Info on the many places with Buena Vista Social Club shows + Ship excursions

ebslcc · October 2, 2018

We signed up to go to a Buena Vista Social Club (BVSC) show during our Cuba cruise using one of the included cruise excisions.

The below info I have gathered on BVSC shows may be useful if you are considering going to their shows on your own or as part of a cruise excursion.

Quotes from TripAdvisor Reviews:

"The Buena Vista Social Club was a great night out - highly recommended for some authentic Cuban music performed live. The Tropicana is more flamboyant with feathers, bright colours and glamorous girls!! Both are great - but different - I was in Cuba Jan/Feb 2018 and did both."

"There are several shows promoting themselves by their links to the BVSC - they are good if you like the 1940s style music.

The Tropicana and Parisien are dance shows."

"This was one of the highlights of our Havana trip! We were recommended to see the band and Salsa Show by our local tour guide - we were looking for something different to the Tropicana type shows. We didn't dine but we got 3 free drinks included in our entrance fee. The music was very traditional and played with passion and the Salsa dancers were great and at the end had everyone up dancing - great night started at 9.30 finishes at 11 so still time to go on afterwards. All very friendly and open"

"My family and I learned about this place via an independent tour guide. We were promised live music and 3 drinks from 9-11:30 P.M. for $30 pp while cruising with Royal Caribean. Royal Caribean sells excursion for $110 per person, two drinks and ham & cheese for appetizers."

There are several Buena Vista Social Club shows. The nearest is a short walk from the pier in Old Havana. It is behind the Saratoga hotel. Being in Old Havana, likely this is a more crowded club.

Buena Vista Social Club at Cafe Taberna

There are multiple Cafe Taberna locations. The Cafe Taberna in Old Havana is directly across the plaza from where the ships dock. It is only 5 minutes walk from the port. Calle Mercaderes #531 | esquina Brasil Teniente Rey, Havana Google map: https://goo.gl/maps/dz8BbZ5zgbT2

Both RCL and Azamara cruise excursions goes to this club. May be there are reserved seats for paying premium.

http://www.royalcaribbean-espanol.com/shoreExcursions/product/detail/view.do?sourcePage=shorexByPort&ProductCode=N124&DestinationCode=CUBAN $89 per web page. $110 per TA review.

https://www.azamaraclubcruises.com/shore-excursion-details/N129 $99 per Azamara web page.

Cover charge if you go yourself: 30 cuc per TA review.

See TripAdvisor reviews:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g147271-d1463729-r617623029-Cafe_Taberna-Havana_Ciudad_de_la_Habana_Province_Cuba.html

YouTube videos:

Havana, Cuba #2 2017- Club Taberna dinner and show - posted Oct 2017

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hejCMC8TVE8

Cafe Taberna, Havanna, Kuba - posted Oct 2017 5 minutes from the cruise terminal Sierra Maestra

Buena Vista Social Club Night Café Taberna Havana Cuba 2017 Roberto Faz Benny Moré - posted June 2017

Buena Vista Social Club at the Havana Café, Hotel Melia Cohiba

Show times: 9 PM

Oceania Excursion name: Buena Vista Social Club At The Habana CA (HAV-005): 8 PM to 11 PM $159 which includes pre-show educational and cultural activities: meeting and talking to the performers - I guest to make the tour OFAC compliant.

NCL excursion: https://www.ncl.com/shore-excursions/HAV_05/Buena-Vista-Social-Club-at-the-Habana-Cafe $165!

If you go on your own, the cover charge is ~20 to 25 cuc. You may be seated in a separate area than the ship's excursion (not center stage)

The Hotel Melia Cohiba is on the Malecon about 10 to 15 minutes from the port / Old Havana.

Video of the hotel: