Cuba Journal 
It’s finally here. The highly-anticipated Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana has opened its doors to guests, a major new addition to Cuba’s booming tourism sector. The five-star property has been exquisitely restored, taking a building first constructed between 1894 and 1917 as Cuba’s first European-style shopping arcade and turning it into what’s easily one of the … Read more
If you’re a lover of Cuban cigars, you’re likely a regular at La Casa del Habano, the official global retail network of cigar stores for Cuba’s Habanos company. With more than 140 around the world, they’re mini-outposts of Cuba, typically offering a wide selection of cigars, walk-in humidors, plush seating and knowledgable staff. In many … Read more
There is something different to a Partagas. While the legendary brand has the most famous (recently renovated) factory in Havana, there is a mystique to it, an air of exclusivity that even more easily recognizable brands like Montecristo and Cohiba somehow don’t seem to possess. A Partagas is different; it is understatedly elegant. It is … Read more
Conservation is proving to be a valuable source of common ground between the U.S. and Cuba. When Barack Obama became the first president to visit Cuba since Calvin Coolidge, his visit highlighted not only a new course in international relations, but showcased on-going scientific collaboration with the island nation just 90 miles off the Florida … Read more
Royal Caribbean has announced an expansion of its cruises to Cuba on Empress of the Seas with 58 cruises of 4- and 5-night itineraries from January 2018 through March 2019, more than half offering overnight stays. The announcement adds to a chorus of cruise companies plying Cuba’s waters in search of the newest cruise novelty … Read more
Citing increased demand, Azamara Club Cruises is adding to its Cuban itineraries with four additional sailings for its luxury cruise brand. In addition, Azamara announced that it has added two other ports of call in Cuba: Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. All sailings will depart from Miami with at least one overnight call in Havana. … Read more
One of Cuba’s most esteemed cigars began with a puppet comedy show. It was the middle of the 19th century when Don Manuel Lopez of Juan Valle & Co, seeking to capitalize on the thriving British cigar market, named a new brand after Mr Punch, the famous puppet of “Punch and Judy” fame. Today, one of … Read more
From August 20, 2017–January 7, 2018, Hollywood in Havana: Five Decades of Cuban Posters Promoting U.S. Films, will be on display at the Pasadena Museum of California Art (PMCA). The exhibit assembles approximately 40 Cuban posters publicizing Hollywood films from the 1960s to 2009 including some iconic names like Marylin Monroe and Alfred Hitchcock. Astonishing … Read more
On May 15, over 50 participants will travel to Cuba aboard their personal vessels and charter boats to participate in a series of events designed to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of Marina Hemingway International Yacht Club and mark Waterway Guide’s 70th Anniversary. Waterway Guide is hosting the rally that departs from Key West, Florida (May … Read more
Cruising to Cuba has gotten a lot more interesting since the first U.S.-based cruise companies added Cuba to their itineraries last year. Cuba’s isolation from the U.S. tourist market and relatively modest port infrastructure offer advantages for people wanting to experience Cuba aboard a ship but without the mass tourism aspect of cruising that characterizes … Read more
