Cuba welcomes first British cruise ship in years...

[Robinson Cruisoe, Mrs]

The Thomson Dream sailed into Havana today (Wed 5 Jan) - it's the largest ship to dock there in almost six years.

The visit has been deemed a sign that more cruise companies are starting to return to the island.

Calls from European vessels diminished after the then-president Fidel Castro blasted the cruise industry for leaving "rubbish, but little income".

The decades-old US trade embargo prevents the abundance of cruise companies based in Miami, Florida to make the journey.

Spanish and Norwegian owned cruise ships were the first to return to Cuba in recent months, and it is believed that communications are now underway with Russian and Canadian cruiselines too.

Have you ever been to Cuba? If not, is it a place you'd like to visit on a cruise?

[Fred Bloggs, Tyne and Wear]

I'd love to go to Cuba before it gets totally spoiled by tourism. Well maybe it won't! Loved the scenery on Auf Wiedersehen Pet, part of it was filmed in Havana. Been thinking of a cruise to get a taste and if it's as good as it looks, go back for a holiday.

[mollymop, royston]

This is a country I'd love to visit, but as its only Thomsons Dream thats calling there I think I will wait.
Hope some of the other cruise lines soon put Cuba on their itinerary

[Moss Travel TV, Leeds]

I've been to Havana, was there for a conference in November, it's a wonderful city, and really not expensive, I made this video of the old City:

[Heather, Holywood Co Down]

I've been to Cuba and toured round from Havana to other areas. People there need the cruise ships to bring some money into the country and Im delighted to read this news. Please lets have more ships going to Havana.

[Andy Skinner, Ashford Kent]

I'm at gatwick now just about to board my plane to arrive in Cuba in ten hours to board the dream

[MissFrances, Monmouth]

Voyages of Discovery appears to be spending three nights in Havana as part of her "Grand Voyage from the New World" in April. We're thinking about that one, especially because some parts of the itinerary would be new to us.

[Crube, Aberdeen]

Could be interesting to go there... Be good to see the place

[Long John Silver, Grimsby]

I'm at gatwick now just about to board my plane to arrive in Cuba in ten hours to board the dream

Nice one Andy look forward to hearing your reports - we go two weeks today but board in Jamaica with 2 nights in Havana.

Have a good trip.

John.

[Cruisecurious, Manchester]

Would seem a natural destination for Swan Hellenic

[Barb, Wirral]

We too are due to join the Dream on 20th January are you as apprehensive as us? Eagerly awaiting review from passengers returning to UK tomorrow to see if things on board are improving- here's hoping!!

[matlot, Pwllheli Wales]

We too are due to join the Dream on 20th January are you as apprehensive as us? Eagerly awaiting review from passengers returning to UK tomorrow to see if things on board are improving- here's hoping!!

Hello Barb

I am due to join on the 20th January to and am also waiting for some of the feed back. My partner will having her 50th on the31st January
see you on the 20th if our paths cross.

[Barb, Wirral]

Surely Thomson cannot ignore the amount of strocious reviews. At least we have another couple of weeks for the matters to be addressed. We have so looked forward to this cruise, I have never been to the caribbean before ( my husband has) and we have not had a 2 week holiday for several years and when we did the kids were with us. I so so hope it is going to be everything I hoped. At least the ports of call should be stunning and the reviews of the staff and entertainment seem to be consistent I will hold on to any positives to allow me to look forward to this holiday. All we can do is do as much as we can to enjoy ourselves cancellation is not an option at this stage. Sorry to say though I think it will have to be our last Thomson cruise if it does go pear shaped and that would be a shame. I have always felt some of the other cruises can be a bit stuffy and that is not us.

[Barb, Wirral]

Us too, eagerly watching reviews hoping for significant improvement - surely there will be by 20th (here's hoping)

[Fred Bloggs, Tyne and Wear]

This is a country I'd love to visit, but as its only Thomsons Dream thats calling there I think I will wait.
Hope some of the other cruise lines soon put Cuba on their itinerary

Fred Olsen's Braemar is cruising Cuba and the Caribbean this year.