Cruise to Havana

[rogue828]

Just looking for some feedback/advice from travelers whom have been to Havana. Doing a cruise in August and was wondering about places to avoid,good local cigar shops. If its possible to catch a cab to a good beach away from approved cruise line excursions. Thanks to all!

[ecdc]

I did a Norwegian cruise, Miami to Havana, in April of this year. If you're a US citizen, you need to do sufficient people-to-people stuff not to get on the wrong side of OFAC. (Part of US Treasury Dept.) You probably shouldn't just pop off to beaches for the day. There's a Habanos cigar shop almost across the street from the cruise ship terminal. You can get all the authentic cigars and rum you could ever want right there, before you get back on the ship for the evening, then you don't have to carry them all over Havana with you.
Your ship will have lots of OFAC-compliant activities. We also did a private, OFAC-compliant food walking tour.
I found Havana lovely. The people are nice to foreigners and the architecture is unlike anywhere I've ever been. Closest place it reminded me of would be the French Quarter of New Orleans combined with Yangon, Myanmar. Beautiful old buildings next to crumbling decrepit Soviet-era construction.
Bring US dollars. Convert them, at basically one-to-one, to Convertible Pesos you exit the cruise terminal, before you go downstairs to street level.
Have fun! I can't wait to go back.

[Floorguy]

Don’t buy lose cigars, they charge you more!! My friend went a few months ago and brought my back a box of Cohiba’s.... he had to go into town somewhere, and picked me up a box for $80.00!

[tudorbaja27]

I was in Havana on a solo trip a few months ago. Tremendous place!
Stay out of the tourist traps by the port (duh). Buy cigars only in cigar shops.
I spent a couple of days at Santa Maria del Mar beach - lovey, definitely check it out and have fun!