planning question

[FTLcruisers]

I have read through many of the threads and appreciate all who have posted about their experiences with private tours. Our ship will arrive at 1PM and then stay overnight, leaving the next day at 5PM. We haven't contacted any of the companies yet (our cruise is in January) but we already know we want to book one of the private vintage car tours on the 2nd day but then what can we do on the 1st day? The few ship tours available are pricey (we're on MSC) and really don't look that interesting. Any recommendations??

 

Marianne

[Stevanb]

Just look on the posts there are a lots of tour companies and what people have said about them We where just there last month used Blexie

[Magnetchief]

1st day, go ashore have dinner and find a bar to relax in.

[FTLcruisers]

1st day, go ashore have dinner and find a bar to relax in.

 

I didn't realize that was something we can do on our own (you can tell I have more research to do!)

 

Thanks

 

Marianne

[NBBaker]

Just got back, and am booked again for early next year. Just get off the ship and go explore. Hire an old car on the spot, or a taxi, if you need to go far. Good food, great beer. Loved it.

[FTLcruisers]

Just got back, and am booked again for early next year. Just get off the ship and go explore. Hire an old car on the spot, or a taxi, if you need to go far. Good food, great beer. Loved it.

 

Thanks!

[321allan]

Just got back. Would never go there again. Havana made me feel how much I love capitalism. City is crumbling. Oil sludge lapping up against the seawall near the terminal building. Diesel fumes everywhere on the streets from the classic cars that are mostly converted to asian or russian drivetrains. Had a couple nice meals there. City has alot of potential but it will take many, many years. They are not really set up for tourism at this point. $75 for a visa on RCI and a 10% penalty on exchanging USD. I would either stay on the ship in port or cancel altogether if you have travel insurance. Its that bad. I dont see what all the hype about this place is. If you think Nassau is bad, this place is horrible IMO.

[NBBaker]

Just got back. Would never go there again. Havana made me feel how much I love capitalism. City is crumbling. Oil sludge lapping up against the seawall near the terminal building. Diesel fumes everywhere on the streets from the classic cars that are mostly converted to asian or russian drivetrains. Had a couple nice meals there. City has alot of potential but it will take many, many years. They are not really set up for tourism at this point. $75 for a visa on RCI and a 10% penalty on exchanging USD. I would either stay on the ship in port or cancel altogether if you have travel insurance. Its that bad. I dont see what all the hype about this place is. If you think Nassau is bad, this place is horrible IMO.

You don't seem to know much about Havana or Cuba. And it appears you did little to no homework, based on your statements about exchange rates and penalties, the Cuban tourist industry, etc. Tourism has been continuing for decades and decades, and is one of the biggest drivers of their economy. It has only been US citizens that are the "new" visitors, having been permitted only in the last 3 years. Do yourself a favor and research. I'm headed back for my 2nd overnight cruise stop there; had an amazing experience there earlier this month, and looking forward to our return in March.

[Magnetchief]

We had a great time.

Yes it’s different, but has great history compared to most other islands in the Caribbean.

 

The people were very friendly, very little pushyness, only met 1 person asking for a hand out.

 

We researched beforehand on what to expect and where to visit.

 

Go in there blind and it may be overwhelming

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[321allan]

You don't seem to know much about Havana or Cuba. And it appears you did little to no homework, based on your statements about exchange rates and penalties, the Cuban tourist industry, etc. Tourism has been continuing for decades and decades, and is one of the biggest drivers of their economy. It has only been US citizens that are the "new" visitors, having been permitted only in the last 3 years. Do yourself a favor and research. I'm headed back for my 2nd overnight cruise stop there; had an amazing experience there earlier this month, and looking forward to our return in March.

We have a friend that has been there 20 or so times in the last 4 years. Used her cab driver for the 1st day. Very nice younger couple that took the 4 of us around to all the sites. We later went to one of their local places for dinner. Our friend said the cabbie has two 5 year olds. We took them down squirt guns, jump ropes, candy and a Sunday paper for the parents. They were happy.

 

As far as exchange rates, we had our cabbie call her money changer(they didnt know each other) and he agreed to meet us by the zoo, but he never showed up. She said he gave her .95 to the USD last time she went about 6 weeks ago. We had to settle for .87 from a hotel since it was getting late. Yes there is a 10% penalty on the USD compared to the CAD or Euro. We found that there is a language barrier there having been to Spain a few times. Just bc tourism has been there for decades and decades does not mean they do a good job of it. I dont think the Canadians and Europeans that have been going there with no travel restrictions stay in Havana. Place just screams of how bad Communism really is. There is no middle class or infrastructure and its FILTHY. They have truly run it into the ground. Maybe they will open up Venezuela to USA snowflake tourists soon. What an amazing experience that would be!

[FTLcruisers]

To me, even a "bad" experience in a port is a part of traveling that I enjoy since I'm learning about other countries/cultures. A few months ago, we spent a week in Paris and while we enjoyed what we did and saw, it's a city that I would not want to visit again. I would never label it a bad experience but I learned that what the city has to offer me is not really something I found enjoyable enough to go again. I certainly wouldn't encourage people not to go there though since travel experiences are different for everyone. We'll be in Havana for the first time in January and we're both so excited to see the city and learn more about it.

 

Marianne

[321allan]

If I had to do it all over again, I wouldnt spend alot of time in Havana on the streets in a taxi, it takes 1 1/2 hours to do the big red bus, one cycle, you see all the taxis lined up and they do not really let you off until its over, just maybe go straight to the highest 2 or 3 local restaurants on tripadvisor. RCI lets all the guided tour people get off 1st and its a bit of a wait to clear customs and immigration Time really flies so you have to keep a tight schedule if you do it on your own. Dont try to do too much.

 

Across from the cruise terminal, up past the church and to the left, there are some restaurants, bars, liquor and cigar shops(all the same govt price control), but we could not find the elusive coconut liquer. They have trike cycles taxis that we bargained for 3 or 4 pesos partially back and forth to the terminal.

 

We went here the 2nd nite, about 10 blocks up from the ship behind the church towards the capital. 15-20 min wait but well worth it.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g147271-d2477831-Reviews-El_Chanchullero_de_Tapas-Havana_Ciudad_de_la_Habana_Province_Cuba.html Best mojitos for $2.5. Spanish only menu, but some of the waitstaff speaks a little slow english if you are slow to them.

 

 

Dont bother with the flea market/warehouse bldg about 1500 ft west of the terminal. Every 5th stall has the same merchandise

 

We considered going to the waterfalls 45 min west of Havana, but the timing just didnt work out since the stay was 26 hrs. 2pm to 4pm on RCI. It might have worked out the 2nd morning, but alot of rain fell from Alberto and before. It might have even been closed, as we experienced a hurricane 3 yrs ago on NCL out of Honolulu on Maui.

 

The stay in Havana turned out to last 11 1/2 hrs more. We could not continue to Cozumel due to the storm so drift diving prob woulnt have worked.. The captain had to get out of Havana port so other ships, possibly the other 2 that were supposed to be in Cozumel could dock. We just did a couple triangles in intl waters n of Havana so that they could open up the atms and casino.

 

Only real r&rolling on the whole trip was turning into Tampa Bay for about 30 min.

 

Hope this helps.

Edited May 30, 2018 by 321allan