Cuba Small-Ship Cruise Added to International Expeditions' People-to-People Tours
HELENA, Ala. (PRWEB) April 30, 2015 -- International Expeditions is expanding its Cuba people-to-people tour offerings by adding a new small-ship cruise itinerary sailing the island’s Western coast from Cienfuegos to Havana aboard the 48-guest yacht Panorama. Departures of the Cuba expedition cruise program are scheduled for December 17, 2015; January 28 and March 10, 2016.
“Demand for travel is growing and travelers want to explore the island before it inevitably changes,” said Steve Cox, Executive Director and head of Cuba Program Development. “This program provides a comfortable base of exploration, allowing guests to experience Cuba without staying in hotels which often don’t meet U.S. standards. While travel restrictions have eased, Cuba is still a country with limited infrastructure and accommodations suitable for discerning travelers.”
On the Cuba Voyage, travelers journey from French-influenced Cienfuegos to Havana, where they spend three nights docked in Havana Vieja. After enjoying a choral performance and strolling wide avenues in Cienfuegos, the only city in Cuba founded by the French, guests spend one night at Hotel La Union before embarking for a seven-night cruise. In 500-year-old Trinidad, guests enjoy a walking tour through the cobblestone streets before sampling the flavors of Cuba at a paladar (private restaurant). On the island of Cayo Largo, IE joins local conservationists working to protect the loggerhead, hawksbill and green sea turtles that nest annually. Hikes in the remote western Guanahacibes Peninsula may reveal the endemic bee hummingbird, the world’s smallest bird. Other highlights of this people-to-people itinerary include learning about Cuban sports, medicine and mass communication, dance lessons, local choir and theater performances, pottery workshops, visits to museums, and calling on artists in their studios. Prices for the 10-day program start at $4,599.
Travelers aboard the Panorama, a three-masted motor sailer, are accommodated in 24 outside cabins, each featuring air-conditioning, TV and marble-finished en suite facilities. While guests are off the ship daily for excursions, when on board, activities center around the abundant outdoor spaces, including the sun deck and an aft deck leading to the bar.
The new cruise program joins a line-up which includes two small-group land programs and customized travel for special interest groups, including those interested in birding and wildlife, women’s issues, private enterprise and history. International Expeditions first began offering licensed travel to Cuba in 2003.
For more information or a brochure on IE's Cuba travel packages, call International Expeditions at 1-800-234-9620 or visit http://www.IEtravel.com.
Emily Harley, International Expeditions, http://www.IEtravel.com, +1 (205) 565-2160, [email protected]
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