Ponant has announced its return to Cuba for a second season with a sailing scheduled to run from January 25 to February 3, 2019. Guests who book early can save up to 30 percent resulting in fares that start at $7,980 per person and include airfare from Miami as well as two pre-cruise nights in Havana at a hotel.
Ponant's itinerary, “Cuba: History, Culture & Contemporary Life,” will take place aboard the 64-guest Le Ponant, a three-masted sailing yacht. Ports of call include Santiago de Cuba, one of the island’s oldest cities dating back to 1515; Trinidad where a walking tour will show off the cobblestoned streets and architecture; the beach at Punta Frances on Isla de la Juventud; and Cienfuegos, where guests can opt for a side trip to the Bay of Pigs and Playa Giron or stay to explore the town.
Throughout the journey, dance and musical performances, tours of artists’ studios, and visits with owners of casas particulares are all led by local guides. Now, for the first time, the fare includes two hotel nights in Havana.
Guests can also enjoy on-board programs. Guest lecturer Franklin W. Knight, Professor of History at the Johns Hopkins University, who has been organizing educational travel programs to Cuba since the 1970s, and frequently appears as an on-air analyst on NPR, BBC and PBS, will lecture throughout the sailing and accompany guests on excursions to share his insight along the way. Topics include "Cuba after the Castro Brothers," "Cuba the Land of Eccentricity," and "Cuban Rums: An Appreciation with Samples."
Two Cuban guides will join onboard for the entire cruise to share meals and engage in informal conversation. Once aboard, guests unpack only once while Le Ponant transports them to notable spots on the island.
Guests who book early will receive Ponant Bonus fares, with savings up to 30 percent off. Fares start at $7,980 per person. Airfare from Miami, two nights in Havana, all meals, and on-board entertainment are among the ingredients included.
This article originally appeared on www.travelagentcentral.com.
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