We chose the Celestyal Crystal for our Cuba cruise due to their multiple Cuban ports, their experience and history offering People to People programs in this market, and the ease of flying into and staying in Montego Bay pre-cruise. There are lots of mixed reviews, so I will give my opinion and my recommendations, as a participant in the Authentic Cuban Experience program for US citizens.

This cruise exceeded my expectations, and exceeded my experiences with the larger mass market cruise lines with their Tea Time buffet, their Gala Tropical Buffet, their recognition of a birthday with “free” birthday cake and a serenade by 3 waiters and a guitarist in their dining room, their nightly Chef’s (Cuban) specialty entrees, their desserts, the nightly productions shows 6 out of 7 nights, the variety of specialty (Cuban) cocktails and the easy availability of bottled water for shore excursions in their Blue Drink package, the educational lectures, the announcement of our sailing past Guantanamo Bay, the pleasant and stimulating fellow guests, and the modern safe and comfortable coach busses used for shore excursions.

We were glad that we booked, emailed and communicated directly with Celestyal, as others who booked through agencies complained of poor communication, despite having group coordinators on board. We were also glad that we embarked in Montego Bay, as those who embarked in Havana missed a day of the ship sponsored shore excursions, and the lecture series seemed out of sequence for them. Read more