DESTINATIONS — CRUISE
Louis Cristal
designed Muses Lounge, the smell of smoke drifting from the casino to the Eros Lounge, the rather over-hasty service at dinner) in return for the wonderful crew, the above-average entertainment and the chance to visit Cuba. Most of my fellow passengers
– predominantly Canadians with a smattering of other nationalities including Britons, Germans, Finns and Japanese – had plumped for Cuba Cruise because they also realised a sailing around the island was a more comfortable way to see the country than hours of driving on pot-holed roads and staying in hotels of questionable standards, or guesthouses. But because of the embargo,
there is not much choice when it comes to cruises. American-owned ships cannot visit the island (so P&O Cruises is also banned), although many are eyeing the landscape in the wake of the new relations between the US and Cuba, while the handful of British vessels that visit mostly call only at Havana. The only other
alternatives are Greek-owned Variety Cruises, which
offers one-week itineraries around the western tip of Cuba, and Star Clippers, which operates seven- night beach-inspired round-trips from Cienfuegos (see box).
l THE ITINERARY From Havana, we visited the little town of Antilla for tours into the countryside. I took one to Birán, to see where Fidel Castro lived as a child. I found the opportunity to see the way people live away from the capital – horse and cart transport, oxen ploughing the fields – of greater interest than the museum itself, which was a little dull. For winter 2015-16, Cuba Cruise is swapping Antilla for a day in Havana at the start of the itinerary, which makes sense as currently those booking the voyage alone see little of the capital. It would be a shame to miss this exciting city with its beautiful colonial architecture, grand squares and those historic American cars. In Santiago de Cuba, city tours visit the cemetery and Castillo del Morro, at the mouth of the bay guarding the city, and include a drive past the bullet-marked barracks where Castro led a failed uprising. It now houses an interesting museum that tells the story of the revolution. Tours visit Cienfuegos, which was founded by the French, and Trinidad, a beautiful spot with colourful colonial houses,
68 •
travelweekly.co.uk — 26 March 2015
OTHER CUBA CRUISES
Variety Cruises: Offers seven-night cruises between Havana and Cienfuegos on the 54-passenger sailing yacht Panorama. The itinerary, sold in the UK by Seafarer Cruises, includes a day and a half in Havana, a visit to Trinidad and a day in Cienfuegos, with an excursion to the Bay of Pigs. Cruise-only prices start at £1,658 on departures between December 2015 and March 2016.
Star Clippers: Offers seven- night round-trip cruises from Cienfuegos on the 170-passenger sailing yacht Star Flyer between December 2015 and March 2016. The cruise visits Casilda for tours to Trinidad, and the Cuban cays south of the city, and includes two days in the Cayman Islands. Cruise- only prices start at £1,150 for departures on January 3, 2016.
Swan Hellenic: Minerva stays overnight in Havana on a 12-day cruise from Cozumel in Mexico to Bermuda, departing March 19.
Prices start at £1,699 including flights, transfers, shore excursions and gratuities.
Voyages of Discovery: Offers a 15-day cruise from Montego Bay to Cozumel onboard Voyager. The cruise features an overnight stay in Havana and a day in Antilla. Prices start at £1,819, including flights, transfers and gratuities, for departures on January 3, 2016.
Fred Olsen Cruise Lines: Braemar will overnight in Havana on a 43-night voyage from Tenerife to Barbados departing December 23, 2015, and a 14-night cruise from Barbados to Montego Bay departing January 7, 2016. Cruise-only prices start at £3,249 and £1,099 respectively.
Thomson Cruises: Thomson Dream will stay overnight in Havana on six round-trip cruises sailing from Montego Bay between December 2015 and March 2016. Prices start at £1,196, including flights, gratuities and transfers, departing December 29.
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