Havana Daydreamin

Is anyone else looking forward to port calls in Havana?:D

Is anyone else looking forward to port calls in Havana?:D

I feel sorry the people there seeing things that they could of never imagine seeing. Wish that they could do it as well.

I so hope we get to go to Cuba by cruise ship someday.

:)

I hope for you American as well, and if the US finally closes its embargo and let people travel to Cuba, there will be money as well coming into this country to help their economy.

I'm fortunatly from Europe and could visit this amazing country some years back. And as it is such a big island there could even be more then one port-of-call. I could imagine that at least Santiago could be an interesting port as well.

I hope for you American as well, and if the US finally closes its embargo and let people travel to Cuba, there will be money as well coming into this country to help their economy.

 

I'm fortunatly from Europe and could visit this amazing country some years back. And as it is such a big island there could even be more then one port-of-call. I could imagine that at least Santiago could be an interesting port as well.

I'm sure that all the US-based cruise lines and many travelers are salivating over the idea.

Bypassing this huge island makes no sense from an itinerary point of view. Without Cuba the only options a day's sail from Florida are a) another trip to the pleasant but bland Bahamas or b) another "fun day at sea". Cuba is much more interesting culturally and geographically than either of those options.

Once it opens up, not only will 7-day cruises be easier to route for the cruiselines as well as more interesting for the passengers, but shorter itineraries will also be possible.

Vendors in the pleasant but bland Bahamas might be the only ones not looking forward to it.

It has always been very interesting seeing how Americans are able to travel to Iran and North Korea and not to Cuba. Of course we all want democracy to be there as soon as possible and nobody who is not insane supports the regimen, but fifty years of Embargo hasn't played any positive role. On the contrary, it has made Castro to find excuses and blame the others for the miserable situation. Half of Cuban population are of Spanish origen, and was the main destination for emigration in the beginning of the century. So, we are affected in a way, because we all know how terrible is life there for relatives we still have.

I don't want to get involved in any politican issue, but holidays in Cuba has always been something common for us and despite the island looks like a time tunnel, in a vintage socialist theme park, the island is full of colonial wonders, awesome beaches, impressive landscape. People are friendly, and it's 100% safe. Nobody attacks you anywhere in the island.

I hope restrictions release and cruise companies come back to Havana. Pullmantur had a base there and cruises were really popular even for Americans. Now as part of RCCL no more pullmantur there. But I foresee the Monarch or Majesty again there.

Americans are able to travel to so many countries in the world that are not democracies and nothing is thought of it, so one would have to assume this doesn't really have anything to do with Cuba not being democratic. I gather this is a complex issue that has more to do with politics in the US as opposed to anything Cuba is actually doing or not doing. Anyway good to see that the President, at least, is willing to just move on.

Cruisers along with the industry itself are really losing out by not being free to dock in Cuba. We have been there three times to different parts of the island and all of Havana, Santiago de Cuba and Trinidad de Cuba would be amazing ports of call- in a whole other realm from the usual Caribbean ports. Let's hope something changes sooner rather than later.

Americans are able to travel to so many countries in the world that are not democracies and nothing is thought of it, so one would have to assume this doesn't really have anything to do with Cuba not being democratic. I gather this is a complex issue that has more to do with politics in the US as opposed to anything Cuba is actually doing or not doing. Anyway good to see that the President, at least, is willing to just move on.

I'd say the embargo is primarily about "electoral college" and "swing state". As a previous poster stated, it has had no influence on the Castro brothers except to allow them to use the embargo as a scapegoat for their own mismanagement. So it's 1) helped the people it was supposed to hurt, i.e. the dictators, and 2) hurt everyone else, including U.S. businesses and citizens.

The President is able to take this action because he doesn't have to run for office again. The next president, regardless of party, will not make any bold strokes in his/her first term. (Although when both Castros die things will probably loosen up).

When Cuba does open up it won't stay unspoiled for long. When those Yankee dollars flow in they bring not only democracy but materialism, overdevelopment, and drugs. So be the first ones off the boat.

Is anyone else looking forward to port calls in Havana?

Interesting discussion and dreaming here on this thread. Below are some of my visuals on Cuba from visiting there in March 2011. It was a totally amazing visit with so much history, charm, music, etc. there in Havana, plus seeing the western nature and eastern areas that we got to see and explore. Saw the area where the Bay of Pigs invasion happened (not a great pick on location from a military standpoint). Also saw the Varadero coastal resort areas with their many hotels that attract many from Europe and Canada.

Cruise ship visits to Cuba?: It will happen in the future, but there is so much there, including during the evenings, that just a one day, 8 am to 6 pm, as a normal cruise stop, will not do these many opportunities proper "justice". As a student of history and architecture, there is so much to experience in Cuba. I can share lots of the "politics" of Cuba, but this is not the right, best location for those discussions and debates.

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Enjoyed a 14-day Celebrity Solstice, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Sydney to Auckland adventure, getting a big sampling for the wonders of "down under” before and after this cruise. Go to:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1974139

for more info and pictures of these amazing sights in this great part of the world. Now at 89,212 views for this posting.

So much of Havana is about the historic architecture, charm and character contained in the many part of this town that was the pivotal center of the Spanish empire in the "New World". Second is the Hotel Nacional de Cuba designed by the famed New York architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White. It opened in 1930. Many, many famous folks stayed here, including meetings of mob/mafia people as shown in the Godfather film. This hotel had been restored in 2001 when we visited there.:

One of the amazing highlights for being in Havana is going to see the outdoor entertainment program at the Tropicana. With about 200 entertainers, the cast is huge and very talented. Here is one of my photo examples from this spectacular music, dancing and singing program.:

Lots of outdoor "activities" can be seen in Havana, including these performers on the streets.:

We visited a cigar manufacturing location in Havana. Most interesting? The workers were paid based on both the quality and quantity of their daily production!! Sound very capitalistic?:

About seven miles outside of Havana, we visited Ernest Hemingway's home in Cuba. Called Finca Vigía (Spanish for Lookout Farm), it was his home from 1939 to 1960. It is now a museum and looks just as when he lived and wrote there. Nearby was the seaside village that ties in with the basis for his book "The Old Man and the Sea".:

You can visit Cuba by cruise ship now, the Louis Cristal makes a seven day cruise around Cuba, with boarding at Montego Bay or Havana. For information see: yourcubacruise.com

Absolutely you can do Cuba by cruise now but the season is very limited. My Cuba Cruise, a Canadian company, books the Louis Cristal from mid December to late in March for 7 day circumnavigation of Cuba. We did it last year and it was wonderful. There is general CC roll call which was active last year and is active this year. You can start your cruise in Montego Bay or Havana. There is 1 sea day. Ports include Antilla (in the Holguin vicinity, Santiago de Cuba, Trinidad de Cuba (from which you can take a tour to Cienfuegos, and the Isle of Youth. The last is one of the best, most beautiful beach days you can imagine. The three previous to that are all World Heritage sites and absolutely rich with culture, architecture, music and nice people. the first, Holguin area gives a completely different sense of the agriculture and countryside....or you can go to a beach. The website is: http://www.yourcubacruise.com/yourtrip.aspx I believe there are also a couple of other cruiseships that stop at Havanna as one port on a Caribbean cruise...perhaps Thompson cruises. We know that others will jump on at least Havana, given the opportunity and it will be an excellent addition to the Caribbean market. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat!

Janet

There are some british ships calling sometimes. Variety Cruises and a couple of other options

There are some british ships calling sometimes. Variety Cruises and a couple of other options

It is just cruise lines that do not make stops at any US ports. If the line makes ports of call in Cuba, then they are not allowed to make any US ports of call.