Cuba by Land and Sea

Group IST and Variety Cruises have partnered to offer “Cuba: A Magical Journey by Land and Sea,” a hybrid People-to-People cruise/tour aboard the 72-pasenger Voyager. The itinerary spends two nights in Havana and calls at Isla de Juventud, Cayo Largo, Trinidad and Cienfuegos.

Group IST has been operating cultural tours since 1981. The cruise director is an IST tour director who leads IST-operated excursions and directs onboard activities and lectures.

Variety Cruises, whose roots date back to 1968, operates 12 mega-yachts to a variety of global destinations.

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The Voyager is a sleek vessel with little ornamentation inside or out. Given its diminutive size, the megayacht's cabins and public areas are fairly spacious. It features a sun deck, an aft bar, lounge area and a small spa.

Fanciest and Most Common Accommodations: In all, the vessel features four categories of accommodations – A, B, C and P – along with an Owner’s Suite, which measures upwards of 300 square feet and features a sitting area with sofa. All accommodations include air conditioning, TVs, DVD players, mini-fridges, safe deposit boxes, deluxe toiletries and bathrobes.

What’s Included: Excursions are included in the price, as are all meals. WiFi, available for a charge, is relatively reliable.

What’s for Dinner? Meals are served in the main dining room. The cuisine is well-prepared and presented, with a variety of dishes to satisfy the tastes of international passengers. Menus feature a choice of two entrees and two appetizers. Buffet breakfasts include a variety of meats, cheeses, cereals, pastries, fruits and an omelet station.

The majority of lunches are part of land tours. Onboard lunch menus feature a mix of Greek and international dishes.

Favorite Excursion: All the excursions were fascinating and pleasurable, but Havana was the highlight. The last night in the city was particularly intriguing, thanks to a visit to the legendary Tropicana nightclub. It was a dazzling evening with over-the-top entertainment, including nonstop dancing and singing, and flamboyant costumes.

The Tropicana dates back to 1939. In its heyday in the 1950s such stars as Nat King Cole, Harry Belafonte, Tito Puente, Carmen Miranda and Josephine Baker headlined there.

READ MORE: Variety Cruises Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Who Goes on This Ship? Cuba is a relatively expensive destination, and hotels are not typically up to the standards that more affluent clients expect. The cruise caters to upscale travelers who are interested in culture and history but not at the expense of some creature comforts, which the vessel provides.

Key Selling Points: The cruise provides a comfortable venue from which to explore Cuba. With excursions operated by an experienced cultural tour operator, it offers quality land experiences. Additionally, the itinerary visits areas that are not typically frequented by tourists.

Agent Assistance: Variety Cruises is eagerly courting travel agents. It recently introduced an agent loyalty program and offers fam trips.