Havana Walking Tour October 7, 2017

[Maine76]

My wife and I are going on the Carnival Paradise to Havana sailing October 5, 2017. We plan on taking the 10 Best Tour on the 6th but are going to do a walking tour on the morning of the 7th for about 3 hours as the ship sails at noon. What's the best places for such a short time? All this depends on Havana getting back to somewhat normal (as normal can be) by our sailing date. Right now the US government is discouraging travel to Cuba and cruise ships have cancelled or changed itineraries. Which brings up a question whether or not the cruise lines can force you to go to a different destination rather then issue a refund. I say it's a breach of contract to go somewhere else.

[Kamloops50]

My wife and I are going on the Carnival Paradise to Havana sailing October 5, 2017. We plan on taking the 10 Best Tour on the 6th but are going to do a walking tour on the morning of the 7th for about 3 hours as the ship sails at noon. What's the best places for such a short time? All this depends on Havana getting back to somewhat normal (as normal can be) by our sailing date. Right now the US government is discouraging travel to Cuba and cruise ships have cancelled or changed itineraries. Which brings up a question whether or not the cruise lines can force you to go to a different destination rather then issue a refund. I say it's a breach of contract to go somewhere else.

 

The contract you agreed to gives them the right to change or miss ports for the security of the passengers and ship. No refund Sorry.

[Maine76]

The contract you agreed to gives them the right to change or miss ports for the security of the passengers and ship. No refund Sorry.

Are you an attorney employed by the cruise line? If not, your answer is strictly your opinion.

[Kamloops50]

Read the contract you agreed to when you started your online check in. That is the first thing you agree to . I had a friend who is lawyer read for me after I read it.

The doCument s called " Contract of Passage ". Most people don't bother to read it.

 

I don't work for Princess and not a lawyer by profession.

[Kamloops50]

Are you an attorney employed by the cruise line? If not, your answer is strictly your opinion.

 

Have you actually read the twenty page document. There many interesting quirks for passengers.

[CruiseGal999]

Are you an attorney employed by the cruise line? If not, your answer is strictly your opinion.

 

:'):'):'):') NOT opinion. Contractual fact. Do some more research here on CC. You'll see a lot of people asking about changing itineraries and does the cruise line have the 'right' to do so.

[Maine76]

If the ship has sailed and it becomes clear to the captain that the ship, crew, and or passengers might be in danger if a port is entered then the captain has every right to alter the cruise. However, the cruise has not left its point of origin nor have any of the passengers boarded and the cruise is not for another 3 weeks. The decision no not go to the intended port is made first as an economic one. That being if the ship doesn't not sail, a huge amount of money would be lost. Therefore the passengers should be given the option of sailing or receiving a refund because the contract has been broken.

[CruiseGal999]

If the ship has sailed and it becomes clear to the captain that the ship, crew, and or passengers might be in danger if a port is entered then the captain has every right to alter the cruise. However, the cruise has not left its point of origin nor have any of the passengers boarded and the cruise is not for another 3 weeks. The decision no not go to the intended port is made first as an economic one. That being if the ship doesn't not sail, a huge amount of money would be lost. Therefore the passengers should be given the option of sailing or receiving a refund because the contract has been broken.

 

In the devastating aftermath of Irma, the cruise lines know well in advance if the 'port' is ready and safe for visitors. Cruise ships will NOT be going to St. Maarten for, I'm speculating, a year or more due to the level of destruction after Irma. So these cruises have had their itineraries changed well in advance of leaving the port. AND it's LEGAL and it's WITHIN cruise line policy, etc. etc.

 

Just a note .... it's difficult enough to walk around Havana BEFORE Irma. I wouldn't want to try it AFTER such a horrible hurricane!

[Kamloops50]

:'):'):'):') NOT opinion. Contractual fact. Do some more research here on CC. You'll see a lot of people asking about changing itineraries and does the cruise line have the 'right' to do so.

 

 

 

Thanks

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[pbenjamin]

In the devastating aftermath of Irma, the cruise lines know well in advance if the 'port' is ready and safe for visitors. Cruise ships will NOT be going to St. Maarten for, I'm speculating, a year or more due to the level of destruction after Irma. So these cruises have had their itineraries changed well in advance of leaving the port. AND it's LEGAL and it's WITHIN cruise line policy, etc. etc.

 

Just a note .... it's difficult enough to walk around Havana BEFORE Irma. I wouldn't want to try it AFTER such a horrible hurricane!

 

?? Walking around Havana, presumably Habana Vieja, which is adjacent to the cruise terminal, is not difficult at all, at least was not prior to the hurricane.

[RJB]

?? Walking around Havana, presumably Habana Vieja, which is adjacent to the cruise terminal, is not difficult at all, at least was not prior to the hurricane.

Even if it is O.K. to do I don't want my visit to Cuba to consist of walking around the port area. I will wait until it is safe to visit the whole country.

[pbenjamin]

Even if it is O.K. to do I don't want my visit to Cuba to consist of walking around the port area. I will wait until it is safe to visit the whole country.

 

You're not going to visit the whole country via a 36 hour stopover from a cruise ship. There are indeed tons of things to see and do in Cuba. I was simply responding to the assertion that walking around Havana was difficult, which is not true at all. By the way, the "port area", as you describe it, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the highlights of a visit to Cuba.

[CruiseGal999]

?? Walking around Havana, presumably Habana Vieja, which is adjacent to the cruise terminal, is not difficult at all, at least was not prior to the hurricane.

 

My trip to Cuba in May of this year .... the sidewalks were VERY uneven ... some of the curbs were very tall ... about 12" tall. There is a lot of debris on the sidewalks and sides of the roads from the rebuilding efforts going on there. ALL of this well before the hurricane. THAT is what I was referencing when I said it was difficult walking around Havana before Irma ... never mind now after the damage.

[tommui987]

I said it was difficult walking around Havana before Irma ... never mind now after the damage.

 

Has any of the posters said anything about wheelchairs or mobility scooters just around the port area/

Old City (Habana Vieja)?

 

I'll be using a Rollator (walker) but would prefer to rent a scooter!

[KyRoamer]

Maine76 tells it like it ought to be. Too bad the cruise lines have you at their mercy. Can you imagine the losses if everyone that had a Cuba stop could cancel. We are headed to three Cuban ports in early December. I am hoping that our trip doesn't become another western Caribbean trip. However, since all three ports are "open" I suspect that we will at least dock.

 

I usually buy cruise insurance that offers compensation for missed ports. That company does not insure Cuban cruises at all. We did not buy cancel for any reason so if the ship sails, we sail.

 

Sometimes a State Department advisory will trigger rights under an insurance policy. Not sure the Cuban warning qualifies. I suspect it will be lifted before December.

 

The people of Cuba need our tourism dollars more than ever. So actually I am glad that it looks like we are going.

[Maine76]

It's posted on the Carnival website that the Havana port is open to cruise ships. (With the pictures of flooded streets I've seen, I don't see how repairs can already have been completed.). Also, Carnival is offering partial credits/refunds for any port missed or full refund if the cruise does not go to any of the scheduled ports of call.

[chesterton7]

Are you an attorney employed by the cruise line? If not, your answer is strictly your opinion.

 

 

 

Probably not, but they are still right, all cruise lines have this inserted in their contract of carriage verbiage.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[cruisencrazy]

I am just back from Cuba. Very little damage from hurricanes...mostly displaced sand and downed trees. We found it to be very safe. A group of 4 of us walked into downtown areas at night and morning without escorts through some of the worst areas and had absolutely no safety issues. If you are able, bring big bags of candy and give it to the school children.

[CruisinHeels]

For your half day, I recommend just walking old Havana and eating at a locally owned Paladar. Nao and Mojiti, Mojito were excellent. La Vitrolo on Plaza Vieja was also a good spot. All of these are privately owned. The brewery (La Factoria) in Plaza Vieja is state-owned. You'll hit most of the sightseeing spots on your 10-best tour, so my recommendation would be to try to interact with the wonderful Cuban people on your second day. Your short day would also give you time to do a classic car ride (available right there at the dock) for around 40 CUC. Have a great time!!!