included in their price. But no matter how we look at it there is going to be a lot more passengers aboard the Cristal this coming season than there were last. That has both positive and negative connotations.

[ONT-CA]

HI all! ... Repeat after me "no 2 4 1 deals, please"!;)

burm ~ are you enjoying the "Havana nights"? Is it worth buying? ~ Jo ~ :)

 

Jo, I don't think there will be any further 2-4-1 offers (other than for Happy Hour) with these deals now being offered. But they represent availability for January which is not the best of months. You and we have February which is prime and you can bet that the March Break crowds will soon get wind of all this.

 

The one point and a very important point I might add is that your departure from Jamaica gives you a full day in Havana. All package cruise/flights go directly to the ship limiting what little time there is before sailing to see the city. And Havana is the Crown Jewel. So let's count our blessings for as I have said; A berth in the hand is worth two in the rush...

 

BTW....Just what are Havana Nights?

[wu687]

Interesting to note that you can fly to Montego Bay on American Airlines in mid- january, return from Toronto for $882 for two people and take Cuba cruise in Deluxe Outside Stateroom (XE) for total cost of $2818 CND, cost with AirTransit and same cabin $2882.

 

The Air Transit is a flight to Hanana.

[burm]

Havana Nights is a savoury snack mix sold at the Bulk Barn. I thought it was very nice but DH has to pick out the hard corn things. They are real tooth breakers.

[retiring soon]

HI all!

 

burm ~ I'll have to take a close look at that mixture as dental expenses are a big fear of mine.:o

 

Ron ~ good points & nicely put!;) I do need that full day in Havana as I have plans to do the walking tour at night & if I were just flying in same day would probably be too tired to do it. I am a bit worried about flying in same day but heck we have more good days in winter than snow days!!

 

Nice to hear that your friend Dianelys is returning, it'll be interesting to see how many of the crew do come back. You'll be finding that out in the not too distant future!!

 

Have a nice day.

 

~ Jo ~ :)

[retiring soon]

HI all!

 

burm ~ DH & I went to Belleville today & to Bulk Barn but alas they were out of Havana Nights.:( I'll try another time as it sounds intriguing.

 

Starting to get cool here which makes me think of warmer places which we'll all soon see.

 

~ Jo ~ :)

[zebraprintsky]

HI everyone.

 

I came across this page while I was googling info on the cruise and over the past two days, I have read all 50 pages of this thread!

 

A bit of history on me, late 20 something, never been on a cruise, recently married, love to travel.

 

I read about this cruise last year, but never got the chance to take it and was excited that it was offered again this year and now I get the chance to take it!

 

I just booked yesterday for Jan 9-16 as a christmas gift for my husband. He is jamaican, and I am canadian and we are currently in the process of his immigration to Canada. I have never been to cuba, and all he talks about is wanting to go on a cruise, so I figured this would be a good way to make us both happy, and would be a nice change from the beaches of Jamaica, considering we have stayed and seen everything over my last 3 years of visits down there.

 

We will be in an XBO room on deck 6 (which is what my budget allowed) and I figure I will book either an excursion thru the boat, or independently at every port, as I want to see as much as we can during the week ! Our booking came with a drink package (2 cocktails, 2 bottles of water, 2 coffees, 2 soft drinks etc per day) which I figured is fine as we wont be on the ship while it is in ports.

 

I am SOOOO excited, I haven't and wont be telling the husband about it until I get there on December 28th, so he is seriously going to freak out !

 

I feel like we are going to be young compared to a lot of people on this ship, so I am a tad worried we are not going to find many people to hang out with in the evenings?

 

I am also open to any tips, hints etc to make the most out of this trip ! He has been to cuba once for an all inclusive, and I have never been. and contrary to what everyone has been saying, we may be biased, but we love Jamaica... Montego Bay isn't a true representation of how amazing and gorgeous Jamaica and its people actually are! We will be departing from Montego Bay, as I will be getting there on December 28th and spending New Years there before we head off on the cruise.

 

 

- Jenny

[Liz54]

Our booking is Jan 26 and final payment is now due! Very early compared to Princess. A moment's pain, but now its done, so really excited....

[retiring soon]

HI all!

 

Jenny ~ welcome to the thread & Cruise Critic!:D Sounds like you made a good compromise that will lead to a holiday you'll both enjoy! Wow reading the whole thread is amazing, bet you learned a lot about the cruise!

Some of us liked it so much we're going again. Sure hope you can keep the secret, I know I'd have a hard time doing so.:o

 

Liz54 ~ wow that does seem early for final payment! Nice thing to get out of the way though.

 

Enjoy the day, sunny one here.

 

~ Jo ~ :)

[zebraprintsky]

Thanks for the welcome !

 

I think its going to be a good fit for us, and now I am just looking into the best way to go about the excursions as I know I want to see as much as I can, The hubby will just follow wherever I go and be pumped to be on a boat, so the exploring is more for me.

 

I have never been to Cuba at all so I have no idea where to start?

 

Also, when you go to the port to board, is it security like at an airport? or how does that even work?

SO EXCITED!

 

My final payments arn't due until the end of November, and I wont even be telling the hubby about it till a week before we leave so I feel like its going to go by so slow!

[ONT-CA]

I can only speak for boarding at Havana so perhaps Jo will ad a comment regarding boarding at MB. Having sailed so often and with so many lines I was dumbfounded when we entered the terminal to board the Cristal. A simple check of our papers followed by obtaining our key card and a walk through a metal detector and that was it. There was just the two of us at that moment as boarding is done upon arrival. We were then joined by a delightful hostess and personally escorted right to our cabin. In all our cruising that was a first for us.

[ONT-CA]

Jenny, you are bound to be razzed about this (as we all were at first) but it is a cabin, not a room and it is a ship, not a boat. :D

Edited September 25, 2014 by ONT-CA

[ONT-CA]

Ballon Man, when you first posted this thread did you ever think that there would be a thousand postings and over 70,000 hits? Amazing.

[zebraprintsky]

haha!

 

thanks !! I guess I am going to have to get up on my cruise ship lingo!

If anyone is on the same cruise as us, I am sure you will find the two of us (blonde girl and tall jamaican dude) running around the boat taking everything in. Its actually the first time the two of us will be leaving the island together so thats just exciting in itself.

[retiring soon]

Hi all!

 

Jenny ~ DH & I did embark at Montego Bay & don't remember too much about security. I know we had to show a lady in a booth outside the terminal our passports & boarding pass but don't remember anything inside.

When we disembarked there seemed to be more to it as apparently some kind of fee is involved if your stay in Jamaica is more than a certain number of hours.

It sure was different getting off the ship in the terminal with so many people but getting on there was just us 2 at the time.

 

Ron ~ it is nice to have someone show you to your cabin. I can remember that happening a long time ago on Chandris Fantasy Cruiseline which later became Celebrity.

 

Have a nice weekend. My the weather's beautiful since Fall began!

 

~ Jo ~ :)

[zebraprintsky]

Thanks for the info!

 

I travel to Jamaica on a pretty often basis since the Hubby lives there, I actually just got back from 2 1/2 weeks there not long ago! In all the times I have been there I don't even know where the port is in MoBay. I have seen the one in Falmouth and the one in Ochi, but thats it.

 

I will be in Jamaica for almost 2 weeks before we head out on the cruise, as I will be there for New Years, but then I am going to fly out that night when the ship gets back into port as I can get an 8pm flight out that evening.

 

I have read about something called a ship account? like things being charged to it during the cruise... ? What is this? LOL. I am so not up on anything, I am such a newbie!!

 

thanks again everyone!

[p598738]

Just that. Anyone on the same trip ? I did as much homework as I could do and bought it. We have cruised the Caribbean many many times and were looking for something different. I think we found it. It would be great fun to chat about the cruise and hookup with anyone on the same cruise. Thanks. Email or post.

[burm]

Just that. Anyone on the same trip ? I did as much homework as I could do and bought it. We have cruised the Caribbean many many times and were looking for something different. I think we found it. It would be great fun to chat about the cruise and hookup with anyone on the same cruise. Thanks. Email or post.

 

We'll be with you for your first 3 days.

[ONT-CA]

We'll be with you for your first 3 days.

 

And then we will occupy burn's cabin for the following two weeks (if they can convince them to leave it....:)) There are others on this board who will be aboard and a great meeting place is the Rendez Vous Lounge, Deck 8 for Happy Hour.