New rules on visiting Cuba

Another vote for Havana Tours with Blexie... we toured with his associate Roly a few weeks ago and had an incredible day. You can find Blexie on facebook as Blexie-Havana Tours or email him at blexie100588@gmail.com. Give him a few days to respond. He's trying to keep pace with the changes.

so I'm curious.... let's say someone goes to cuba and they don't fulfill their requirement that they chose. and lets say 2 years down the road a government official contacts them to provide proof of what they were doing and they can't account for some time spent there... what happens? do they get arrested? get fined? has this happened to any one even before the new rules?

so I'm curious.... let's say someone goes to cuba and they don't fulfill their requirement that they chose. and lets say 2 years down the road a government official contacts them to provide proof of what they were doing and they can't account for some time spent there... what happens? do they get arrested? get fined? has this happened to any one even before the new rules?

Normal enforcement action taken by the US Treasury is in the form of a violation notice letter sent months - even years - after the travel. The letter will offer you the opportunity to settle the violation for a fixed amount of money. From there you can negotiate or request a hearing. If you disagree with the results you can go to court.

Enforcement action against individuals is extremely rare - due to Treasury resource limitations.

Normal enforcement action taken by the US Treasury is in the form of a violation notice letter sent months - even years - after the travel. The letter will offer you the opportunity to settle the violation for a fixed amount of money. From there you can negotiate or request a hearing. If you disagree with the results you can go to court.

 

Enforcement action against individuals is extremely rare - due to Treasury resource limitations.

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Anyone have a private tour booked for Havana. If so, please send me the website or email of that company. I had booked a tour and they emailed me yesterday saying they can no longer offer it as they are 100% Cuban owned and operated.

We used Tour Republic, and just checking their website, it appears that they suggest support Cuban people for most of their tours.

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Do you have a source for this? Not saying I don't believe you, I'm just curious about as many details as possible.

 

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Start your research here.

https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Pages/default.aspx

Start your research here.

 

https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Pages/default.aspx

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I do understand your confusion. The below article is old - 2002 vintage - but it does describe the enforcement process against an individual for traveling to Cuba by private boat. The rules have changed but the enforcement process is still pretty much the same.

https://www.cruisingworld.com/destinations/higher-stakes-cuba-game

I do understand your confusion. The below article is old - 2002 vintage - but it does describe the enforcement process against an individual for traveling to Cuba by private boat. The rules have changed but the enforcement process is still pretty much the same.

 

https://www.cruisingworld.com/destinations/higher-stakes-cuba-game

Thanks for that link. I was sure that the Treasury website wouldn't include details about how enforcement is rare due to the levels of resources available.

Thanks for that link. I was sure that the Treasury website wouldn't include details about how enforcement is rare due to the levels of resources available.

There is a link on the Treasury page giving you a summary of all enforcement actions back to 2003. For example, in 2017, to date, there are 15 actions completed. This is for all sanctioned countries - not just Cuba. The link is:

https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/CivPen/Pages/civpen-index2.aspx

Even if you back a couple decades, in the heyday of enforcement, there were only a few hundred actions per year and Treasury was using a method called "pre-violation notices" where you were offered the opportunity to settle, at a discounted rate, the issue without Treasury even bothering to develop the necessary support for a violation notice.

There is simply no way Treasury is going to go after the current tens of thousands of cruise passengers. The cruise lines, themselves, may not be so safe.

All that said, in the world of violating federal law, I am not going to take the chance for something with as low a reward as visiting Cuba. I want to be very comfortable that I am in compliance with US Law, Cuban Law, and the polices of the cruise line. Right now, I am not at that comfort level.

There is a link on the Treasury page giving you a summary of all enforcement actions back to 2003. For example, in 2017, to date, there are 15 actions completed. This is for all sanctioned countries - not just Cuba. The link is:

 

 

 

https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/CivPen/Pages/civpen-index2.aspx

 

 

 

Even if you back a couple decades, in the heyday of enforcement, there were only a few hundred actions per year and Treasury was using a method called "pre-violation notices" where you were offered the opportunity to settle, at a discounted rate, the issue without Treasury even bothering to develop the necessary support for a violation notice.

 

 

 

There is simply no way Treasury is going to go after the current tens of thousands of cruise passengers. The cruise lines, themselves, may not be so safe.

 

 

 

All that said, in the world of violating federal law, I am not going to take the chance for something with as low a reward as visiting Cuba. I want to be very comfortable that I am in compliance with US Law, Cuban Law, and the polices of the cruise line. Right now, I am not at that comfort level.

So, the fact that one might not later have an issue?? I agree with you, it would be violating US Federal Law. Seems we have become a lawless society.

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So, the fact that one might not later have an issue?? I agree with you, it would be violating US Federal Law. Seems we have become a lawless society.

 

 

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Ironic that an administration who claims to reduce regulations wants to tighten this, isn’t it?

Seems like a waste of time to be so concerned about.

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We are traveling to Cuba on Feb.17th with Carnival . According to their web site you have to do a tour each day to be allowed off the ship . After the tour you may wander . The second day we are only in port till noon so three hours of touring is required to get off the ship . I am not sure if it is worth the hassle .

We are traveling to Cuba on Feb.17th with Carnival . According to their web site you have to do a tour each day to be allowed off the ship . After the tour you may wander . The second day we are only in port till noon so three hours of touring is required to get off the ship . I am not sure if it is worth the hassle .

I just looked at the FAQ for Carnival, and this part really stuck out to me:

Q: Does Carnival offer shore excursions that comply with one of the 12 general licenses?

A: Carnival will offer optional shore excursion programs that will fully comply with all the requirements for people-to-people programs. In planning activities ashore, guests should keep in mind that people-to-people activities must be fulfilled before guests can engage in free time. Evening shore excursions offered by Carnival do not comply with the people-to-people guidelines and cannot be considered to be part of the required full schedule of activities.

Q: How much free time is there?

A: After completion of a full-time schedule of people-to-people activities, guests are free to explore as they wish.

I'm not a lawyer, and I have to assume Carnival has loads of lawyers working for them. But I can't see how this would not be a blatant violation of the full-time schedule of compliant activities requirement.

Technically I guess that when they say "guests are free to explore as they wish" that it *could* mean they are allowed to do compliant tours on their own. But how can Carnival offer evening excursions that they explicitly say are not compliant with people to people guidelines?

I don’t think these rules effect cruise lines.

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I don’t think these rules effect cruise lines.

 

 

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What do you base that on?

I don’t think these rules effect cruise lines.

 

 

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Now that’s a new one. How so?

I don’t believe it affects the cruise lines travel but does their cruisers.

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What do you base that on?

The letters that my friends have received from the cruise lines telling them not to worry. It doesn’t effect cruise lines.

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The letters that my friends have received from the cruise lines telling them not to worry. It doesn’t effect cruise lines.

 

 

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The letters that my friends have received from the cruise lines telling them not to worry. It doesn’t effect cruise lines.

 

 

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It doesn’t effect the cruise itinerary. It does change the rules for cruisers.

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It absolutely does affect the cruisers . I am cruising to Cuba feb,17 th and it clearly states on Carnival's website that you will not be able to disembark without a planned excursion each day .

It absolutely does affect the cruisers . I am cruising to Cuba feb,17 th and it clearly states on Carnival's website that you will not be able to disembark without a planned excursion each day .

We are on the August 18th sailing. I know it's far out, but we have not received any information since the change in regulations.

I would appreciate seeing the letter Carnival sent you, if you could post it. Thanks!

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Carnival did not send me a letter . I went to their website under destinations pick Cuba and follow it down . It will say things you need to know . Their it plainly states their rules . The only was you can wander in Cuba is after you complete the required activity .

Carnival did not send me a letter . I went to their website under destinations pick Cuba and follow it down . It will say things you need to know . Their it plainly states their rules . The only was you can wander in Cuba is after you complete the required activity .

Ok, thanks!

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We are traveling to Cuba on Feb.17th with Carnival . According to their web site you have to do a tour each day to be allowed off the ship . After the tour you may wander . The second day we are only in port till noon so three hours of touring is required to get off the ship . I am not sure if it is worth the hassle .

We went to Cuba with Carnival on October 19th, so before the new rules. The ship arrived at 11:30am so we were only required to do a 4 hour tour that day. The next day the ship was set to leave at 12noon. When I asked what the requirements were for that day, they were very vague and basically just shrugged their shoulders. We got off the ship and wandered around area sight seeing.

We really enjoyed Havana and booked the August 18th sailing where the ship will be there 2 full days. Will be interesting to see how this compares.