Tour Company Wants More Jamaicans on Cuba Cruise
Jamaica-based travel company Leisure for Pleasure Holidays and Tours Ltd has encouraged more Jamaicans to visit Cuba on its weekly cruises as it presented the first prize in a competition staged in association with the Jamaica Observer to a Kingston woman.
According to Managing Director Judith James, the cruise "provides an alternative and unique wholesome vacation package to Jamaicans at affordable prices".
"It offers Jamaicans who do not have US visas an opportunity to cruise from our own port in Jamaica," James added.
Tanya Reid, a University of the West Indies employee, yesterday collected her first prize of a cruise for two to Cuba.
The second prize of a three-day, two-night all-inclusive stay at Sunset Jamaica Grande Ocho Rios for two adults went to Colleen Royes, while Lenroy McKenzie won the third prize of admission for four to Dolphin Cove, Ocho Rios.
Yesterday, James reminded that the Cuba cruises will be available for a limited time this season, with a final departure date of March 21. The season will reopen on December 22.
Leisure for Pleasure actually sells the tours in Jamaica for Canadian company Cuba Cruise, which uses the 1,200-passenger vessel Louis Cristal for the voyages.
According to James, the service is the region's first ever weekly cruise to Cuba. The seven-night circumnavigation sailings embark every Monday from Havana, Cuba and every Friday from Montego Bay, Jamaica.
The cruise takes travellers to five ports in Cuba -- Havana, Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, Cienfuegos and Isle of Youth.
"Cuba Cruise has pulled out all the stops for the Louis Cristal liner, inviting world-class entertainers Cirque Fantastic Concept," a news release from Leisure for Pleasure said. "Among the entertainment acts are aerialists, acrobats, illusionists and jugglers, as well as a fully supervised children's program for ages four to 12 years."
James said that while her company strongly promotes destination Jamaica, "we understand the passion that some persons have to explore neighboring islands. Our Cruise to Cuba promotion is intended to reach this market".
Leisure for Pleasure Holidays & Tours Limited has more than 20 years' experience in the tourism and travel industry.
The company lists among its awards the Certificate of Recognition — Tourism Service Excellence Program in 2010 by the Jamaica Tourist Board and the Tourism Product Development Company; Highest Carnival Producer in Cruise Sales in Jamaica in 2009; the third Highest Carnival Cruise Sales in Jamaica in 2008; and the Royal Caribbean Cruise Award for third Highest Producer in Cruise Sales in Jamaica in 2004.
Source: The Jamaica Observer
