For years, the city of Havana and the island of Cuba have remained shrouded in mystery for nearly 100 percent of all Americans. Since the late 50s, travel to the island home of Fidel Castro and his Marxist-Leninist single-party government has been forbidden for American travelers. With rare exceptions, including a few press reporters, the image that most Americans hold of this tropical oasis is one lost in time, stuck in the 50s—from buildings to cafes to automobiles that take on a museum quality even when used for daily transportation.
All that is about to change thanks to the efforts of Al and Chuck Travel out of Sarasota, Florida, and Celestyal Cruises based in Limassol, Cyprus. Beginning on January 15 for eight days, the Celestyal Crystal cruise ship will leave Montego Bay, Jamaica, and sail to Santiago de Cuba on the south eastern portion of the island and home to the art collection of the Bacardi family. The following day, travel to Maria la Gorda, world renowned for its scuba and diving in the clear Caribbean Sea. Next stop: Cienfuegos on the southern coast, with its famed Cathedral de la Purisma Concepción built in 1833 with priceless stained glass windows. The trip is crowned with two full days and an overnight in the legendary capital city of Havana.
And the best part: this exclusive adventure has been custom-designed for Al and Chuck’s gay clientele, giving a whole new meaning to the word “Ole.”
Al Furguson and Chuck Scott are the Al and Chuck owners of the travel agency that are the leaders in gay travel in America.
“We were kind of in the right place at the right time,” Furguson told the Florida Agenda in an exclusive interview. “ We were big enough to be interesting to the cruise line in our traditional agency network and be appealing and interesting to them with our gay brand.” When Celestyal Cruises came calling, Al and Chuck were not only listening, they were excited to launch what will be the first gay cruise aimed at Americans to open up the Cuban travel market.
“I think it is a unique opportunity,” said Furguson, who himself will be aboard the first of three cruise dates that the Crystal will be doing. “For most people, this is really an opportunity of a lifetime. It is like stepping into a time machine. And we all can have the opportunity to experience Cuba before it changes. Soon enough, there will be a Holiday Inn on every fourth corner of Havana. There’s no doubt that it is going to be a major tourist destination—sooner rather than later.”
The first cruise runs from January 15-January 22, 2016. Subsequent cruises will occur aboard the Crystal on February 26-March 4, 2016 and April 8-April 15, 2016.
Guests will enjoy a sort of Gay Cultural Tour during their overnight in Havana with locals from the Cuban Gay Community. The rates that start at $799 per person double occupancy will include all on-board alcohol packages as well as the usual eat-till-you-drop food buffet and restaurants.
The three cruises are certain to be sold out, as most Al and Chuck events are. While the ships can accommodate 1,200 passengers, given the historical nature of this event, the world will be watching and the rooms will be full to capacity.
“We try to stay out of the politics and the politics of gay travel,” Furguson told the Agenda. “So we’re neutral on all the government in-feuding.” What they’re not neutral on however is the celebration that the Al and Chuck on-board staff will provide, including brand coordinator Eddie Sotomayor. Check him out at alandchuck.travel and become a part of history.
