Yearning for Cuba?- Ever-increasing Options to See This Fascinating Island

With the loosening of travel restrictions to Cuba there are several options for you to visit Cuba whether you are seeking to visit Cuba on land or by sea and whether you are seeking a gay or mainstream experience.

Gay Land Tours

If you are looking to explore Cuba with an LGBT group there are a few options. Two we are currently promoting is Zoom Vacations’ All Gay Luxury Trip to Cuba during New Year’s 2017. Zoom Vacations’ trip like all of their trips adds personal and intimate experiences such as private parties and visits to family-owned restaurants. For details click HERE.

Another option is the also luxurious trip that Source Events is doing in May of 2017 which includes elegant accommodations in Havana and a visit to the Vinales Valley which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For details on this trip click HERE.

Mainstream Cruises

If you want to see all sides of the large island of Cuba, the best way may be by sea. There are now options to cruise all the way from/to Miami on the MV Adonia of Fathom Travel which is part of Carnival Cruise Lines. Their cruises to Cuba include 3 1/2 days of shore excursions including Havana, Santiago de Cuba and Cienfuegos as well as three meals a day. Prices for a 7 day cruise start from about $3,000 per person.

Those seeking a more luxurious and intimate experience in touring the island by water can select tours on one of several smaller luxury yacht style ships from or to Havana and ending in the colonial town of Cienfuegos. For example the Panorama ship pictured below is one of the yacht’s used for small group cruises that take place most of the year. While it depends on the date/ship you pick, there are options starting from just $2,795 per person for the cruise/land tour only.

Mainstream Land Tours

There are several options for mainstream land tours to Cuba. Two that we are currently offering are a 5 Day small group Havana tour from Miami which includes 1 night’s hotel in Miami, 3 nights in Havana and airfare to and from Miami. The package also includes 10 meals as well as sightseeing.  Prices start from just $2,299 per person.

For a more extensive trip consider a 9 day small group Cuba tour which again includes airfare to/from Miami as well as 1 night’s hotel room in Miami, 3 nights in Cienfuegos and 4 nights’ hotel in Havana. The package also includes 19 meals and all tours and cultural exchanges. Prices start from just $4,699 per person.

On Your Own

Americans can now book flights directly from the U.S. to Cuba. Currently the available non-charter flights are from Fort Lauderdale aboard Jet Blue and fly into Santa Clara. Additional airlines such as Silver Airways are offering similar flights. While flights will eventually be flying into Havana, they will not be added until at least late November if not December of this year.

Beyond that, travelers on their own face hurdles to do their own tour including the need to still apply for and receive a license for one of the permitted reasons (usually an educational exchange) and the limited good hotel options not to mention the lack of acceptance of credit cards and the lack of ATMs. You can travel on your own if you are the adventurous type but it takes some ingenuity and pre-planning.