American World Traveler Summer 2017 Issue

Fidel Castro first attacked the country’s army
barracks in 1963 and where he chose to rest
after his recent death. Our tour group took
a special detour to the graveyard and witness
this moment of history, melding past
and present.
Full Day at Sea
On the third day of our journey, we sailed
from Santiago to Havana. Despite the
Crystal having modest recreational facilities,
I never once found myself twiddling thumbs
in boredom. While there may not be an
IMAX movie theater or miniature golf course
onboard, I continued to learn about Cuba’s
storied past-- from stimulating lectures on
topic ranging from Cuban musical instruments
and religious history to cooking classes
with Cuban chefs.
Havana
Our first day in the capital gave us “a real
taste of Havana” beginning in the Old City
Center, comprising of a stunning mix of
Baroque monuments and colorful private
residences. Our guide, a Havana native,
was an exceptional spokeswoman, seamlessly
weaving personal anecdotes into the
nation’s intricate history book. She led us on
a walking tour through Old Havana
(Habana Vieja), where we saw Saint Francis
of Assisi Square, Cathedral Square and the
Royal Forces castle.
Our group then visited the outdoor mosaic
instillations of legendary Cuban ceramicist
and graphic artist, Jose Fuster, who famously
turned around a somewhat depressed
and grim neighborhood by way of his art.
That evening we witnessed a spectacle of a
performance at the Tropicana—one of the
few nightclubs that survived (and thrived!)
during the Revolution.
Following an evening at the legendary
Tropicana club, I woke up in Havana, admittedly
exhausted yet eager to continue exploring.
I spent the morning visiting both The
Fine Arts Museum and the neighboring
Museum of the Revolution (Museo de la
Revolución). Both were stunning insights into
Olivia Balsinger
how Cuba is portrayed to Cubans.
Afterwards I dined in a Cuban paladar—a
restaurant run by self-employers, normally
in private homes. The delicious spread consisted
of rice, beans and tres leches cake,
which I indulged surrounded by warmth and
hospitality in a converted and charming
Cuban living room.
I then took a quintessential ride around town
in a 1958 hot pink Cadillac, blasting Cuban
salsa music, the salty Atlantic Ocean breeze
tickling my nostrils on El Malecon, Havana’s
roadway parallel to the ocean.
We spent our sixth day on board sailing
from Havana towards Cienfuegos, on the
southern coast, with a plethora of activities
to enjoy.
Trinidad
On the seventh day, we boarded a bus to
Trinidad, so pristinely preserved, we may
have been stepping into a page from a history
book. All my senses were stimulated as
I walked about town—I enjoyed simultaneously
listening to the sultry tones of a Cuban
street band (and, yes, I also participated by
shaking maracas!), catching whiffs of dust
from years past mixing with fried plantains
from the local paladar and ogling at bright
building pastels. Trinidad is where tourists
from North America experience untouched
Cuba.
Montego Bay
The last day of our cruise brought us back to
Montego Bay and although I knew I would
very much miss Cuba, I disembarked with a
bottle of Havana club rum, two cigars and,
of course, memories that will last lifetimes.
Where You’ll Sleep
The Crystal boasts 476 staterooms (317 are
outside cabins and 163 are inside cabins.)
There are 15 cabin types to choose from
aboard the ship, accommodating individual
needs and budgets. Staterooms are
equipped with air conditioning, telephones,
televisions and hairdryers.
Passengers may pay for Wi-Fi to enjoy anywhere
on board, which is certainly helpful as
internet connections are unreliable and rare
on land.
Where You’ll Eat & Drink
Though I’ve never been one to flock to buffets
or especially enjoy those quintessential
“cruise ship meals,” I was pleasantly
surprised with Crystal's dining.
For more casual dining, guests may opt for
the 9th floor self-serve Leda Buffet for
breakfast, lunch or dinner. The two more
formal dining rooms on board, The
Olympus Restaurant and The Amalthia
Restaurant, are that perfect balance of
sophistication and authenticity. I was delighted
to have choice of multiple Cuban dishes
during lunch and dinners.
After dinner, I would often find myself in the
Eros Lounge, relaxing and unwinding
among a crowd of fellow passengers. With
a martini in hand and the onboard band's
melody in the air, I'd reflect on my day of
adventures and wander what next is in store.
Feeling restless? Check out the panoramic
Horizons Bar on the top deck, which
becomes a popular disco for young and
young-at-heart alike and is open until the
wee hours of the morning.
Vamos a Cuba!
The Celestyal journey to Cuba is perfect for
seasoned travelers who hope to do more
than lounging poolside and sipping a margarita.
The program is for the intellectually
curious, young and old. On my journey, I
met fellow travelers from all walks of life. I
would ask them why they were here and
they each said something similar. They had
a desire to learn and experience the intricacies
of a country that for so long had suffered
from civil war, invasion and political
polarization.
Celestyal allows visitors the opportunity to
witness the Cuba of today, a bright and colorful
nation that acknowledges its history,
but also boasts a sense of exuberant pride.
It is hard to explore this island country with
Celestyal Cruises and not become captivated
by the history and the beauty of the
Cuban people.
www.celestyalcruises.com
53
American World Traveler Summer 2017