I actually booked a last minute deal on this website, Cruise Critic after following a link from Facebook. The teaser rate was $279, add the taxes and port fees, bumps it to $440, but wait, you aren't done-- add another $75 for the Cuban visa and $19 a day for the mandatory service (gratuities) charges. Still, a 5 day cruise as a solo traveler for around $600-ish is a pretty great deal! This deal also included open bar with almost all drinks included (pay extra for top shelf, high end specialty drinks and bottled water). I booked the day before the ship was sailing. Parking at the port terminal is $20 a day, so factor that in if you are driving. This is my first time as a passenger on a large cruise ship and I wasn't sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised in both the spaciousness of my assigned cabin (at my low rate, I was a 'let us choose for you' assignment by Norwegian). There were plenty of activities so you could participate in different things or not depending on your mood. I laugh at the restaurants, though-- the ship boasts 11 venues and yeah, technical it has 11 venues, but every buffet has the exact same offerings except the one offering pizza or hamburgers. Both of the sit-down non-buffet main dining venues have the same menu. I wasn't impressed with the steak I received at the Palace restaurant and I wasn't impressed with the waiter who chose to ignore me as a single female diner. However, that was probably my only negative encounter so I think it was isolated. The food was plentiful and there were a lot of vegetarian issues and fresh fruit. Too much of it tasted kind of Sysco, which gets old after a while so stick with the fresh stuff.

I wasn't sure what to expect in Cuba. The boat docks in old Havana and you can walk off the boat and be right in the heart of it. It is heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time-- gorgeous old architecture that is hundreds of years old in some cases. The stray dogs and cats will break your hear, as will hearing that the average Cuban makes about $25-$35 a month. Duck into one of the hole in the wall stores selling basic necessities and see that 1 bar of soap I $6-- a 'luxury' item for most Cubans. I took my unopened soap and hand lotion from my room amenities and brought it ashore and gave it to an elderly woman. Please consider bringing your soap ashore if you go-- it is nothing to us, but it is a luxury item for the average Cuban and very much appreciated. I felt relatively safe there because of the police presence and basic 'street smarts' that you need when traveling any city. Cubans are curious about us and most will talk to you one on one. I really enjoyed this taste of Cuba and it makes me want to return. I did not do any of the excursions because I booked so late, but my fellow guests were raving about the Tropicana excursion and the cigar factory tour-- all the tours seem very well received. If you don't feel like booking a tour through the boat, you can hire a 1950s car out front of the port. The taxi's are all those old fabulous cars you see in the brochures and the drivers are very eager to show you around in their lovingly restored convertible. I highly recommend this tour if you've been wanting to see Cuba.