SEABOURN BOUND FOR CUBA
Fall 2019 itineraries mark luxury line’s first forays to Caribbean island nation
For those who haven’t been, Cuba is quickly becoming one of the hottest destinations in the Caribbean to cruise to. With its historic cities and abundance of culture and tradition, Cuba is unlike any other Caribbean destination.
I’ve sailed to Cuba three times in the past year, aboard three different cruise lines. Each line has put its own stamp on both its itineraries and shore offerings, from quick voyages that also include calls on ports in the Bahamas and Florida, to longer and more expansive sailings that add additional port stops in the Western and Eastern Caribbean.
Luxury line Seabourn (cruise. center/seabourn) recently announced its inaugural voyages to Cuba, due to set sail in the fall of 2019 aboard the pretty 458-guest Seabourn Sojourn.
“For many luxury travellers, they aim to find new places to explore and discover meaningful new cultural opportunities, and Cuba is one of the most soughtafter emerging destinations for many of our guests,” said Richard Meadows, president of Seabourn.
“We are excited to finally be able to include Cuba in our itineraries, and our guests and travel partners have been anxiously awaiting an ultra-luxury travel experience with a wider selection of destinations in this relatively undiscovered Caribbean treasure. These Cuba itineraries are fresh and sure to satisfy the curiosity of anyone who has considered visiting.”
Seabourn’s first Cuban voyage will depart from Miami on Nov. 4, 2019 — a 12-day sailing that will call on a huge assortment of unique and exotic locales within the Caribbean. These include Havana, Cuba (overnight); Antilla (Nipe Bay), Cuba; Santiago de Cuba (overnight); Port Antonio, Jamaica; West End, Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands; and Cienfuegos, Cuba (overnight).
In total, Seabourn will offer five voyages to Cuba that are 11, 12 and 14 days in length. Each will offer multiple port stops in Cuba — and not just in the capital of Havana, either. Seabourn has made a point of working in other Cuban ports of call into its itineraries, including the breathtaking city of Santiago de Cuba, with its San Pedro de la Roca citadel perched along the coast. The for- tress is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and offers spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea.
Other ports visited include Cienfuegos, which is worth of a visit in its own right but which also acts as a jumping-off point for day visits to the historic inland city of Trinidad; and Punta Francés on Isla de Juventud — the Isle of Youth — that boasts one of the most pristine beaches I’ve seen in the Caribbean. Seabourn is fortunate to be able to stop here; this is the exclusive domain of small ships.
Ashore, guests will have the option to take culturally relevant tours that highlight the country’s culinary, musical and artistic heritage and including visiting arts and community projects in Havana, Santiago and Cienfuegos. Seabourn also offers special UNESCO Partner Tours that visit designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the city of Trinidad (a must-see on any trip to Cuba), or the Biosphere Reserve at Las Terrazas, southwest of the city of Havana.
Seabourn Sojourn is a gracious home base from which to explore Cuba.
Luxurious without being stuffy, everything about this ship just clicks, from the informal Seabourn Square where reception and shore excursion desks intermingle with the ship’s onboard café and reading area, to the abundance of outdoor deck spaces and specialty restaurant designed in partnership with noted chef Thomas Keller.
Onboard suites are sumptuous, and nearly all include their own private balconies. Service is attentive and friendly, and the entire ship sparkles thanks to a refit performed last winter that refreshed the decor aboard this gracious eight-year old vessel.
If you are on a budget, you don’t need to take a luxury cruise in order to visit Cuba. A growing number of lines offer voyages to the Caribbean island nation that run from just four days to a full week or more, operated on ships catering to nearly every budget and style. For those who want a slice of the good life, however, Seabourn’s noteworthy new 2019 sailings to Cuba depart Nov. 4, 16, 28 and Dec. 10 and 21.
Happy cruising.