Reply #45: That's the closest some of the right-wing visitors and pre-revolutionary [View All]

[Judi Lynn]

Cubans or their off-spring feel they can come without crossing over the line, and red-baiting. They fully want to call you a "communist," and call me a "communist," too, since we believe these countries have the right to chart their own courses WITHOUT any U.S. meddling and bullying.

They realize that the U.S. went through a dark, ugly period in history with Joe McCarthy and company, and a lot of Americans get really steamed at that kind of dirty, underhanded method of dealing with people with whom they disagree. It's childish, and meant to be destructive.

They mean to undercut your reputation, your right to express your beliefs. It's not all in good fun, never was. It's taking cheapshots, fighting dirty. I've seen it on Cuba threads since "Elián," and it looks dirty and dishonest every time.

I admire your composure, Mika. Anyone who takes the time to simply THINK these things over, and to read can see what you said is very easy to understand, for chrissakes. No big mystery there! It seems harder to NOT get the picture.

Spain travel company Pullmantur launches Holiday Dream cruise ship to Cuba



Holiday Dream

www.DTcuba.com

The company Pullmantur, the oldest tour operator in Spain, started up operations in Cuba with the cruise ship Holyday Dream.

Executives from the Pullmantur Cruises division said that Cuba has become a sort of main port for a voyage that begins in the city of Cienfuegos.

The voyages includes a stop on Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Youth), where travelers can enjoy a day at the beach, and ends in Havana, where they stay more than 24 hours.

The Holiday Dream, which is 200 meters long, 50 meters high and weighs 39,000 tons, can accommodate 1,047 passengers and is likely to be insufficient to meet the growing demand for that offer in the future.
(snip)
The company, which started up cruise operations four years ago and already owns five ships, plans to carry more than 160,000 passengers in 2005.
(snip/)

http://havanajournal.com/travel_comments/A2740_0_6_0_M/



European cruise ship in Habana harbor

Cruise ship Princess Danae docks in Santiago de Cuba


DTcuba.com

The cruise ship Princess Danae, carrying 500 passengers, docked in the port of Santiago de Cuba, in the eastern part of the island, during the second half of December.

Santiago de Cuba was chosen as a port of call during the cruise ship's Caribbean voyage, due to the city's historic, cultural, patrimonial and tourist attractions.

The boat was welcomed with folkloric dances and the catchy rhythm of Los Hoyos conga, which is characterized by unique beats and dances.

During the ship's stopover, more than 300 passengers enjoyed excursions to the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery, Céspedes Park, the Cuban Historic Ambience Museum, and the Pepe Sánchez Trova House.

Other optional excursions included the Baconao-Gran Piedra Park and the town of El Cobre, which holds the Sanctuary of the Lady of Charity and one of oldest copper mines in the Americas.
(snip/)

http://havanajournal.com/travel_comments/A2814_0_6_0_M/



Only in Cuba. Havana and our cruise ship in the background

November, 2004
http://travellingjd.blogspot.com/2004_11_01_travellingjd_archive.html

Cruise Ship Season Kicks off in Eastern Cuba
Santiago de Cuba, Oct 25 (AIN) The arrival of the cruise ship Astor in Santiago de Cuba harbor marks the beginning of a new tourist season, which will include another seven visits up to April 2005.

This is the first time the cruise ship Astor has visited this Cuban destination and it has 343 vacationers on board, mostly Germans. Its Caribbean tour also includes Havana as its next stop over.

More than 70% of the visitors have booked excursions to the Cuban beaches, including those in the famous Baconao Park. Also included are tours of Santiago de Cuba city, where vacationers will be attracted by the local architecture and patrimony, as well as visiting other tourist centers, such as the La Gran Piedra mountain, which houses the remnants of French-Haitian coffee farms that date back to the 18th century. The Astro cruise ship started its Caribbean tour from the Dominican Republic, last October 21 and will return to Europe on November 12. The ship belongs to Germany’s 50-year-old Transocean Tour company, which organizes tours around the world, including two annual Caribbean trips. Cubanacan travel agency, belonging to the Cubanacan Hotel Group, acted as host to the cruise ship arrival in eastern Santiago de Cuba.
(snip/...)

http://www.ain.cu/english/oct2504edingles.htm

ETC., ETC.

The two official Classic International Cruises postcards below of Funchal, released late 2000, show the extended accommodation aft more clearly, and the revised funnel colours carried at this time. Funchal was operating on a charter from Cuba at this time.