Caribbean Tours

Accommodations Review

Good-sized cabin windows and recently remodeled bathrooms were high points. 

Crew & Guides Review

Erika was an exceptional guide and interpreter with a wealth of knowledge and engaging style. I was mesmerized by some of her talks! Rey, Jenny and Chris were also very informative and friendly, bringing their own style to each tour and presentation. 

Meals Review

Great variety with daily vegetarian selections and gluten free options. I really enjoyed being able to order the half-and-half dinners so I could try more than one entrée.  

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Great job - thanks Tiffany!

Traveler Advice

Be aware of the timing of the Panama Canal transit, and come with an open mind and open eyes. You WILL see many wonderful things!

Accommodations Review

I really enjoyed staying in the jungle at Chaa Creek. I have never done anything like that before so it was so cool to experience.

Meals Review

All meals were so delicious and unique.

AdventureSmith Explorations Review

Todd knows what he is doing and brought us on an excellent trip. (AdventureSmith is) the best travel company out there.

Traveler Advice

Get excited.

Accommodations Review

Definitely a sleek sail-cruiser - a comfortable, pleasant base camp for island exploration. The cabins were modestly sized but practical and comfortable. The aft swim deck was convenient for snorkeling, an activity of particular merit in Cuban waters. My favorite spot was the forward sun deck. I spent a very relaxing few hours in a reclined deck chair reading as we sailed toward the sunset one evening. 

Meals Review

In Havana, our group ate meals at privately owned restaurants called paladares.

Crew & Guides Review

Panorama’s hotel staff, Greek like the ship itself, were professional and very personable. The ship was primarily a vehicle for exploration, as our goal was to get off the ship and interact with Cuban people while learning as much as possible about the place. We had a capable coordinator, Ned, and a Cuban local guide, Marta.

Itinerary Review

I really liked the emphasis on meeting locals. I met a very talented wood-carver at his studio along the narrow cobblestone streets. I also met his wife, who operates a knitting cooperative for women in the city. We took in a private performance of a guitar-only classical music orchestra in an upstairs art gallery and performance space.  I visited Hemingway’s home, Finca la Vigia, which sits on a breezy hill to the east of the city. In the house, Hemingway wrote For Whom the Bell Tolls and The Old Man and the Sea. That same morning, our group stopped by a modern art cooperative and visited an organic farm for lunch. And it was fun to visit the La Corona Cigar Factory, which employs about 600 people who expertly hand-roll cigars on several floors of a large industrial building.

Accommodations Review

Chaa Creek and the sailboat were both great. In Chaa Creek your rooms are very open and comfortable and it had a nice pool for you to cool off in. The sailboat was great too; you can jump off it when you're stopped and the rooms are very cozy. It was amazing that the hotels we were staying at let us pick what we wanted to do; the boat also did the same and it was great.

Meals Review

I liked every meal I had on this trip. All of it was fresh and very well prepared. The meals on the boat were sometimes even fish we caught while moving.

Crew & Guides Review

Our trip guides were incredible. All of them were very nice and very knowledgeable about the trip. Every guide had great enthusiasm and was just very happy to have us.

Itinerary Review

My most enjoyed experience on this trip was scuba diving. Scuba diving was super fun and a great new experience for me. We saw super cool fish and creatures and the overall experience was great. My least Favorite experience was rafting down the river at Chaa Creek. You really have to raft at a certain time when the river is full and running fast; sadly, we did not go at that time and it was very slow and we had to paddle the entire thing.

Transportation Review

The transportation was always on time and they used very good cars. The drivers were very nice and wouldn't be mad if you had to stop.

Traveler Advice

Be ready for the heat.

Accommodations Review

Sea Cloud continues to be a classic! Well maintained and very well run.

Crew & Guides Review

Even better than ever! John is thoughtful, attentive to the group's needs as well as to the individuals in the group.

COVID Logistics

A great travel experience that took great care to minimize the Covid risk and maximize the journey for all of us.