We had been looking for a reasonably priced cruise to Cuba, and this was it! Overall the trip exceeded our expectations. Even though the Sky is one of NCL's older ships, it is now our favorite. It was never crowded, plenty of places to sit in the buffet area, including a great exterior eating area on the stern. The ship has a nice atrium and several quiet lounge areas.The open bar concept was a nice addition, and the ship did not have a "booze cruise" atmosphere at all. The overnight stay in Havana was wonderful. The ship docks in the heart of old Havana so leaving the ship to visit the city is very easy. Havana provides a different experience than the typical Caribbean port and it's fascinating to see this VERY different culture. The tour guides were rather open in discussing what life is like in Communist Cuba. The staff and service on the Sky were great. We always ate dinner in Crossings, one of two complimentary dining rooms. There was never a wait to be seated and the food was excellent, in our view. Breakfast and lunch in the buffet were also very good - not as much variety as on the mega-ships, but plenty for us.

We did three excursions: the Ultimate Highlights of Havana, Parisien Caberet in the Hotel National, and Hemingway's house. All were great, but a bit expensive. The highlights tour provides a good overview of the city with some history. The caberet is a stereotypical Cuban singing/dancing review with fantastic costumes and also some gymnastics and magic. The room is very crowded; we were at the very back but still had a good view. Prior to the show you can wander around the hotel which is historic. Hemingway's house is about 15 miles outside Havana and is definitely worth a visit. The house is fascinating and you get to see the countryside. The tour ends with a visit to his favorite hotel in Havana.

Finally, the two production on the Sky shows were quite enjoyable. Read more