Cuba

Tauck will resume touring to Cuba for the first time in four years with a refreshed week-long itinerary launching in October 2024. The enhanced ‘Cuba: A Cultural Odyssey’ offers six departures this year through to late December, all of which have sold out.

Cuba Private Travel, a luxury destination management company (DMC) based in Havana and with offices in the US (New York) and the UK (Harrogate), has appointed Journeys Representation as its local rep for the Australian and New Zealand market.

Australian tour company, Simply Cuba Tours, leads immersive small-group tours through Cuba – one of the world’s most intriguing and fun-loving countries. While some 21st-century conveniences are starting to appear in Cuba, the vibrant Caribbean island nation remains largely caught in an evocative time-warp. That means there’s no better time to plan a visit to experience Cuba’s famous warmth, friendliness and unique character.

Arcadia Expeditions has introduced a new small group itinerary encompassing the highlights of Cuba, led by renowned historian Michael Bustamante.

Start-up small group, experiential tour operator Arcadia Expeditions had pushed back the launch of its maiden season by around six months as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The all-new Gran Hotel Bristol is now open. Located in the heart of Havana, it’s just steps away from the National Capitol Building (El Capitolio) and within walkable distance of the hotspots and hidden gems of the Cuban capital.

Accor has welcomed the arrival of its avant-garde lifestyle brand, SO/ Hotels & Resorts, in Cuba with the opening of SO/ Paseo del Prado La Habana. Located in high-energy, dynamic and socially vibrant destinations including Berlin, Bangkok, Singapore, St. Petersburg, Vienna and now Havana, SO/ hotels are the places to see and to be seen. SO/ Paseo del Prado La Habana will showcase the brand’s have-it-all lifestyle of rebellious luxury at its new residence in one of the most emblematic neighbourhoods of Cuba’s capital city.

Next month she starts her sea trials, and in less than 200 days Virgin Voyages’ first of four ocean cruise ships, Scarlet Lady, will enter service under the startup cruise line’s “epic sea change”.

Kempinski Hotels will extend its presence in Cuba to three properties, with a new location to open in the UNESCO world heritage site of Old Town Havana by the end of 2019. The luxury hotel group has signed another management contract with Grupo de Turismo Gaviota SA, the owning company of the Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana and the soon-to-open Cayo Guillermo Resort Kempinski.

The President of Virgin Voyages has slammed the President of the United States, questioning the rationale behind the Trump Administration’s travel ban on Cuba.

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours has scrapped sailing to Cuba planned for Scenic Eclipse in a few months time, revising its program to offer new options in the Caribbean and Central America. The schedule adjustment is understood to be direct result of the Trump Administration’s ban on US citizens travelling to Cuba.

Ocean cruise operators have been left scratching their heads after the Trump Administration revealed plans to restrict non-family travel to Cuba. The decision by the US Treasury and Commerce Department will see all cruise ships operating from the US banned from sailing to Cuba in a bid to starve the island’s communist government.