Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta Royal Caribbean. Mostrar todas las entradas
Mostrando entradas con la etiqueta Royal Caribbean. Mostrar todas las entradas

lunes, 17 de septiembre de 2018

CRUISE TO CUBA (TIPS)

Essential Tips to Get the Most out of a Cruise to Cuba. Hiring a local guide for having a genuine experience and knowledge of Cuba's society, traditions, and culture.

















With Cuba now opening up to  tourism, the country is being added as a port stop on many major lines’ itineraries. We have some top tips for cruising to the Caribbean’s largest island.

 Starting 2017, three of the largest operators – Carnival Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line – will each have a ship making port stops at the largest Caribbean island. On top of that, additional lines that will be adding stops to Cuba include Oceania Cruises, Azamara Cruises, and MSC Cruises.
Whether you’re from Europe, North America or Australia, now is the best time to take a Caribbean cruise that calls at Cuba.

Pick the Right Ship and Itinerary for Your Family 

With more options for sailing to Cuba, you will want to examine the different ships and possible itineraries. Non-American travelers will have the most options as those cruisers will not be bound to ships and schedules that comply with the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) guidelines for authorized travel to Cuba.
Each cruise line has its own unique style of cruising and caters to certain types of clientele. Learning a little bit about each cruise line and ship will help you pick the perfect cruise to Cuba for you and your family.
Depending on your country of origin, you will probably need additional paperwork to cruise to Cuba. Whether you are taking a cruise that departs from the US or another location, you will most likely need a tourist visa along with a valid passport. You can normally obtain these visas directly with the cruise line for a nominal fee. If you are taking a cruise that leaves from Cuba, you will be required to have the visa to board a flight to the island. For these travellers, it is best to obtain a visa from a third party.







Plan Your Time Ashore in Advance Leave Some Time to Explore on Your Own

With the influx of cruise ships sailing to Cuba, there is a growing demand for tours and sightseeing experiences in popular ports of call. While your cruise line will offer some excursions, we suggest finding a local guide  for a more personalised experience. More and more it is becoming popular to book an amazing, customizable  tour with a local independent guide.
This included a walking tour of Old Havana and a guided tour of some newer neighbourhoods in a classic (vintage) car. Along with intimate experience and expert insight, the tour is  substantially cheaper than the cruise line offerings. Book early, as these tours sell out quickly.

Even though Americans need to structure their time to comply with the OFAC’s ‘people-to-people’ travel restrictions, this doesn’t mean everything needs to be organised. You can also make time for some ofy our own explorations to venture through more of the city, interact with the Cuban people, and learn more about modern day Cuba. Of course, citizens from other countries have always been free to wander about as tourists. Either way, finding even a few hours to go off the beaten path will give you a greater appreciation for the rich heritage and culture of the island.


Bring Plenty of Cash

The banking system in Cuba is not as modern as you may be used to, not to mention the consequences of the US embargo. Most places do not accept credit or debit cards. Most transactions will take place in cash. You will need to convert international bills into Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC). Most popular currencies that are converted are Euros (EUR), British Pounds (GBP), and US Dollars (USD). There is likely to be a conversion fee on top of the exchange rate when changing currency locally, so it’s a good idea to assess your spending needs in advance and plan accordingly.
Internet availability is spotty at best in Cuba. While there are some locations that offer connectivity, the speeds are rather slow. Acquiring the necessary sign-on cards can be both time-consuming and expensive.
Old Havana is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Whether with a tour guide or on your own, you can explore the plazas and historic highlights of this area easily by foot. For venturing outside of this neighbourhood, you will need a taxi. Whether you choose one of the flashy 1950s classic American cars or something a bit more moderate, make sure to go with a professionally licensed taxi. Cars will be clearly designated as a taxi with official government markers on the vehicles. Do not even think about renting a car and exploring on your own, as many roads are not clearly marked or well maintained.





Your cruise to Cuba will certainly make for a memorable holiday – and by using these travel tips, you’ll be able to make the very most of your time ashore.
If you enjoyed this article and want to be in touch with me, just write to cubamigos@yahoo.es,  why not make your trip out of the common path? You can also give a call or send a whatssap on +53 52646921.


LOCAL GUIDE IN HAVANA
Humberto Linares
humbercuba@yahoo.es ,
  cubamigos@yahoo.es
+53 52646921

INSTAGRAM: humberto_habana

miércoles, 15 de marzo de 2017

La Habana: popular puerto del Caribe para Cruceros nuevamente.

La Habana: popular puerto del Caribe para Cruceros nuevamente.


(y recuerde: caminar la ciudad con un local hará la diferencia)



La llegada a la capital cubana de nuevos buques ha hecho crecer las operaciones en la actual temporada alta de cruceros. Por estos días son varias las noticias que dan cuenta de los recorridos y nuevos itinerarios de diversas compañías por la Ciudad Maravilla.
La compañía Royal Caribbean amplía sus itinerarios por el Caribe desde Tampa, con viajes de cuatro y cinco noches con visitas diurnas y nocturnas a La Habana, además de escalas en Key West, Florida y Cozumel, México.
En la capital cubana los pasajeros podrán viajar a la década de 1950 en un clásico coche americano. También podrán conocer el centro histórico de la ciudad y sitio emblemáticos de la ciudad o su famoso Malecón, punto de encuentro con el mar que la rodea, entre otros sitios de interés, incluida su vida nocturna.
Por su parte, la norteamericana Carnival Corporation obtuvo la aprobación para expandir los viajes de cruceros hacia Cuba esta vez con su marca homónima carnaval Cruise Line.
La línea ofrecerá viajes de 4 y 5 días desde el puerto de Tampa Bay en la segunda mitad del año, que incluirá una visita diurna y nocturna a Cuba a bordo del Carnival Paradise, que podría convertirse en el navío de mayor capacidad en la historia que navegue de Estados Unidos a La Habana, dad asu capacidad para 2 052 pasajeros.
Con su marca Fathom, en mayo de 2016, la compañía se convirtió en la primera de esa nación en más de 40 años en arribar a costas cubanas y ha realizado hasta la fecha numerosos viajes al país.
Al respecto, Arnold Donald, director ejecutivo de Carnival Corporation comentó “Nuestra emblemática marca Carnival ha llevado a decenas de millones de pasajeros al Caribe durante sus casi 45 años de historia, y estamos emocionados de que nuestra mayor marca vaya a Cuba, uno de los destinos más codiciados del mundo”.

Solo resta una cosa, una experiencia de primera mano, una experiencia real cuando se visita Cuba. Esto se lo puede dar un guia privado, un profesional cubano que ame su país y conozca su ciudad como la palma de su mano. Cuando el visitante se baja del crucero y sale a la calle se tropieza con algunos personajes que les ofrecen hacer un recorrido de ciudad, pero realmente no saben mucho de La Habana. Antes de venir a Cuba busque por internet, contacte algún cubano profesional e invítelo a que le muestre la ciudad desde su perspectiva, y no solo el punto de vista oficial. Por un lado tendrá una experiencia única y totalmente diferente al resto de los cientos de pasajeros que viajan con usted, y por otro estará ayudando a un maestro, a un arquitecto, a un artista en las algunas veces difíciles condiciones de Cuba. Y créame que vale la pena, aun cuando venga con un recorrido incluido en el pasaje del crucero, el caminar la ciudad con un local hará la verdadera diferencia.

guia privado: cubamigos@yahoo.es