Hurry to Havana (before it all changes)!

It has been announced in the travel trade press this week that Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings were awaiting a very important phone call. NCLH comprises of Oceania, Regent Seven seas and Norwegian cruise Lines. The call they are waiting for will give them permission to sail to Cuba. Initially they are looking at adding Havana to itineraries on the Oceania Regatta before the end of this year, followed by the Marina in 2017.

C.E.O. Frank Del Rio  also hinted that Norwegian Cruise Line, which sails much larger ships, would also get approval to sail from Miami to Havana and elsewhere, making the port accessible to a wider audience from a cruise line perspective.

MSC have 2 ships based in Havana during the winter months and 1 in summer. Crystal have regular cruises from the port whilst Thomson, Saga and Fred Olsen also have stops in Cuba.

Having visited Cuba a few years ago I have to say that I loved the country. There was salsa music playing absolutely everywhere from the second we stepped off the plane, with a salsa band to greet us. The crime rate is incredibly low and I have never felt as safe in any other Caribbean country. The people are humble yet proud. The sights of the old cars, stunning beaches and beautiful architecture make for a really special trip. For me the best evening I spent there was sat in a local bar with a salsa band on a Saturday night and all the local people turning out in their finery to dance and party in the street. One of the drawbacks was seeing how poor most of the people we came across were, so they couldn’t afford to drink in the bar. They came for the free music & buzzing atmosphere. On our travels we met teachers, doctors, lawyers and even a judge who earned more money working in the tourism industry as tour guides as they made far more money from tips than in their previous professions. Something there is not quite right, but everyone I met seemed happy with life, whilst all having their own opinions on the political situation.

With permission also being given to more airlines to fly in & out of Cuba as well as a warming of the relationship between the country and the United States I’m sure changes are afoot for this amazing country.

My advice would be to get there as soon as you can before the inevitable introduction of shopping malls, hordes of American tourists and the dreaded Golden arches.

For more information on cruises that visit Cuba you can call me on 0800 408 6105 or e-mail [email protected].