Tall ship specialist Star Clippers is to sail to Cuba in 2014 for the first time, offering a spectacular series of itineraries exploring the island in depth, visiting stunning beaches and anchorages, colonial towns and villages and with a pre- and post-cruise option to stay in historic Havana, famous for its cigars, nightlife, architecture and the legacy of Hemingway.

The Cuba programme will be offered on the 170-passenger Star Flyer, which will split the winter of 2013/14 between Costa Rica, where the ship has already operated two highly successful seasons, and the Caribbean. Star Flyer will sail four itineraries taking in Cuba, as follows:

  • February 2, 2014: 14 nights, Costa Rica to Cuba via the Panama Canal, calling at Drake Bay and Golfito (Costa Rica); Isla Gamez, Isla Iguana and Balboa (Panama); San Andres and Providencia (Colombia); George Town and Little Cayman (Cayman Islands) and Casilda (Cuba). From £2,440 plus £245 port charges, cruise only.
  • February 16 and 23 and March 2, 9 and 16, 2014: Seven nights Cuba and Cayman Islands, departing Cienfuegos and calling at Cayo Blanco; Casilda (for the historic town of Trinidad, rich with colonial architecture); Little Cayman and George Town, capital of Great Cayman; Cayo Largo (Cuba), Archipelago de los Canarreos; returning to Cienfuegos. From £1,185 plus £120 port charges, cruise only.
  • March 23: Six nights round-trip from Cienfuegos, calling at Archipelago de los Canarreos; Punta Frances; Cayo Largo; Casilda; and Cayo Blanco, from £1,015 plus £105 port charges, cruise only.
  • March 29, 2014: Cuba to St Maarten, departing Cienfuegos and calling at Montego Bay and Port Antonio, Jamaica; Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic); the British Virgin Islands; and Philipsburg. From £1865pp plus £190 port charges, cruise only.

“Cuba represents an exciting new destination both for our first-time guests and our many repeat clients,” says Star Clippers president, Mikael Krafft. “As well as offering spectacular history, culture and architecture, the island’s coast is ideal for sailing, with many beautiful anchorages and uninhabited beaches and cays.”

NOTE: This new cruise programme in Cuba will not be sold to any American citizens or residents, since it is against US Federal Law which prohibits their travel to Cuba except under very restrictive circumstances. Star Clippers’ General Sales Agent in the USA, Star Clippers Americas, will have absolutely no involvement with our Cuba cruise programme. Marketing, sales and reservations activities for our Cuba cruises will be exclusively handled by our office in Monte Carlo for non-USA countries.