Cuba Cruising (excerpt)

Arriving in Havana at dawn

Cuba Cruising profiles three diverse couples from different parts of the world who visited Cuba under quite distinct circumstances:

Despite being only 90 miles away from the southernmost point of the United States, Cuba is often on the bucket list of US cruisers right next to cruises to such far-flung destinations as Alaska, Antarctica, Hawaii, Galapagos, South Pacific, and more. Among a number of appealing factors to travelers, cruising to Cuba brings with it an unquestionably desirable aspect that few other ports of call have: rarity. Simply because Cuba has not been accessible to cruise travelers for very long. Consequently, a Cuba cruise is on the to-do list of a number of cruisers, particularly seasoned cruisers who have experienced other Bahamas and Caribbean itineraries multiple times. Coupled with the fact that there are some restrictions, both logistical and government imposed, a Cuba sailing has an exclusiveness, a cachet to it. That in part explains why older cruise ships, albeit refurbished and outfitted with features popular with cruisers such as Food Network star Guy Fieri’s “Guy’s Burger Joint” on Carnival ships, elaborate water slides, and onboard Cuba-themed venues and enrichment activities, get repurposed and repositioned for Cuba sailings, and can command a significant premium over comparable length itineraries to other destinations for that same ship. A collateral benefit to cruise lines of older ships sailing to Cuba is that their smaller size relative to the newer mega-ships cruise lines are increasingly introducing are able to dock; Havana’s existing pier cannot accommodate mega-ships....


....“My Mojito in la Bodeguita, my daiquiri in El Floridita” supposedly said Ernest Hemingway of two of the most famous bars in Havana. Despite the mythology of this saying—and the dubiousness of its authenticity—there is a hand-scrolled sign with that statement and Hemingway’s autograph in La Bodeguita del Medio, along with inscriptions on the walls from the likes of Harry Belafonte, Nat King Cole, and Fidel Castro. Paul and Carole tried a couple of times to get into La Bodeguita, as well as El Floridita, but they were always too packed.


They did manage to sample a few mojitos and daiquiris in other bars that drew them in with alluring live music. “In Old Havana we found a bar called Cafe Bosque Bologna on Obispo Street. The daiquiris were excellent. We sat down and noticed that just behind our table was an area where there were turtles, which was a bit strange, but we soon learned the reason they were there is that the Cubans believe that they bring them good karma,” Carole said. “In San Francisco Square right opposite the cruise terminal is a bar called Restaurante Cafe del Oriente, a lovely bar with a seating area outside, ideal for watching the world go by and inside a very talented piano player where we spent a wet afternoon having a fun sing-song. The Mojitos here were excellent too!”....


....Barbara and Bill’s tour was in a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air. “The car was large enough for Bill and me, the couple that accompanied us, the tour guide, and the driver, a young man who owned the car. He had retrofit air conditioning into the car so it was very comfortable, and much more fun than the tour bus that the ship’s tour would have provided. 1950’s car buffs will swoon over the variety of lovingly restored vehicles.”


Among the highlights of their tour was El Floridita. “We went to El Floridita, the night club associated with Hemingway, and we were delighted by the performances of three different groups. I think the live music in Havana was the happiest part of the adventure.”


Another place Barbara and Bill got to visit that Ernest Hemingway frequented—as did Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy, and John Wayne—was historic Sloppy Joe’s Bar (originator of the sloppy joe sandwich). Sloppy Joe’s Bar was an iconic gathering place frequented mainly by Americans in pre-revolution Havana. Consequently, after the revolution Sloppy Joe’s Bar closed and remained closed from 1959 until just several years ago when it was restored in its old location, replete with much of its original façade after 50 years....


....The Sloans’ diverse travel pursuits all over the world have included a number of cruises, and in February 2017 they ventured to Cuba on The Soul Cruise, a unique seven-day R&B themed-cruise branded as “The first ever soul music cruise from the United States to Cuba!” The cruise was on Fathom Adonia (now Azamara Pursuit). Fathom Cruises was established in 2015 to conduct “social impact travel” cruises from Miami to the Dominican Republic, and Cuba, where in May 2016 Adonia was the first United States cruise ship to dock in post-Castro Cuba. Joan said, “Fathom Adonia, a 750-passenger ship provided intimacy, specialized in culture tours, and provided Cuban-inspired foods throughout our weeklong cruise.”


Joan and Jim enjoyed the dancing tour the most. “It was fun with three different dance activities, but it also was very exhausting. We began early in the morning with two hours of group salsa lessons. Our instructors were high energy and engaging, and Jim and I came away feeling like we were ready to go out salsa dancing. Our next stop was to a ballet company and school where we met with the dancers who were all graduates of the university, and we enjoyed a performance that contrasted African and European ballet. Our group decided to make a donation of ballet slippers for the company as they were not made in Cuba and costly. Lastly we went to see a performance of the Habana Compas Dance Company. The dancers were classically trained and were accompanied by powerful percussionists who mixed traditional and contemporary dance style....

Read the complete story of respectively, Carole and Paul, Barbara and Bill, and Joan and Jim, in Chap 10 Cuba Cruising, The Joy of Cruising. Preorder soon....