Can you smoke cigars on the balcony?

[RockeyBullwinkle]

Just had to ask when it became legal for an American to have a Cuban cigar:confused: I'm not asking in a mean way -- just curious.

 

when you buy it in Barcelona using Euro's and smoke it on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean. technically it is not illegal to have cuban anything, rum or cigars, in my case in the US. It's illegal to spend US dollars to buy any cuban produced product or service. (unless you are one of Obama's friends and your trip to cuba is an approved educational exchange)

[jamessemaj]

The exception to Americans spending any money on anything Cuban, such as cultural and education exchanges monitored by the State Department has existed through several past administrations, emphasis on "several past administrations". Beyond that, technically buying Cuban cigars is illegal for Americans anywhere, anytime, but who is to know?

[paul929207]

The exception to Americans spending any money on anything Cuban, such as cultural and education exchanges monitored by the State Department has existed through several past administrations, emphasis on "several past administrations". Beyond that, technically buying Cuban cigars is illegal for Americans anywhere, anytime, but who is to know?

I believe that there is nothing illegal about an American buying and/or smoking a Cuban cigar outside the US. US laws only apply in the US

[RockeyBullwinkle]

I believe that there is nothing illegal about an American buying and/or smoking a Cuban cigar outside the US. US laws only apply in the US

 

there isn't.. they just got their panties wadded up about the Obama comment. Jay Z and Beyoncé parading around was certainly a cultural experience not to be missed.

[jamessemaj]

I believe that there is nothing illegal about an American buying and/or smoking a Cuban cigar outside the US. US laws only apply in the US

 

Paul, as I said, who is to know? But since an issue has been made in an offensive manner by another poster I feel compelled to respond. According to Cuban Assets Control Regulations administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, it is illegal for a U.S. citizen to purchase any product of Cuban origin anywhere and the world (third countries). That is the law, pure and simple. Again, strict enforcement of personal use items is unrealistic and not done. But if you were to purchase large quantities of cigars or any other product of Cuban origin anywhere, it might be pursued. Edit: the law also applies to legal residents of the U.S. who are not citizens.

[RockeyBullwinkle]

I guess it depends on who you know..

 

 

[jamessemaj]

Who to know about visiting Cuba is an authorized tour operator. There are many, just google Cuba cultural tours. They are available to any U.S. citizen.

[RockeyBullwinkle]

Who to know about visiting Cuba is an authorized tour operator. There are many, just google Cuba cultural tours. They are available to any U.S. citizen.

 

which is it.. can you or can you not smoke cubans cigars depending on where you are at or who your friends are?

[paul929207]

which is it.. can you or can you not smoke cubans cigars depending on where you are at or who your friends are?

You can smoke cuban cigars as long as you are outside the US. It has been that way since the cuban embargo was put into effect around 1960.

[jamessemaj]

which is it.. can you or can you not smoke cubans cigars depending on where you are at or who your friends are?

 

The economic sanctions are not specifically about Cuban cigars, but all products of Cuban origin for all U.S. citizens for anywhere in the world. Not allowed.

 

The cultural tours I refer to are sanctioned by and closely monitored by the State Department. Obviously, inherent in these tours is exemption from the embargo prohibitions. So the answer is, if you want to buy Cuban products, including cigars, you can do so as a member of one of these tours.

 

Further, although technically it is illegal for U.S. citizens to do so, buying and smoking a Cuban cigar outside of the U.S. will result in no repercussions.

[Hlitner]

I want to steer this back to the OPs question. With the passage of time fewer and fewer cruise lines are even allowing any kind of smoking on balconies. And cigar smoking is often even more restricted....often to a single outdoor area on many ships. On our most recent Holland America cruise (one of the traditionally more liberal lines for smoking) we noticed that they have even tightened up on smoking and seem to moving close to banning all balcony smoking (time will tell). A Guest Relations manager on the Westerdam told us that complaints about balcony smoking are one of the leading causes of complaints on the HA ships....and most cruise lines eventually bow to the wishes of the majority.

 

Hank

[RockeyBullwinkle]

I want to steer this back to the OPs question. With the passage of time fewer and fewer cruise lines are even allowing any kind of smoking on balconies. And cigar smoking is often even more restricted....often to a single outdoor area on many ships. On our most recent Holland America cruise (one of the traditionally more liberal lines for smoking) we noticed that they have even tightened up on smoking and seem to moving close to banning all balcony smoking (time will tell). A Guest Relations manager on the Westerdam told us that complaints about balcony smoking are one of the leading causes of complaints on the HA ships....and most cruise lines eventually bow to the wishes of the majority.

 

Hank

 

 

I bet if a cruise line offered an adults only cruise smokers of anything welcome, great casino, reasonable drink prices and no formal nights it would sell out quickly. IF/WHEN they lift the cuban embargo Cuba better have their ports in shape as all the cruise ships head directly there.

[jamessemaj]

I know it is moving toward very limited smoking. I avoid Celebrity for that reason. When it is adopted by all the lines, I will avoid cruising altogether and just stick with AIs in Mexico. I would miss cruising.