JARDINES AVALON IV
A NEW LEVEL OF LUXURY IN JARDINES DE LA REINA
It has been an initiative of Avalon over the last decade to ensure the comfort of our guests and the luxury of the experiences in Jardines de la Reina by continually upgrading our yachts. In 2019, we released the Jardines Avalon III at 160 feet with the most updated amenities and highest level of comforts with 15 cabins and an incredible cruising ability. This vessel has set the standard for our newest project to be released in August 2020, the Jardines Avalon IV (NT).
The former Tortuga has developed a strong following as our floating hotel in Jardines. Many anglers, divers, and eco adventurers have called this special place home for weeks on end, enjoying the classic comforts of this Cuban vessel. Now, with an increased demand for updates and higher levels of comfort and service, Avalon has invested in a massive improvement in building a Jardines Avalon IV from the hull up.
This amazing 180 foot vessel will be permanently moored in Jardines de la Reina and will feature 20 staterooms, a spacious lounge, a modern dining room, and a sun deck to enjoy every aspect of the Gardens of the Queen. Each room will include personalized air conditioning and heating controls, ample storage space, and convertible double beds.
The Jardines Avalon IV will be the perfect base of operations for your week of diving, fly fishing, eco adventuring, and experiencing the pristine nature of Jardines de la Reina through your conservation workshop program. Come join us in Cuba!
The helm deck includes four suites with balconies as well as a delightful jacuzzi and sun deck to enjoy the incredible views. The upper deck includes eight double rooms with private bathrooms as well as a lovely dining area and rear patio. The main deck includes another eight double rooms, a comfortable lounge area with large couches and areas to relax. This is the main entrance area to the yacht and features a massive rear deck and platform to keep all of your gear organized and access easy. The lower deck is where the crew resides along with the engine room powering this incredible vessel.
There is a spacious and comfortable combination lounge, dining room and bar area on the boat deck. In the cabins and common areas there are electric sockets available for you to plug in your personal items (220 volts and 110 volts).
2021 Season
Low Season: May 29th - Oct 2nd $2,999
High Season: Jan 2nd - May 29th /
Oct 2nd - Dec 31st $3,999
price per person in double room Week starting Saturday and ending the following Saturday.
Jardines Avalon F I has great accommodations for up to 18 guests in 8 Staterooms: 2 Staterooms back from the main salon, 4 Staterooms on the lower deck (all have private bathrooms, hot water, comfortable beds, TV, and A/C) and two staterooms on the middle deck (with shared bathroom). .
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+ BooksSelected Writings, by José Martí The Cuban Revolution: Origins, Course, and Legacy. Marifeli Perez-Stable Cuba: A Global Studies Handbook, by Ted Henken Cuba: What Everyone Needs to Know, by Julia Sweig Cuba, Or the Pursuit of Freedom, by Hugh Thomas Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life, by Jon Lee Anderson Dancing with Cuba: A Memoir of the Revolution, by Alma Guillermoprieto. Havana Before Castro: When Cuba Was a Tropical Playground, by Peter Moruzzi
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+ Non-FictionWaiting for Snow in Havana, by Carlos Eire Dancing with Cuba: A Memoir of the Revolution by Alma Guillermoprieto Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings: A Memoir by Margarita Engle
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+ FictionTelex From Cuba, by Rachel Kushner Dirty Havana Trilogy, by Pedro Juan Gutiérrez The Man Who Loved Dogs, by Leonardo Padura The Kingdom of This World by Alejo Carpentier Before Night Falls by Reinaldo Arenas Cecilia Valdés or El Angel Hill by Cirilo Villaverde Biography of a Runaway Slave by Miguel Barnet
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+ PoetryThe Whole Island – Six Decades of Cuban Poetry (A Bilingual Anthology), ed.: Mark Weiss Violet Island and Other Poems, by Reina María Rodríguez The Bridges, by Fayad Jamís Ismaelillo by Jose Marti Man-making words; selected poems of Nicolas Guillen Legacies: Selected Poems Paperback by Heberto Padilla Muerte de Narciso by José Lezama Lima Obras Escogidas of Dulce Maria Loynaz Antologia Poetica by Fina Garcia Marruz
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+ Photography and ArtAlex Webb & Rebecca Norris Webb: Violet Isle Jose A. Figueroa: A Cuban Self-Portrait Walker Evans: Cuba Rene Burri: Cuba y Cuba Veigas-Zamora, Vives Gutierrez, Nodal, and Garzon: Memoria, Cuban Art of the 20th Century
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+ TravelogueTrading With the Enemy: A Yankee Travels through Castro’s Cuba, by Tom Miller The Havana Guide: Modern Architecture 1925- 1965 by Eduardo Luis Rodríguez Tropicana Nights, by Rosa Lowinger
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+ PoliticalThe Boys From Dolores, by Patrick Symmes Without Fidel, by Ann Louise Bardach
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+ On-lineHarper’s Magazine October 2010: “Thirty Days as a Cuban” The Economist Special Report on Cuba – March 24, 2012: Nuestra América by José Martí
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+ MoviesPM, 1961, by Sabá Cabrera Infante, Orlando Jiménez Leal The Twelve Chairs (Las doce sillas), 1962, by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea I Am Cuba (Soy Cuba), 1964, by Mikhail Kalatozov Death Of A Bureaucrat (La muerte de un burócrata), 1966, by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea Memories of Underdevelopment (Memorias del subdesarrollo), 1968, by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea One Way or Another (De Cierta Manera),1974, by Sara Gómez The Last Supper (La última cena), 1976, by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea Portrait of Teresa (Retrato de Teresa), 1979, by Pastor Vega Lucia, 1968, by Humberto Solas Cecilia, 1981, by Humberto Solás Se permuta, 1983, by Juan Carlos Tabío A Girlfriend for David (Una novia para David), 1985, by Orlando Rojas Vampires in Havana (Vampiros en La Habana), 1985, by Juan Padrón Too Afraid of Life or Splat (Plaff o demasiado miedo a la vida), 1988, by Juan Carlos Tabío Papeles secundarios, 1989, by Orlando Rojas The Beauty of the Alhambra (La bella del Alhambra),1989, by Enrique Pineda Barnet Alice In Wondertown (Alicia en el pueblo de maravillas), 1990, by Daniel Díaz Torres María Antonia, 1990, by Sergio Giral Fresa y chocolate, 1993, by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, Juan Carlos Tabío Madagascar, 1994, by Fernando Pérez Guantanamera, 1995, by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea La vida es silbar, 1998, by Fernando Pérez Video de familia, 2000, by Humberto Padrón Lista de espera, 2000, by Juan Carlos Tabío Nada, 2003, by Juan Carlos Cremata Viva Cuba, 2005, by Juan Carlos Cremata Habana Blues, by Benito Zambrano Habanastation, 2011, by Ian Padrón Conducta, 2014, by Ernesto Daranas
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+ DocumentaryUnfinished Spaces by Alysa Nahmias and Benjamin Murray. Buena Vista Social Club by Wim Wenders Dance Cuba: Dreams of Flight by Cynthia Newport Maestra by Catherine Murphy The Poet of Havana by Ron Chapman Suite Havana by Fernando Perez Yank Tanks by David Schendel Horizontes by Eileen Hofer Now by Santiago Álvarez
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+ MusicCuban music cannot be explained. It has to be experienced. It has to be felt. The plethora of outstanding Cuban music from the late 19th century to present is too vast and diverse to list in one place. We try to give a broad stroke overview so you can experience the musical body of work of this small country and the influence it has had on music from all over the world throughout the ages. From the early origins of danceable afro-cuban rhythms to their incorporation in everything from son, guaguanco, classical and jazz, Cuban music has influenced the greatest artists, composers and arrangers throughout history including Dizzy Gillespie, Nat King Cole and Michel Legrand, to name a few. In recent decades, the evolution of Cuban rock, hip hop and even reggaeton rivals that of any other latin american country and has influenced artists from the The Roots and Tego Calderon to Jackson Browne and The Black Eyed Peas. Irakere: Misa negra Chucho Valdés and Omara Portuondo: Danza ñañiga Pablo Milanés & Silvio Rodríguez: El breve espacio en que no estás Pablo Milanes: Yolanda Silvio Rodriguez: El unicornio azul Buenavista Social Club Los Van Van: Sandunguera NG La Banda: Necesito una Amiga La Charanga Habanera: La chica mas bella Leo Brouwer: Un día de noviembre Camerata Romeu: Camerata en Guaguanco Frank Fernández: La comparsa Santiago Feliu: Ansias del alba Carlos Varela: Muros y puertas Kelvis Ochoa: A ella de duele Descemer Bueno: El carro David Torrens: El bufon y el tragico Ernan Lopez Nussa: Fin del baile Habana Abierta: Ahora si tengo la llave Gema y Pavel: Parar de fumar Orishas: A lo cubano Raul Paz: El balcon Gente de Zona: Traidora Fernando Alvarez: Se feliz Boris Larramendi: Boris Larramendi: Siempre happy
Program
Arrival:
The diving weeks run Saturday to Saturday. We suggest arriving into Cayo Coco, Santa Clara or Camaguey airports. Transfers from these airports are $50 per person one way to Jucaro port. If arriving into these airports, the flight must arrive no later than 12:00pm to ensure same day arrival to the port and navigation to Jardines de la Reina. If clients prefer to arrive and depart in Havana, they must arrive in the city on Friday, overnight, then take the collective land transfer to Jucaro port ($100pp one way — 6 hours). This transfer leaves Havana in the morning and ensures that clients will arriving at the port in time to board and navigate on Saturday. Guests MAY NOT arrive into Havana on Saturday, it must be at least the day before. Diving occurs Sunday thru Friday and will be up to 3 dives/day (including night dives). While on the boat, all meals and drinks are included.
Departure:
The boat will navigate to Jucaro port on Friday afternoon and will overnight in port. Clients will depart between 5 and 9am on Saturday morning, depending on the group transfer needs. Flights from Cayo Coco, Santa Clara or Camaguey airports can be booked after 11am and flights out of Havana can be booked after 8:30pm on Saturday or the clients may overnight and fly home on Sunday from Havana.
*Any flights outside of these guideline times will be subject to private transfer fees*
US Citizens: our cruises fall under the "Workshops, clinics, public performances and other athletic competitions" general license 515.567(b).
Marine Biologists working with Avalon will be collaborating with the clients about marine park conservation and the Gardens of the Queen’s unique ecosystem and clients will actively be engaging in the conservation initiative and efforts during their dive week.
Please feel free to read more about this program at www.BlueSanctuary.Org
Daily routine:
The diving schedule is usually at the discretion of the customers following the instructor’s suggestions with 3 daily dives. The day begins with a wakeup call at 7:00 am, coffee/tea ready, breakfast at 7:15 am. Our diving instructors are ready to go diving from 8:00 am. Fast diving boats are used to reach diving spots having the opportunity to explore different sites each day and enjoy the view of mangrove channels, virgin beaches, birds, and other exuberant fauna during the trips. There is no chance for loneliness; dive guides and crew are available every single minute.
Avalon guarantees all the equipment required to ensure safety (First Aid kits with O2 on every boat, excellent communications with mother boats and the mainland, life jackets, AED, etc.). Sunday morning, check-in dive to get acquainted and make sure all equipment is in good shape. During the briefings, our experienced instructors will explain every detail of the dive, from what will be seen in a particular spot to the correct behavior while diving with sharks or highlights of the area and special characteristics of the marine life present. After the first dive, the surface interval in one of the beautiful beaches. Second dive and, at midday, boats will return for lunch.
Together with the instructor, arrange a time for afternoon dives or for excursions through the lagoon and mangrove channels. Coming back to the liveaboard, it is time to drink a frozen “mojito”, enjoy the afternoon pizza, and talk about the dives. Around 8:00 pm, dinner is served and, like a family, everyone gets together around the table. Night dives available.
The staff will be in contact every minute to assist and receive special requests or suggestions. Evening time next to the bar, to watch photos and videos while breathing the sea atmosphere, it’s time to plan with the instructors what will happen the next day.
On Friday there are 2 dives in the morning then navigation back to Jucaro port where the group will overnight on board the mother yacht and disembark for transfer home on Saturday morning.
Tipping
Tipping is widespread in Cuba. Many Cuban workers rely on tips to supplement their basic income and they all work really hard. Tips help them get a better lifestyle. So if you receive good service, it is very good etiquette to tip accordingly.
Our Recommendations
Recommended $350-450 USD per person. This will be given to the captain or cruise director to be dispersed among the entire staff.
We would like to remind you that we do not accept credit cards onboard the boats. You will need cash for any purchases and gratuities. You can easily exchange money at the airport or at any bank for CUC (Cuban Convertible Pesos). The best currency to bring on your trip to Cuba is Euros to get a direct exchange to CUC if you plan to spend any extra time in Cuba. Otherwise, USD is the preferred currency for tips in Cuba.
Extra Expenses
All port fees and conservation fees will be included on your invoice and must be pre-paid. They cannot be paid onboard the boat.
Any rentals must be arranged and paid for in advance. They will be included on your invoice.
Any transfers outside of the recommended guidelines and suggestions will be subject to private transfer fees beyond the standard costs for transfers which will also be included on your invoice.
*If you have any questions about transfers and logistics, please do not hesitate to contact us at scuba@cubaviptravel.com
TESTIMONIALS
Our two week trip was a great experience. The staff was impeccable with every aspect of the journey, from arrival in Miami for the charter flight to the amazing restaurants, walking tours and music excursions. To coordinate over 150 travelers for a premium tour would have been impossible without their wealth of knowledge and attention to detail. For myself, the band, and many of our guests, the trip was one of the best experiences of our lives!
— Director of Development, Preservation Hall Foundation, New Orleans.