We chose this trip for the experience of cruising around Cuba, enjoying days at sea and admiring the coastline. On arrival in Montego Bay, men started grabbing bags as they were off loaded from the bus before we could get off. The company did not send out baggage tags ahead of time, we were to get them at the dock. It was scary and frustrating as these men had no identification, no shirts or caps to indicate they were legitimate.

After sailing from the first port, Santiago de Cuba, we were advised we had been redirected to Cienfuegos rather than sailing to Havana. We had to endure a 3 1/2 hour bus ride in each direction to visit Havana and this eliminated any free time that the schedule overnight stay would have provided. It was a very long day. The people joining the ship in Havana had a 4 hour bus ride from the airport. We were told this was necessary due to technical difficulties in the port, then it was due to high winds.

On our arrival in Havana the MSC Opera was docked and when she left at the end of the day, another vessel pulled in. We believe we were bumped to accommodate a larger vessel that paid more. We spent 4 days at anchor or docked in Cienfuegos, reducing out experience to one of a resort rather than a cruise. It would seem that Cuba is not ready for the influx of vessels interested in visiting Havana.