I have always wanted to go to Cuba. I wish I had gone before all the restrictions now in place even if it meant going with another cruise line. I waited for HAL and I now regret it. The "required" shore excursions were too long with not enough time at the stops and way too much time riding a bus around and around the city. I was too exhausted once returned to the ship to go out on my own in the dark and explore. There were a lack of English speaking guides at the museum and botanical gardens in Cienfugos. The Veendam is old and showing her age in places. Broken seating between pool and bar, fire suppression systems held together with string along with dirt and crumbs in between cushions in the Crow's Nest. At least 2 if not 4 elevators were broken at all times. Service is great as always but there seems to be less crew. Entertainment is really cut back fleet wide. Kareoke is gone along with everything else except Trivia. Getting aboard was easy but upon return we were delivered to a dock far from where our cars were parked. A shuttle bus was provided but the whole point of paying outrageous port parking fees is the ease of exit. If I had wanted to shuttle I could have parked way cheaper off port. This may explain an unexpected refund of $20.51 on the last days room charges. Overall I would not take this ship again and I would not take any ship to Cuba right now.