US to reopen embassy in Havana

[dontworry]

DW and I did the Cuba Cruise last February.It was an incredible experience to once again see this beautiful Country and meet so many wonderful Cubans. The Ship itself is very different to any HAL ships and does take a bit of time to get familiar with the Ship. Many US citizens onboard and they by far the majority that we spoke to looked forward to the day when it was easier to travel there. There are many bad things about Cuba but there are also many fine accomplishments there as well.

[donaldsc]

We think that Cuba is one Caribbean island that we would not particularly want to visit only on cruise.

 

Why....so much to see, do, and experience. Six hours in Havana or a few hours on a beach such as Veradero would not do it for us. It is simply too short a time to enjoy the charms of the island.

 

Highly recommend a land based trip.

 

You are 100% right. Do a land trip. That is what we did.

 

DON

[Kamloops50]

I would do a land trip and spent most of my time in the resort playing golf or just sitting in the shade near the beach.

[sail7seas]

Why go to Cuba to play golf? You can play plenty of golf all over the southern states and Caribbean. :D

 

[wyobean]

We did an 11 day land tour. It was the most incredible experience we have ever had. The culture, the people, the customs, the beauty...the list goes on. While you could enjoy a nice tour in 6 hours you could not begin to understand the country, their way of life and their deep beliefs. This could be said about other islands/countries, but we found being in a communist country was totally different than any other place we have been.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[zerbot]

I believe the Cuban population doesn't have the freedom to CHOOSE what they want to do with the medical dilemmas. (ie. if the gov. decides it's best to give the HIV positive mother an abortion, it would do so WITHOUT THE FUTURE MOTHER'S AGREEMENT.

 

Gotta love that "I believe". Surely that makes it true.

[Kamloops50]

Cuba a very poor country. Some Carribean countries are better off. We did a walking tour of Havana. I surprised as to how many buildings were closed for repair.

[donaldsc]

Cuba a very poor country. Some Carribean countries are better off. We did a walking tour of Havana. I surprised as to how many buildings were closed for repair.

 

Totally true. However, all of the people everywhere (cities, towns, villages and country) were totally open and friendly to the people who are mainly responsible for their low standard of living. Can anyone say that about most of the other Caribbean countries?

 

BTW - did you see this report from the World Health Organization re Cuba -

 

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2015/mtct-hiv-cuba/en/

 

DON

[hattack]

Carnival Corporation introduces a new Division...Fathom....People to People Diplomacy might succeed where a 50+ year Political Embargo has not...Cuba badly needs to rebuild their infrastructure....Hurricane Katrina has become a living 10 year testimony in how every day folks (both individuals & groups) from across the world, volunteer their expertise, labor & love (as well as $$$$) in small increments of time (usually over a week) to help their fellow counterparts in New Orleans (regardless of race, creed or color) rebuild homes & communities....remember Carnival withdrew 3 Fantasy Class vessels from revenue service following Katrina to provide housing & support for 1st responders....if one remembers some of the postings on these boards were very critical of Carnival for doing this and "interrupting" their vacations.....the political climate was just as "toxic".....when Hurricane Sandy occured the political climate "changed"...we know how to rebuild a region in spite of our politicians

 

Using the concept of Fathom...the paradyms of a "cruise vacation" could be implemented as a conduit to accomplish more then brinkmanship and demands from some of our politicans posturing...."our common passions bring People together, more than our perceived differences keep us apart"...I would prefer to see this thread focus on the positives that People to People Diplomacy on a cruise to Cuba could accomplish and leave the "politics" out of it....for instance, it has amazed me how without authorized "Big 3" parts, how pre 1959 cars are still running in the streets of Havana,..I'm sure a cruise ship full of old car fans would love to spend 2-3 days on a cruise anchored in Havana Harbor, rubbing elbows in grease with their counterparts ...it's already happening with Jazz musicians....12-24 months of 1 or 2 Fathom cruise charters per month, filled with volunteers with specialized skills & expertise that are badly need to rebuilt Cuba is lagniappe...by then the "political noise" will die down and then we can post about regular sailings calling on Havana as a regular port of call

[Mikesa1721]

There are a couple of cruise lines that Canadians and Europeans can sail on.

 

For example:

 

http://montrealgazette.com/life/urban-expressions/travel-around-the-island-of-cuba-on-a-cruise-ship-with-canadian-spirit

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6434

 

Friday, 03-07-2015

MSC CRUISES TO INAUGURATE CUBA AS A DESTINATION IN DECEMBER 2015

Newly-renovated MSC Opera to homeport in Havana for Winter 2015-16 cruise season

 

Geneva, Switzerland, 3 July 2015 – MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately-owned global cruise line and the market leader in the Mediterranean and South America, announced today that, starting in December 2015, its 2,120-guest MSC Opera will homeport in Havana for the winter 2015-16 season to offer guests 16 Caribbean cruises of relaxation and discovery.

 

MSC Cruises will give cruise travellers from around the world a unique chance to get aboard the completely renovated 65,542 GRT MSC Opera, part of the Company’s €200 million Renaissance programme, and cruise to Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and Mexico with two nights and two and a half days in the Cuban capital.

 

Gianni Onorato, Chief Executive Officer of MSC Cruises, commented: “We are particularly proud to make this exciting new destination available to our guests. For this, I wish to personally thank all those who worked with us over these past several months to make it possible for MSC Cruises to launch Cuba as a destination to its guests. In particular, I wish to thank the Ministers of Transportation and Tourism of the Cuban Government and their representatives for their continued highly professional contribution.”

 

Mr. Onorato added: “The move to Cuba attests to our steadfast commitment to offer our experienced guests and holiday-makers the best and most sought-after destinations as they become accessible – thus further enhancing our global offering while providing travellers best-in-class experiences and service.”

 

“The inaugural cruise will take place in less than six months from now,” concluded Mr. Onorato, “but we can definitely attest of the strong demand for the product, due to the combination of the attractiveness of Cuba as a culture-rich destination, coupled with the fact that it is offered through our distinctive MSC Cruises experience.”

 

The seven-night cruises will be available to MSC Cruises travellers with a combination of packages. In particular, from Spain, Italy, France and Germany, as well as Canada, Brazil and Argentina these will include of fly and cruise combinations. The Company is also pleased to announce that the opening of the sales across all channels for cruises on MSC Opera will be on Thursday 9 July.

 

To offer local ground services and shore excursions MSC Cruises will partner with Cubanacan, the Cuba-based group created more than 20 years ago known for its experienced professionals and high quality of service.

 

The first cruise will start from Havana on 22 December 2015, following MSC Opera’s Grand Voyage to Cuba from Genoa, departing on 2 December 2015. To ensure that guests can enjoy and discover the capital city, the Grand Voyage will include a call in Havana on 18 December, and resume its itinerary in the region before heading back to Cuba for its final call of the journey on 22 December. On 12 April 2016, the ship will leave Havana for a Grand Voyage back to Europe, with Warnemünde (Germany) as its final destination, arriving on 7 May 2016.

 

Explore and unwind

 

During their two-and-a-half-day stay in Havana, MSC Opera’s guests can explore the city’s stunning old centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and discover its history, culture and architecture. No visit to Havana is complete without a stroll along the famous Malecón seafront promenade, where the island’s renowned laid-back lifestyle is in full effect.

 

The island of Cozumel, on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, offers some truly spectacular Mayan ruins, at Tulum. Travellers can snorkel with sea turtles and bathe in refreshing cavern waters, explore ancient Mayan caves or bask in the natural beauty of this island, which lies just off the coast of Quintana Roo.

 

In Montego Bay, on the north-western coast of Jamaica, guests can go white-water rafting in the Martha Brae River, tour an old plantation at the Good Hope Estate or learn about the mysteries of Rose Hall Great House – a fascinating colonial relic imbued with rumour and intrigue.

 

In Georgetown, the Cayman Islands, guests can snorkel in Stingray City, take a catamaran cruise to the coral reefs or just unwind on the pristine white Seven Mile Beach, on Grand Cayman’s western shore, famed for its gorgeous cobalt waters and coral sands.

 

MSC Opera’s Renaissance Programme

 

As part of the €5.1 billion investment plan announced in 2014, MSC Cruises had earmarked €200 million to fully renovate and modernize - through a cutting-edge full renovation project named “Renaissance programme” - four of its existing ships: MSC Armonia, MSC Sinfonia, MSC Lirica and now Havana-bound MSC Opera which is currently in dry-dock and expected to return to service early July 2015.

 

Other itinerary changes

 

In connection with the deployment to Cuba, MSC Opera’s original winter 2015-16 schedule in the Canary Islands, Madeira and Morocco has been cancelled.

Edited July 3, 2015 by Mikesa1721

[sail7seas]

Thanks for posting this.

I think MSC may have just gotten more popular/desirable. :)

 

[Kamloops50]

Thanks for posting this.

I think MSC may have just gotten more popular/desirable. :)

 

 

How are they going to get passengers to the ship without using an American port or airline?

[sail7seas]

Cars can drive to Canada?

[Kamloops50]

What about the southern states?

[hattack]

JetBlue announced JFK - Havana 5X per week charter service today....more cities with large Cuban populations will follow quickly

[sail7seas]

What about the southern states?

 

:) A long drive but many don't mind that.

 

If people want to do it, they will find a way.

Many Americans are going to Cuba now. Many are going legally and on special groups/missions and others are circumventing the law. My congregation offered a perfectly legal government approved trip to Havana a little while ago. Had the dates worked for my DH, we would have joined them.

 

[hattack]

Hmmmmm....did anyone on this thread read the online USA Today Travel Section article about the announcement from Carnival Corporation Fathom Division set to launch as early as April 2016....a private Jazz Charter will happen prior to Fathom's entrance

[freestyling]

Hmmmmm....did anyone on this thread read the online USA Today Travel Section article about the announcement from Carnival Corporation Fathom Division set to launch as early as April 2016....a private Jazz Charter will happen prior to Fathom's entrance

 

http://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/news-headlines/carnival-corp-gets-us-green-light-for-us-cuba-cruises.html