HAL- Cuba & Eastern Caribbean

[Rickster50]

We are travelling to the Eastern Caribbean later this year and were wondering whether anybody here has done the Holland America Tour "Best of Havana". 

The ratings given look impressive so I was wondering whether the local tours compare. I hear Blexie tours are right up there.

 

Cheers

Rick

[jsmac3]

We were on the November 19th Veendam cruise to Cuba and took the "Best of Havana" tour.  We enjoyed the tour and thought it was a good value.  It is advertised as an eight hour tour but became a ten hour tour because the Cubans only allowed five buses at a time to load at the cruise terminal.  So we waited nearly two hours in the theater to be called.  Everything on the tour can probably be seen in 4-5 hours using one of the classical car tours or a private tour company. 

[Loreto]

We took the Best of Havana excursion last March and found it to be a very comprehensive tour.  We had a very good guide who was open to answering all question, and would also do so privately if requested.  It was a good overview and in the evening we walked back to the old city, which is not far from the ship.

 

I think a private tour would be a good option as well.  Take dollar bills for tips....guides readily accepted them, even though we were told to use the CUC.   Getting small change was difficult.  I asked for small bills at the currency change window and was given a handful of large bills by the frosty exchange woman.  

 

Enjoy Havana, it is a fantastic city!

Karen