has been

Your photography is gorgeous ! Thanks for sharing it!

THANKS - IT'S THE CAMERA...BUT IF YOU ONLY LOOKED AT THE CUBA ONES YOU MIGHT LIKE THE REST OF THE BLOGO.

GO TO THE TABLE OF CONTENTS http://hasbeen.travellerspoint.com/toc/

& SCROLL DOWN TO 2005 & FROM THERE ONWARDS THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PHOTOS.

MY FAVOURITE IS THE SAFARI http://hasbeen.travellerspoint.com/8/

STEVE

..... I have one more - what were the electrical outlets like in the Iberostar Parque Central? I know they are 220V but are they round prong? with 2 prongs or do they also have a grounding prong? ..

 

....

Hmmmm! Did I recharge my camera battery or not? I think I may have done, in which case, it is the two flat prongs we use in Canada, no earth.

Cayo Blanco was definitely down to Star Clippers not Cuba. No one could have been there to reccee the place. Their description is of another island.

Grounding in Casilda harbour - my feeling this was not Cuba either. Poor planning and or bad seamanship.

Grounding outside Casilda - we were in a marked channel with a Cuban pilot on board so I would say that is down to the Cubans. But again no reccee & we did manage to get in in the first place.

Not going through the Archeapelego - Again not Cuba.

Just my thoughts. We did have an ex uk ships pilot on board & he was non- comital on fault to me.

ps - I find it helpful when posters add their location to their profile.

...... I e-mailed Star Clipper in Monaco for confirmation that they would stick to Cuba as per itinerary.

 

..... They admit to difficulties on the first cruise, but have a new landing point in Casilda, and this weeks cruise is going according to plan with everyone happy!

 

.....

Did they mention what they will do at Cayo Blanco?

Here's my blogo of the star flyer trip & a small taster for you.

http://hasbeen.travellerspoint.com/227/

http://hasbeen.travellerspoint.com/228/

.....

By the way, I have a couple of questions:

 

What time was dinner on the day of embarkation?

 

Around 7:00 pm if memory serves. Not enough tine between getting on board, dinner & sailing to get off and see Cien Fuegos.

 

When you did manage to get off the ship, did they use zodiacs or tenders?

 

Casilda = just walked off.

Cayo Largo = most by tender but a few tail enders by Zodiac. We were not allowed back by Zodiac.

Grand cayman = walked off.

 

Did you happen to notice if there were taxis by the port in Caslida?

 

Yes there were but whether that can be relied upon I do not know.

 

How was the Iberostar Parque Central in Havana? We are also staying there.

 

Great but not if you do not like smoke. Room was clean, comfortable & quiet.

 

Ask the concierge if the Water ballet will be performed while you are there. Excellent & free - not even a hat passed round.

 

Great music in the colonial side

 

A note - I asked at the airport info desk the taxi fare to Parque Central = 25.00 Cuc. I neglected to confirm that with the driver & he charged me 40 Cuc. He would have got 30 so the extra ten was not worth arguing over.

 

Would you recommend any restaurants in Havana?

 

I only ate snacks outside the hotel. The hotel chicken was terrible. Their beef sandwich was good but too expensive. Their Breakfast was very good.

My flight to Toronto was too early for breakfast, or so I thought. Check when they can give you breakfast.

 

A rum costs about 5 Cuc. About the same as a bottle in a supermarket.

 

We were hoping to do some snorkeling and planning on packing our own equipment - not sure if we will need it now although I have read there is some snorkeling in Caslida.

 

The ship provides snorkelling stuff.

 

....

steve

Booked January 2015 on this cruise. Now really worried. Have paid a deposit so it won t be easy if we decide to cancel. Anyone else got views on this cruise?

 

We did not expect Cuba to be smart and touristy, that's why we want to see it now. However don't want to pay for a cruise to nowhere as well.

When I booked this cruise I was blinkered to everything except the sailing ship. I did not even register that fact that two stops were not even in Cuba at all, but in the Cayman Islands. I did expect some shore time in Cien Fuegos but only stopped in a square for 5 minutes. An earlier transfer from Havana. 9 instead of 12 noon would have helped but I do not know what I would have done with my luggage while walking around.

Also bear in mind that, cayo Largo for instance, they said we would be there til 10 at night but did not mention we had to be on board before dark.

So - if you take away all the bad stuff on the cruise, there is not much of Cuba in it. Casilda for Trinidad & two beaches. I am sure SC will substitute something for the the Cayo Blanco but guess it will be more beach stuff.

Personally, I do not think it is the right cruise for seeing Cuba, but a nice excuse all the same. The little I saw of it Cuba, was definitely not smart & outside the tourist resorts & Havana, not touristy. More locals travel by horse drawn vehicles, than any where else I have been. I expected a few old American cars for the tourists but they area all over the place. A local told me Havana is a museum. I doubt it will become smart & touristy any time soon, even if the Americans turn up. They already have Puerto Rico & I don't consider it either of those.

If I were to return I would consider a homestay. Not so much for their cheapness but to get close to Cuba.

I hope all this does not put you off going to Cuba - they could do with some of your cash. About 20 dollars a month is what a teacher told me she makes.

Just back from an 'interesting' cruise on the Star Flyer - 16 - 23 Feb.

 

d.

 

"& so back to shore & the fairly easy disemabarkation & the drive back to Havana. "

 

Hasbeen you were lucky to get away! 24 of us were stranded for a further 4 and a half hours at Cienfuegos port as our taxis did not show up. The Virgin rep organised a coach which took some doing.

 

I wonder how many repeat passengers they will get from this cruise & I want to hear what people say about the cruise after ours too. Can it possibly be any worse.

Hello

I think that must be Cayo Blanco on the north of Cuba, near Varadero, whereas, according to my camera's GPS, we were indeed near Cayo Blanco off the south coast.

An easy mistake for Star Cllppers head office to make, isn't it. No reply needed.

Just back from an 'interesting' cruise on the Star Flyer - 16 - 23 Feb.

The ride across Cuba was not what I expected as it is almost completely flat, but it is interesting to me to see anyway. We made a five minute stop in Cien Fuegos before the close to hour long embarkation process. Good job it was not raining.

First stop was Cayo Blanco - billed as an idyllic, white sand island, we did not get ashore. I heard that it was too shallow to land, others heard it was too rocky. From the ship, It did not look too scenic to me. Some people circumnavigated the island & went snorkelling & one fish sighting was reported. As in - only one fish. Some swam to a float bed a little way from the ship.

Next stop was Casilda where we grounded trying to dock & had to go back out to sea to turn around to make a second attempt which was successful. Many made the excursion into Trinidad with mixed reports. I walked into the small town of Casilda & had a hard time spending 50 cents for two coffees and a juice. A no alcohol, Bucanneero beer was tasty at 2 Cuc.

Half hour or so after leaving Casilda we grounded again on a sand bar & had a 19 hour wait for a tug to get us off. Divers went down to ensure there was no dangerous damage to the ship. The pilot was said to be in tears.

We skipped Cayman Brac & headed to Grand Cayman where we tied up right downtown while the other 5 cruise ships had to tender ashore. It was a bit crowded.

Next up was Cayo Largo, also billed as an idyllic, white sand island & it is. Lovely, strangely cool sand. Impossibly blue water. The 50 minute ride to the island was no fun but it was only 30 minutes to get back. Allowing two hours at the island.

The scheduled cruise though an archipelago was canceled, as was water activity but the mast climbing went ahead.

& so back to shore & the fairly easy disemabarkation & the drive back to Havana. Cien Fuegos looked like a nice place to spend some time but we sped right through.

It sounds like a bit of a nightmare & a lot of people were very upset. Organisation & communication were certainly lacking but I quite enjoyed myself as I had no great expectations in the first place.

However, I was disappointed in that we never sailed solely with sails & I never got to see all the sails set.

Food was 99% excellent but the evening meal was so noisy & I could not hear anything said two people over. Lunch was much quieter & more enjoyable

My cabin was right aft & incredibly noisy. It did feel very nautical being a bunk bed but without the lower bed. I could touch the ceiling & the fan was only 2 feet from my face. It could be turned down but not off. Any more than seven days would not have been tolerable - but at $400 a night!! & they expect tips on top of that.

The ship felt very crowded, with too many plastic sun lounges but not enough for the people who insist in reserving them for hours while they are not using them. Some even went to the extreme of taking two, one in the sun & one in the shade.

For 400 dollars canadian per day I expect to at least get a sun lounger when I want one.

and only half a day ashore in Cuba, plus a few hours makes the 'Cuba' part of the itinerary meaningless.

It was not a true sailing experience for me & as that was what I wanted I would not do it again but Cuba based on the 2 days that I saw in Havana would make it worth another visit.

Some sails were often up but for show.

Maybe they can iron out some of the kinks before doing that itinerary again & I wish everyone well who are going to do that. They must do something right, sometimes, as the repeat passengers were in the majority but i guess they were not in cabin 139. A good thing too as it would have been standing room only.

I leave home on Friday to the Iberostar Parque Central hotel, Havana which was supposed to be the pick-up hotel for the cruise. That's changed - Going to have to make my way to the Melia Cohiba Hotel for pick-up now.

Steve

.... - they seem to be partnering with virgin so in effe t we are dealing with 2 agents when you factor in our travel agent.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

I am also using a travel agent to get to Exclusive tours to get to star clippers/

You are in the UK I am in Canada, where is CKCRUISE.

Pehaps location has something to do with the delay. As does the little fanny pack that came with my documents. It was all couriered to my agent.

Steve

Anyone know how to go about booking excursions for this cruise?? Or do you do that once on board?? Thanks for the help.

Try contacting whoever you booked with.

I am going to wait til I am on board & see what the weather looks like.

Steve

Got mine today. They were sent to my travel agent yesterday.

Came with a tiny back-pack.

Steve

Hi,

For the 16th feb 2014 cruise. Did anyone find anything else to do ashore apart from the Ships excursions?

I have not found too much.

The Cayman Islands National Trust has a few things to do

http://www.nationaltrust.org.ky/index.php/what-we-do/tours-venues

And the Booby Pond on Little Cayman http://www.nationaltrust.org.ky/index.php/info-sheets/booby-pond-nature-reserve sounds very interesting, but I cannot make my mind up as to whether we actually visit there or Cayman Brac or if they are one & the same even.

I met a lady on a cruise who took her printer along with her & she showed me photos of some beautiful Blue Footed Boobies she had recently taken in the Galapagos. I remarked about this to her cousin later & said that I barely knew this lady, & here she is, showing me her Boobies - & they are Blue to boot! Must be chilly on the Galapagos.

I usually take cruises for the destinations, but this time it is definitely the ship that is the attraction. I have been on a Clipper before but it was in dry dock at Greenwich - the Cutty Sark. You all might be more familiar with the Whiskey.

Cuba in February does have a certain appeal though.

Steve

We have been in forward cabins twice on Minerva () and they are fine.

Jean

Hi parapara,

Thanks for that, I feel a little more comfortable.

I wonder they get any return passengers from the affected cabins if the noise in the aft is that bad.

Steve

They do have a recommended reading list though. Without reading back to what your itinerary is - tell me and I can see if I already have that recommended list.

Hi,

Athens to Istanbul & Istanbul to Istanbul round the Black Sea. Heres the full itinerary.

http://us.voyagestoantiquity.com/cruises/grand-voyage-to-the-aegean-black-sea-505/cruise-features.html?date=2014-09-22

And no need to mention " How Carrots won the Trojan War", I Have that on the go right now.

Thanks

steve

Ha ha, and what are you thinking now about that snow?

Apparently the Innuit have many words for snow. I have two. I leave you work out what they might be. Suffice to say, when February rolls around, Cuba will be very inviting.

Steve

Hello,

I had not thought of using books to enhance the lecture experience in that manner. That's a good move on your part.

Thanks - Steve

 

I've also found copies of all of the recommended reading material they send you on a pre-cruise book list.

 

Shar

Are there any organised discussions about the recommended books or is it just left to the passengers. Any idea how long in advance they make their recommendations? Do they recommend fiction or is it all factual?

Steve

I like the system because I am often "LAGGIN A LITTLE BEHIND" the group, taking photos.

Yes - Lagging can be a problem. It's amazing how quick a group can get away if you are not paying attention. An excursion I was with in Rome did a great job of avoiding that. We had a tour guide with us from the ship to Rome & then a specialist Rome guide going round the city.The first tour guide did not disappear as had happened on other tours. She stayed at the back & the specialist was at the front. They both had little sticks in the air so you could see where the front & back of the group was & it was easy to stay between the two. Like being herded by a sheep dog. A very comfortable way to do it. The Rome guides stick had a sunflower on top & I accidentaly got it in a photo in the Vatican. After that I tried to get it in more shots. It felt funny at the time!

Steve

I see on V2A website that they issue headphones for commentaries on the excursions. Is it a recording or are you hearing the guide? Is it clear? Does it cut you off from the "outside"? What are your opinions?

Steve

It was apt anyway - I am on a Minerva cruise too, January 2015

Steve

Hello,

The more I hear, the more I like it but September is an awful long way off. Good thing I have some things to do in the meantime.

Cannot think of anything else I would like to know. Thanks to everyone who responded.

Steve

Hello,

I will be on the Minerva that starts in Hong Kong on 24th Jan 2015 & ends in Singapore on 14th Feb 2015.

All this chat about noise onboard is disturbing & not something I expect to hear about a ship that seems to pride itself. Luckily I have a forward cabin. Any comments on those?

This trip includes Manila & Bohol in the Philippines. Bohol has been hit particularly hard with an earthquake, & now the hurricane. I know my trip is a long way off but I hope we don't skip Bohol. They will still need some cash by then & I hope the tourist dollar will help a little.

Steve

Very good.

More questions ( since I am getting such good answers, I should keep going ).

Is there a deck that you can walk all the way around the ship? I can't tell from what I see on-line.

Is the library as good as it's reputation?

I dislike wearing jacket & tie. Would I feel uncomfortable going to diner in a nice shirt instead? Maybe the tie but no jacket?

I find slipovers an ideal item of clothing to wear on ships. Not too hot, a bit of warmth for the A/C & can be quite dressy.

Steve