At Long Last, There's an Affordable Air-and-Land Program to Cuba Operated by a Large Reputable Company

Just when it seemed that nearly all the new packages to Cuba were priced at outlandish levels ($500 to $600 a day per person, plus the cost of airfare between Miami and Havana), along comes Road Scholar to save the day. 
In a recent announcement, the famed, non-profit travel organization for mature Americans has offered to operate numerous departures of such a trip (through most of the year) for a reasonable sum (see below), including--repeat, including -- round-trip airfare between Miami and Havana. Although several of its earliest, springtime departures are close to being sold out, numerous other dates have empty seats, and even more openings are expected to be available in the fall. 
What's more, Road Scholar (formerly Elderhostel) no longer imposes a rigid minimum age requirement on its passengers as it did in the past (when it required they be at least 55 years of age). While the overwhelming percentage of its passengers are still people of advanced years (68 to 70 is probably an average age), Road Scholar now accepts persons of any age, though people in their 20s, 30s and early 40s might feel out of place on the typical Road Scholar trip.
Road Scholar is operating three different programs to Cuba, each involving a seven-night stay in Cuba:

Cuba Today: People and Society is a nine-day, eight-night trip with one night in Miami, four nights in Havana and three nights in Cienfuegos, all-inclusive of accommodations, meals, daily sightseeing, all government fees and taxes, and round-trip air between Miami and Cuba, for a total of $3,295 per person for most dates. If you assume the value of the round-trip air to be around $400 (which is the figure used by most other tour operators to Cuba), then your stay in Cuba is costing about $360 per person per day, which is far less than most others charge. The focus of this tour is on a broad range of Cuban institutions, exploring the history and cultural heritage of Cuba and meeting (according to Road Scholar) with "community leaders, artists and intellectuals." 
Havana: City of Arts and Artists is an eight-day, seven-night trip devoting six nights to the arts community of Cuba (painters, dancers, musicians and other performers), including two evening performances, of which one is in the Gran Teatro of Havana. Participants receive 12 field trips, all meals, accommodations, attendance at rehearsals, contact with directors and producers of artistic enterprises, and round-trip airfare to Havana from Miami, including all government fees and taxes. Prices are as low as $2,995 per person, but also rise to between $3,095 and $3,395 per person, depending on date of departure. Shalom Cuba: Exploring Jewish Heritage is a nine-day, eight-night trip that also devotes four nights to Havana and three nights to Cienfuegos, in both of which cities participants meet with members of the small but active Jewish community of Cuba and visit synagogues, a Jewish pharmacy, and other institutions of importance to the Jewish heritage. Participants also engage in 12 field trips and 6 excursions, and pay $3,295 per person, including round-trip airfare between Miami and Cuba. 

 On Road Scholar's website, a great many departures are listed for March, April and May, and these will soon be extended into the autumn months. The organization is actively engaged in obtaining additional hotel space for a program that is already regarded as a major success. And given the fact that it is far less expensive than those already announced by several other major tour operators, it well deserves its popularity. 
You can get exact details and dates of departure from Road Scholar online at www.roadscholar.org or by calling 800/454-5768.