Duck Duck Cruise

I try to pick up yarn when I travel. Does anyone know if there are yarn shops in Havana? Thanks

Greetings

 

We are booked on Journey for an early 2019 cruise to Cuba. Is independent touring allowed for those guest who qualify for the "family visit" category of the US regulations?

 

Good Sailing

Tom

Originally posted by BBMacLaird I have more specific answers for you, and I apologize for the delay :o

1) Can a person obtain their own legal visa for Cuba in their home country or do they have to obtain one through Azamara?

Guests may obtain their own visa as long as it is the approved tourist visa to enter Cuba. If a guest purchases their own visa and it is the incorrect one, they will need to purchase a new one onboard. 



2) Are ONLY Azamara tours acceptable in order to disembark the ship in Cuba?

Guests may purchase a tour with a third-party company. However, it is the responsibility of the guest to ensure the purchased tour complies with the new US regulations, is sponsored by a US organization, and offers a full-day schedule of educational exchange activities. 



3) Are non-US citizens able to disembark inCuba with a valid Visa from their home country and not be restricted by US regulations as to where they can go and what they can do?

The new regulations apply to all guests, regardless of nationality or country of residence, since the ship is wholly-owned by a company subject to U.S. jurisdiction.

We will be doing our own independent tours on the visa "Support for the Cuban People"

Bonnie just gathered this information for us. It should answer your questions.

I have more specific answers for you, and I apologize for the delay

1) Can a person obtain their own legal visa for Cuba in their home country or do they have to obtain one through Azamara?

Guests may obtain their own visa as long as it is the approved tourist visa to enter Cuba. If a guest purchases their own visa and it is the incorrect one, they will need to purchase a new one onboard. 



2) Are ONLY Azamara tours acceptable in order to disembark the ship in Cuba?

Guests may purchase a tour with a third-party company. However, it is the responsibility of the guest to ensure the purchased tour complies with the new US regulations, is sponsored by a US organization, and offers a full-day schedule of educational exchange activities. 



3) Are non-US citizens able to disembark inCuba with a valid Visa from their home country and not be restricted by US regulations as to where they can go and what they can do?

The new regulations apply to all guests, regardless of nationality or country of residence, since the ship is wholly-owned by a company subject to U.S. jurisdiction.

Hi,

 

We are booked on the October 23, 2018 sailing (actually was booked on original one and it got changed to this). We are US citizens and it is our understanding we have to take ship tours in Cuba. There is only one tour! An evening 4 hour tour and that is it!

 

Maybe BONNIE knows, when or if, more tours are going to be added? We might consider canceling if this is the only tour, as it appears the only way we can see Cuba for US citizens is with ship tours. Also the arrival time and departure time make it difficult for us to try and find a US sponsored organization doing a tour.

 

I hope someone knows if more tours will be offered.

On another thread Bonnie finally was able to get some clarifications on several questions. You thought you needed to take Azamara tours in Cuba and that is not the case at all. Here is a copy/paste of her answers.

Originally posted by BBMacLaird I have more specific answers for you, and I apologize for the delay

1) Can a person obtain their own legal visa for Cuba in their home country or do they have to obtain one through Azamara?

Guests may obtain their own visa as long as it is the approved tourist visa to enter Cuba. If a guest purchases their own visa and it is the incorrect one, they will need to purchase a new one onboard. 



2) Are ONLY Azamara tours acceptable in order to disembark the ship in Cuba?

Guests may purchase a tour with a third-party company. However, it is the responsibility of the guest to ensure the purchased tour complies with the new US regulations, is sponsored by a US organization, and offers a full-day schedule of educational exchange activities. 



3) Are non-US citizens able to disembark inCuba with a valid Visa from their home country and not be restricted by US regulations as to where they can go and what they can do?

The new regulations apply to all guests, regardless of nationality or country of residence, since the ship is wholly-owned by a company subject to U.S. jurisdiction.

I have more specific answers for you, and I apologize for the delay :o

 

1) Can a person obtain their own legal visa for Cuba in their home country or do they have to obtain one through Azamara?

Guests may obtain their own visa as long as it is the approved tourist visa to enter Cuba. If a guest purchases their own visa and it is the incorrect one, they will need to purchase a new one onboard. 



 

2) Are ONLY Azamara tours acceptable in order to disembark the ship in Cuba?

Guests may purchase a tour with a third-party company. However, it is the responsibility of the guest to ensure the purchased tour complies with the new US regulations, is sponsored by a US organization, and offers a full-day schedule of educational exchange activities. 



 

3) Are non-US citizens able to disembark inCuba with a valid Visa from their home country and not be restricted by US regulations as to where they can go and what they can do?

The new regulations apply to all guests, regardless of nationality or country of residence, since the ship is wholly-owned by a company subject to U.S. jurisdiction.

Thank you Bonnie. We appreciate your help.

Duck duck you have mail.

We received your email and for now we have to wait and see what Azamara says.

I guess the questions that are unanswered at this point are as follows:

1) Can a person obtain their own legal visa for Cuba in their home country or do they have to obtain one through Azamara?

2) Are ONLY Azamara Tours acceptable in order to disembark the ship in Cuba?

3) Are non-US citizens able to disembark in Cuba with a Valid Visa from their home country and not be restricted by US regulations as to where they can go and what they can do?

Hi Vince and Lin,

well, this is probably not the answer you were hoping for, nor expecting:

 

"No, the regulations will not be different for two reasons:

• Azamara is wholly-owned by a company subject to U.S. jurisdiction
  
• the voyage disembarks in the U.S.
  

Guests will still need a visa to disembark in Cuba, and will need to participate in at least one tour per day [to go ashore.]"

Thanks Bonnie. Now we can plan our visit there and not have any surprises at the port.

Happy New Year to you.

Vince and Lin

Welcome back Bonnie! We are hoping you had a great holiday.

We know you are probably really busy so there is no hurry on this but when you get a chance and find the time could you see if they have determined any answers to our original post?

Thank you again,

Vince and Lin

Hi Bonnie,

Any word this week on this?

Thanks again,

Vince and Linda

Our country's Cuba policy lately is a "work-in-progress". I know I can hardly keep up with the changes :confused:. The policy may change again by the time your cruise rolls around!

 

I know our staff is focusing on our compliance for the Cuba sailings happening now. But that said, I'll ask again if they have an understanding what, if any, differences there will be with a Cuba-bound voyage originating in Europe, assuming everything remains as it is now.

I realize that the rules will probably change between now and then but being that the cruise departs from a non-USA port it will be interesting to see if International laws will be used instead of USA policies and how that will impact our experience.

One of the reasons we booked this cruise was because it did NOT originate in the USA.

Thank you again for your help.

No, no word yet. I'll ask again.

BTW, what is your departure date?

Departs Lisbon on October 23, 2018

Thank you

We are looking into this.

Any word yet on this Bonnie? Just thought I would check back every week to see what the status is.

I agree with J & G. I do love my bridge camera and I use Lightroom for editing, I am deciding on our trip if I should just use my cell phone camera. It takes really great pictures, doesn't weigh anything and I have it on me everywhere I go.

Hi Kathy,

I do not understand all the bells and whistles of DSLR cameras so I needed one that is easy to use. I have a Olympus Bridge Camera. It is the SP100. I love it and it has a great zoom. I use the screen to look at instead of the eye piece because it is easier for me. If I were you, I would ask to see Bridge cameras and feel how they fit your hand. I have small hands and some of them were just too uncomfortable. I see it on Amazon US for 464.80. Type in Olympus SP-100.

Good luck.

We are looking into this.

Thank you Bonnie. We appreciate your help.

Is there a possibility that you could find out how the new Cuba Regulations apply to our cruise? Our cruise appears to be the only one that boards outside of the US.

"The new regulations apply to all guests – regardless of nationality or country of residence – boarding a vessel in a U.S. port."

We board in Lisbon and visit Cuba before stopping in any US port.

There will be many EU and UK citizens or residents on this cruise. It would be nice to get clarification about whether or not we have to use US "authorized" tours or be able to tour on our own.

Thank you,

Vince

Duck Duck Cruise

With the updated travel regulations for Cuba, how do they apply to passengers who embark in Lisbon, Portugal and do not arrive at a US port until after visiting Cuba? The New Cuba Regulations state:

The new regulations apply to all guests – regardless of nationality or country of residence – boarding a vessel in a U.S. port.

Both countries are seriously HOT, HOT and HUMID unlike we have ever experienced!

We lived in Thailand for 3 years and when we visited Vietnam during that time we found it much hotter than Thailand. Here are a few tips for when you are off the ship.

Take a UV umbrella to reflect the heat of the sun and wear a hat. Really, the UV umbrella saved our lives! You can order them from Amazon.

Take a wet cloth to put around your neck.

All mini markets like 7-11, Family Mart and the like have the temperature cranked to near meat locker cold. When you are over heating just pop into one of them to have a break and get several cold bottles of water to use to drink and keep your cloth wet.

Gatorade and electrolyte drinks are as important as water and they will help you feel better.

If you have a headache....get out of the heat.

We have cruised with HAL on a brand new ship - but the experience was nothing like Azamara. The ship was beautiful, but it didn’t feel happy, or like ‘home’.

I guess the issue here is people’s priorities - some people are more interested in their environment than the experience - and vice versa. Nothing wrong with either, just different.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Thank you for this post. It is exactly why we are so very excited to sail with Azamara next year. Since our first cruise 18 years ago we have noticed a huge decline in customer service on the larger ships. On our last cruise we were treated like a number and it felt awful. We don't care how old the ship is as long as it is in the best working order it can be.

Just apply for a Visa for Cuba. How long will it takes to be approved by State Dept.?

Azamara will provide the visa for you. They also provide the necessary medical insurance, included in your cruise fare, for your time in Cuba. It is difficult to find on the website but here is a link to the FAQ's about cruising with Azamara to Cuba.

https://www.azamaraclubcruises.com/int/destinations/cuba/faq

In the "Azamara cabin spreadsheet" Azamara Cabins Thread at the top of the page is where you will find information on some cabins.

Quest

6083 the bed faces forward Nov 2009

Captain José wrote on Facebook: “I will stay on Quest. As per tradition, the new ship will go to the Senior Captain of the fleet.”

 

I think that would be Carl Smith?

 

He also wrote: “Pursuit will go to South America.”

 

Winter 2018/2019 in South America and summer 2019 in the Med, given that Quest is in Alaska?

 

Floris

Hi,

I see several FB sites for Azamara. Which one is the most active and you like to read? Thanks

This post was many years ago. I am also severly alergic to sulfites. Has anyone in the not so distant future had any experience with this issue while on board?

I should have checked my post. Severely allergic and in the not too distant past!

I am allergic to sulfites. Sulfites are a preservative that is found in wine and salad bars. I know to stay away from those foods. The first night at dinner, after eating the soup and appetizer, I had a "sulfite attack". I asked the waiter if there were sulfites in anything that I had eaten. He brought over the restaurant matre de. I was told that ALL soups and sauces are wine-based, and that if I would order my food the night before, it would be made special for me without sulfites. Ok with me.

 

Every night thereafter, when I entered the dining room (remember open seating, varying times each night), the matre de would follow me to my table and tell our waiter that there was a special order for me. Amazing!! Every night.

This post was many years ago. I am also severly alergic to sulfites. Has anyone in the not so distant future had any experience with this issue while on board?