Cuban Adventure with Silversea

CUBAN ADVENTURE Aboard Silver Cloud Expedition OVERNIGHT A& STAY IN HAVAN UBA. SANTIAGO DE C 4 Cuban ports 1/2 ys spanning 5 da in total!

DEPARTING 2nd OCTOBER 2018

DISCOVER THE JEWELS OF CUBA, COLOMBIA & PANAMA!

Enjoy a wonderful voyage semi-circumnavigating Cuba, looking for UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Cuba and Colombia. Sample Cuban and Caribbean food and drinks, enjoying a Mojito at the National Hotel, marvel at the work done to fortify Cartagena, and relax on powdery beaches. On this adventure you will get to see (as Christopher Columbus said) “THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LAND THAT EYES HAVE EVER SEEN”.

Luxury cruising with Silver Cloud After extensive refurbishment, Silver Cloud will be the most spacious and comfortable ice class vessel in expedition cruising. Her large suites, her destination itineraries and her unparalleled service make her truly special. Her five dining options will tantalise your taste buds and as 80% of her suites include a veranda, watching a breaching whale or a few cavorting penguins has never been so personal. Broad sweeping decks with multiple open spaces and a swimming pool complete what is surely the most distinctive expedition ship sailing today.

Silver Cloud

6 stars, only 254 guests

A limited number of guests mean that Silver Cloud has the highest space to guest and crew to guest ratios in expedition cruising. With her 16 zodiacs, 10 kayaks, possibilities are almost limitless with ship-wide simultaneous explorations. Finally, a team of up to 22 passionate and dedicated expedition experts are always at hand to ensure your voyage is enhanced every step of the way.

All Suite Accommodation

Vista Suite

Your home away from home while you embrace the intrepid explorer within. The suite’s seating area has plenty of room to relax while you go over your notes, ready for the next adventure. Large picture windows frame panoramic ocean views, ideal for appraising the local wildlife.

Panorama Lounge

The Panorama Lounge is specially designed to provide an uninterrupted view of the day’s destination from the comfort of the luxury cruise ship’s interior. This is an ideal place to unwind on your cruise, enjoy afternoon tea, listen to the pianist and watch the setting sun. The drinks are complimentary, the music live and inviting.

Enjoy dancing to a range of musical styles for every taste from standards to the latest club mixes.

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ITINERARY Day 1 — Pre-Cruise Hotel Stay

En route to Nassau, you’ll fly through Fort Lauderdale and enjoy one night 5 star hotel stay in Fort Lauderdale.

Day 2 — Nassau, Bahamas

After arriving in Nassau and embarking the Silver Cloud, you depart on your spectacular 12-day expedition Cuban Adventure. This afternoon you will be introduced to your Expedition Team and important members of the crew.

Tonight you familiarise yourself with your new home away from home, meet some of your fellow travellers and enjoy the first of many memorable meals in one of many restaurants.

CUBAN ADVENTURE 6* Silver Cloud Bahamas to Panama Oct 2, 2018 - 14 days

Day 3 — At Sea

Today is a day to relax on deck or peruse an array of titles and topics in the wellstocked Library. A mandatory Zodiac briefing will take place during the day. As you sail towards Cuba, you can join the Expedition Team on the outer decks and watch for birds, whales and dolphins, or head to the Lecture Theatre to learn more about Cuba and its unique culture and history.

Days 4-5 — Havana, Cuba

La Habana is the largest city in Cuba. The Historical Centre of Havana is characterised by the presence of the architectural trends of the Baroque and the Eclecticism, which is the fingerprint of the Spanish settling.

After clearance procedures, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a guided tour taking in the highlights of Havana. You will start your journey to the metropolitan and Modern Havana driving to the military fortress Castillo de Los Tres Santos Reyes del Morro, from where you will have a commanding view over the city. You will then continue to the Revolution Square and to the colonial part of the city to explore Havana by foot through the Historical Centre of Old Havana, declared UNESCO a “World Heritage Site”, visiting the Cathedral Square, the Plaza de Armas, Havana’s first University San Geronimo de la Habana, the General Captain’s Palace and will have an opportunity to enjoy a drink at La Taberna while listening to a live band playing some typical and traditional Cuban music.

From there you will walk back to the port and ship.

After an early dinner onboard the Silver Cloud, you set out to enjoy a typical not-to-miss Havana Tropicana Show. The luxurious and spectacular show, performed under the stars, offers Caribbean music and all the varieties related with the cabaret ambiance. Sample some local rum (and coke) while enjoying this unforgettable performance – mind you, as cigars are offered to every guest attending the show (some 1000 seats are available) a lot of smoking will take place! As this is an open air arena it is weather depending – rain will cancel the show. As the show begins at 10pm, the return to Silver Cloud will be at about 01am…

The Silver Cloud will overnight in the port of Havana. During your second day in Havana, you depart for a tour to see, sample and enjoy three things Cuba is famous for: vintage American cars, cigars, and mojitos. Enjoy a drive in vintage American cars to the ‘Cigar Factory’. Learn about the history of cigars and see how Cuban cigars are hand-rolled, (the purchase of cigars and rum will be possible at the end of the visit) before you continue your drive through the residential areas of Miramar and Vedado to the National Hotel, one of the most famous hotels in Cuba.

You will see the garden and history hall and will have time for THE Cuban cocktail: a mojito.

If you prefer to explore Havana on your own, the “Havana Rum Museum” is in walking distance and has guided tours explaining the process and history of rum and the Havana Rum company.

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Day 6 — Punta Frances, Isle of Youth, Cuba

During the morning attend one of the lectures or food seminars relating to Cuba or enjoy the cruise along Cuba’s western tip before reaching the “Isle of Youth”. This enchanting island was discovered

by Columbus in 1494 during his second America-voyage. It served over centuries as a base for English and French pirates. In the 16th century Sir Francis Drake used this island as a pirate-base. Only a few years ago chests filled with gold coins and numerous shipwrecks were discovered from times of the Spanish conquerors in the south of the island.

You will tender ashore at the Punta Frances Maritime National Park.

The underwater world of this maritime national park is a mustsee. Enjoy snorkelling, swimming or sunbathing. Join the onboard Marine Biologist for a snorkel tour and learn to identify damselfish, jacks, surgeonfish, trumpet fish, parrot fish, triggerfish and turtles.

Alternatively, explore more of this National Park by foot and be on the lookout for iguanas and pelicans.

Day 7 — Cienfuegos, Cuba

Cienfuegos (“hundred fires”) is the city of Cuba with an exceptional colonial flavour. The city was founded in the early 19th century by French colonists and has been called The Pearl of the South. Its second nickname has been Cuban Paris – it has its own Arc de Triomphe. UNESCO declared it a World Cultural Heritage Site in 2005 as the best example of the 19th century implementation of new ideas in modernity, hygiene and order in Latin American urban planning.

On your tour you will visit the nearby city of Trinidad. Founded

by Diego Velázquez in 1515 as Villa de la Santísima Trinidad, it still preserves its colonial style: cobble-stoned streets, tiled roofs, the filigree of its grilles and inner patios remain from colonial times. It was declared World Cultural Heritage in 1988. You will visit the Romantic Museum and the Brunet Palace before having lunch at the Plaza Mayor. After lunch you will visit La Canchánchara tavern where you can sample a special drink made with honey, lemon and rum. It was originally given to slaves as a salve in Colonial times.

Day 8 — At sea and Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

During the morning Silver Cloud will continue along Cuba’s southern shore, giving you time to observe, relax, enjoy the amenities Silver Cloud has to offer and to attend lectures that will focus on Caribbean natural history .

In the afternoon Silver Cloud will approach Santiago de Cuba’s port and will stay overnight.

Day 9 — Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Visit Santiago de Cuba’s San Pedro de la Roca Castle, Old Havana & the town of Trinidad UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Cuba’s second-largest city will reveal its most intriguing sites today. You can either visit the Morro Castle, originally called “Castillo de San Pedro de la Roca”. Designed in 1637 this fortress at the entrance to the bay and harbour of Santiago de Cuba was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list as “the most complete and best-preserved example of Spanish-American military architecture, based on Italian and Renaissance design principles” in 1997. A brief stop is made at the Revolution Square before visiting the Cuban independence hero’s mausoleum. A stop will be made at Caney’s Bar Rum, related to a famous brand that has a bat in its logo. The last stop will be at Céspedes Park.

This will give you an overview of the city, should you wish to explore at your own leisure.

Alternatively, leave Santiago de Cuba on an excursion that will take the road to La Gran Piedra, one of the Sierra Maestra Peaks.

There you are able to admire wonderful views of the coast and surrounding countryside. Later you will visit the Isabelica Museum – an old coffee plantation founded in the early 19th Century, complete with original coffee drying floors and a museum depicting the early coffee industry. You will also visit the Botanical Gardens, which have a large variety of indigenous plants and flowers.

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Opposite the walled city is the impressive fortress ‘Castillo de San Felipe Barajas’ with the statue of its defender against the Royal Navy in 1741. You also have the choice to see part of the walled city during a private walk with a special coffee tasting or doing it in a horse-drawn carriage.

Your birders will want to head south to see the Colombian National Aviary, the largest of its type in Colombia. The aviary has six different environments and 135 different species – including the Andean Condor.

In the evening you will attend a special Colombian dinner at the monastery La Popa, from where spectacular night views of Cartagena can be had.

Day 13 — San Blas Islands, Guna Yala, Panama

Day 10 – Port Antonio, Jamaica

You enter Porto Antonio, a port that had for years captivated admirers like poet Ella Wheeler Wilcox and actor Errol Flynn.

Join members of the Expedition Team for a visit to a small cove nearly enclosed by land and one of Jamaica’s most scenic spots, the Blue Lagoon -or Blue Hole as residents call it. You will also visit Frenchman’s Cove and the architecturally ornate and historic Victorian mansion of Demontevine Lodge on Titchfield Street.

Together with your onboard Ornithologist, you embark on a birding adventure to Reach Falls. Due to the migratory path for North America, many species visit there in both autumn and spring. Be on the lookout for redstarts, warblers, vireos, the endemic Redbilled and Black-billed Streamertails, and the American Kestrel.

Formerly known as the San Blas Archipelago, the 365 islands and the coastal land belonging to the Guna ethnic group received its new name of Guna Yala in 2011. The approximately 30,000 Guna live along the Caribbean coast and on 36 of the islands. The women are quite famous for the handicraft they produce, of which the best known are the “mola” – embroidered designs worn mainly by the women. The geometrical designs were originally painted onto the bodies, but were eventually transferred onto cloth and used as adornments for shirts.

You will board your Zodiacs and visit one of the uninhabited islets for swimming and snorkelling. While you will be there, local women will come over from the other islands, showing you their molas – which not only make for good photos but are nice and sought-after souvenirs.

On the night, your onboard Videographer/Photographer will present his/her Voyage-DVD, recapturing all the interesting moments you have had and the interesting sites seen on this voyage.

Day 11 — At Sea

A day at sea always gives good opportunities to assess the things seen so far and to prepare one for the different destinations still to be visited. Help your birders spot some of the seabirds found far away from their nesting grounds. A refreshing drink and an interesting book can be good company too. There are many ways to enjoy the day while Silver Cloud cruises the Caribbean.

Day 12 — Cartagena, Colombia

Since the founding in 1533 by Francisco de Heredia, Cartagena de Indias has been one of the most important ports of Spanish South America and the old city had therefore been surrounded by several fortifications and walls – making it one of the most fortified cities in South America in its time. It was so well defended that even the British navy was not able to conquer it in 1741 – despite the fact that that the British had the largest fleet ever assembled to that point. The old part of Cartagena is still enclosed by extensive walls and ‘protected’ by several fortresses. This part is known as “the walled city” and was declared a Colombian Heritage Site in 1959, while UNESCO declared it a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1984.

You will visit the walled part of Cartagena with its colonial houses, narrow streets, many galleries and restaurants. Inside this protected area are the Museum of the Inquisition, the Museo de Oro (Gold Museum), and the Museum of Modern Art, as well as the Film Museum, the Naval Museum, and the imposing Teatro Heredia.

Day 14 — Colon, Panama

Following breakfast, disembark Silver Cloud and transfer to Panama City for your flight home.

Expedition highlights and wildlife listed here are possible experiences only and cannot be guaranteed. Your Expedition Leader and Captain will work together to ensure opportunities for adventure and exploration are the best possible, taking into account the prevailing weather and wildlife activity. Expedition Team members scheduled for this voyage are subject to change or cancellation.

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Included Expedition Highlights • Learn about the architecture and history of Cuba and some of its UNESCO World Heritage Sites • Get driven in a vintage car to a cigar factory in Havana and enjoy a traditional Cuban Tropicana Evening Show • Visit Cartagena’s fortified old quarters – a UNESCO World Heritage Site • Enjoy the beaches, and luxuriant tropical landscape of the Guna Yala

SILVERSEA ALL-INCLUSIVE

San Blas Islands, Panama

Luxurious cruising aboard the Silver Cloud

• Return international flights • 1 night pre-cruise hotel in Fort Lauderdale • 12 night cruise onboard Silver Cloud • Post cruise transfer from Colon to Panama • Free WiFi • All-suite accommodation. Inclusive room service, wine & spirits throughout the ship • Excursions and activities: Zodiac cruising, diving, hiking and snorkelling • Fine dining even in the most remote places on the planet.

• Comfortable amenities with the largest expedition suites at sea • Personalised service with a butler for all suites & the highest crew to guest ratio in the industry OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS Ask us about extending your holiday in Panama, or why not explore Costa Rica and Mexico!

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Vista Suites

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