Luxury Cruise Lines Sailing to Cuba

An “easy sail” from South Florida’s major cruise ports is the Cuban capital of Havana, celebrating its 500th anniversary in 2019 and now on the radar for upscale cruise lines. What’s nifty? Originally called “La Villa de San Cristobal de La Habana,” it simply became “La Habana” over time.

Today, “Old Havana” and its fortification system is a UNESCO World Heritage site and dozens of monuments of significant architectural heritage remain. Cruisers need only look around to see ancient walls, colonial mansions, palaces, squares, cobblestone streets, churches and several castles or fortresses, including Castillo de la Real Fuerza and Tres Reyes Magos del Morro.

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For the first time, Silversea Cruises has plans for 17 voyages to Cuba with three ships — Silver Wind, Silver Spirit and Silver Whisper. Voyages will depart from either Port Everglades in South Florida or San Juan, Puerto Rico. Kicking off the 2019 program, Silver Wind will sail the series’ inaugural seven-night voyage on February 14 with calls at Havana and Santiago de Cuba and the Bahamian island of Bimini. Laid-back Bimini is just 60 miles from Miami, but in “feel,” a much quieter world away.

On February 22, the recently lengthened Silver Spirit will depart San Juan on a 10-night voyage.

Cuban highlights include an overnight in Santiago de Cuba and calls at Cienfuegos and Havana; this voyage also calls at George Town, Grand Cayman; Key West, FL and Bimini, Bahamas, before the cruise ends in Port Everglades.

In Havana, cruisers can opt for one of Silversea’s curated shore trips, among them a panoramic driving tour, a chance to explore the UNESCO Heritage site of Old Havana on a walking tour with rum tastings and cigar demonstrations or “cruising” on land along the waterfront in a vintage 1950s automobile. Not to be missed, time permitting, is a performance at the iconic Tropicana Cabaret with energetic dancers moving to Latin rhythms. Jazz lovers, alternatively, can head for La Zorra y El Cuervo, the city’s legendary jazz club.

For those who may have visited Havana already, one suggestion is to go beyond the city on a tour to the Vinales Valley for gorgeous scenery and fields of tobacco.

Silver Wind also sails to Cuba on March 31 and April 10 departures, which are 10- and nine-night voyages, respectively.

The longest 2019 Cuba voyage is a 14-night sailing on Silver Whisper round-trip from Port Everglades on November 22. The itinerary visits Cienfuegos, plus offers overnight stays in Santiago de Cuba and Havana, with calls in Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Belize City and Key West. In 2020, Silversea plans another 12 voyages that include Cuban ports.

Havana isn’t the only draw. Santiago de Cuba is the island nation’s cultural capital with Colonial structures, churches, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed fortress, parks, gardens and French coffee plantations. This is a great spot to gain perspective about both the Spanish-American War and the 20th-century revolution in Cuba.

And Cienfuegos, settled by the French in colonial times and called “The Pearl of the South,” is situated within a lovely natural bay. The Jagua Castle at the bay’s entrance was built in the mid-1700s to protect ships from pirates. Cruise guests can head out to explore the cobble-stoned Colonial Trinidad area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

SeaDream Yacht Club also has plans for new Cuba cruises that depart from either Havana or Cienfuegos in spring 2019. A series of week-long voyages on the 112-passenger SeaDream II will visit Cayo Largo, Maria la Gorda, Trinidad and Isla de Juventud. The March 11 departure has overnights at both Trinidad and Cienfuegos.

In Cienfuegos, SeaDream’s guests have several shoreside options, including an excursion to the Bay of Pigs. First, that tour heads to National Park Cienaga de Zapata, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, an ecosystem comprised of mangrove forests, seagrass beds, coral reef barriers and deep reefs. Here, it’s possible to see marine life, reptiles and more than 175 species of birds. In fact, this is one of the nation’s top birding spots. 

The tour continues on to Playa Giron, along the eastern end of the Bay of Pigs. In 1961, this spot was chosen as one of the landing sites for the mercenary invasion of the Bay of Pigs. Due to its history and natural beauty, it is one of the most visited locations in Cuba. Cruisers will tour the museum, view personal belongings of the participants and see weapons that were used. People who participated that day will also be on hand for questions. Then, it’s a transfer to Caleta Buena for a Cuban lunch, followed by free time and swimming in natural pools before returning to Cienfuegos.

Ultra-luxury Seabourn also has received approval to sail to Cuba from Miami and San Juan in 2019 and will operate five Cuba voyages with overnights in select ports. On November 4, 2019, Seabourn Sojourn will set sail on its first voyage to Cuba from Miami. Guests can choose from four separate itineraries. The 11-, 12- and 14-day sailings call at three or four ports on each itinerary. Every voyage will overnight in Havana.

Among the off-the-beaten-path ports that Seabourn Sojourn will call at is Antilla (Nipe Bay). The ship’s entry to the deep-cut Nipe Bay passes by the Cayo Saetia National Park. The Holguin province offers authentic Cuban communities like San Isidoro de Holguin with 18th-century churches and plazas. The Sierra del Cristal range is stunningly beautiful with lush pine forests, two national parks and the twin Guayabo waterfalls, Cuba’s highest.

In Cienfuegos, Seabourn’s guests can head out the colonial town of Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On a visit to the idyllic island of Punta Francés, Isla de Juventud, Seabourn guests can go snorkeling or scuba diving; wreck diving particularly excites us. Also of interest are the Punta del Este Caves, best described as the “Sistine Chapel” of prehistoric Taino petroglyphs.

While off the ship, guests may join UNESCO Partner Tours exploring Cuba’s World Heritage cities, including Santa Clara and Trinidad, and the Biosphere Reserve at Las Terrazas. Or, they can take both daytime and nighttime tours that focus on Cuban culinary, musical and artistic heritage, which sometimes include people-to-people meetings with arts and community projects in Havana, Santiago and Cienfuegos.

Seabourn also plans several complimentary Seabourn special events and experiences, such as its signature Caviar in the Surf beach barbecues in Isla Catalina and Carambola Beach, as well as Marina Day with complimentary watersports in Isla Catalina operating directly from the back of the ship, weather and conditions permitting.

Source: Luxury Travel Advisor