Any U.S. cruise lines going to Cuba?

[Gingee]

Are there any U.S. based cruise lines going to Cuba?

[CruiserBruce]

A quick search on Cruise Critic would find the answer: not yet. Americans can not yet travel easily to Cuba.

Edited June 1, 2015 by CruiserBruce

[Gingee]

Right now I can't find anything. Was there as a child. Would like to revisit.

[Putterdude]

Not yet but I suspect it won't be long.....or at least I hope.

[luddite]

There is only one US cruise ship and it sails Alaska.

When the Castro brothers are dead there will be cruises from the US to Cuba.

[fishywood]

Latest talk is that ferry service from Florida to Cuba will begin in the next year or so.

But US citizen passengers will still be restricted to those who meet the current requirements to obtain permission to visit Cuba. And will be so for well into the future.

 

Here is a link to an unusually informative Cruise Critic article on the possibilities of US citizens cruising to Cuba:

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=6172

 

No matter what executive order the President issues, it will take an Act of Congress to allow US citizens to visit Cuba merely for tourism. This is the bottom line and the only necessary response to these daily Cuba threads.

[CruiserBruce]

There is only one US cruise ship and it sails Alaska.

When the Castro brothers are dead there will be cruises from the US to Cuba.

 

Huh? Do you mean Pride of America? It sails Hawaii, not Alaska.

[donaldsc]

No. Why does it have to be a used based cruise ship?

 

DON

[Putterdude]

No. Why does it have to be a used based cruise ship?

 

DON

I am probably the wrong person to answer this....but unless legislation has changed recently no cruise ship that calls in Cuba may make a call in the U.S.

[Chunder Worthy]

I'm sure we will soon. Until then, the Celestyal Crystal departs on two separate 7-day voyages that commence and end in Montego Bay, Jamaica with a port of call in Santiago de Cuba this December. It flies the flag of Greece, but then, Princess flies the flag of Bermuda and Carnival flies the flag of Panama. Just sayin'.....

[luddite]

Huh? Do you mean Pride of America? It sails Hawaii, not Alaska.

 

Yup. I get them confused.....

[CruiserBruce]

I'm sure we will soon. Until then, the Celestyal Crystal departs on two separate 7-day voyages that commence and end in Montego Bay, Jamaica with a port of call in Santiago de Cuba this December. It flies the flag of Greece, but then, Princess flies the flag of Bermuda and Carnival flies the flag of Panama. Just sayin'.....

 

It has nothing to do with the flag of the ship. American citizens can only go to Cuba under certain specified conditions. Visiting on a cruise ship is not one of them.

[Krazy Kruizers]

My mother was in Cuba -- sailed there -- in the 30's.

I was hoping to get there some day -- but alas I know it will not happen.

[Hlitner]

It is still not legal for US Citizens to spend money in Cuba unless they are on a special type tour such as a "culteral" visit. However, it does appear that the Obama administration is rapidly moving towards wide open travel. My understanding is that it will take legislative action (by Congress) to fully open travel to Cuba by Americans. Once that does happen (if ever) we predict that nearly all the cruise lines will quickly substitute Havana for the current stops in Nassau and/or Freeport. In a sense, the opening of travel to Cuba will be a death sentence (cruise wise) to the Bahamas.

 

Hank

[TC1957]

Also remember...as I understand it, travel and trade restrictions related to US citizens and companies were put into place by an act of Congress and can only by lifted by an act of Congress. The current POTUS (or any other POTUS for that matter) cannot take Executive Action that would allow it. Given the current political climate and unfavorable reaction over what has happened so far from at least some on both sides of the aisle I don't see Congress acting anytime soon.

 

If they are talking about not funding the construction of an Embassy to make improving relations easier do you really think they are going to ease up on travel and trade?

[Aquahound]

It flies the flag of Greece, but then, Princess flies the flag of Bermuda and Carnival flies the flag of Panama. Just sayin'.....

 

Ships flag means nothing in this regard.

[cirman52]

the Celestyal Crystal departs on two separate 7-day voyages that commence and end in Montego Bay, Jamaica with a port of call in Santiago de Cuba this December. It flies the flag of Greece, but then, Princess flies the flag of Bermuda and Carnival flies the flag of Panama. Just sayin'.....

 

We are US citizens & we are booked on this ships Cuba cruise for 1/1/16

 

American citizens can only go to Cuba under certain specified conditions. Visiting on a cruise ship is not one of them.

 

Not true.

 

My brother & sis-n-law did an educational land tour of Cuba this past March. They loved it. They could not use any US money, they had to convert the US $ into special toursit money.

We are going thru Cuba Cruise & I think they are based out of Canada because the prices were posted in Cadanain dollars.

[Chunder Worthy]

I know. I've been going to the Mayan Riviera (Akumal, Tulum) for years and there's always opportunities to go to Cuba from at least Cancun. Basically, if you use local money and stay away from credit cards, nobody cares. I'm sure the cruise wouldn't be a problem either. Money talks. Actually, money screams! I:D

[Hlitner]

I know. I've been going to the Mayan Riviera (Akumal, Tulum) for years and there's always opportunities to go to Cuba from at least Cancun. Basically, if you use local money and stay away from credit cards, nobody cares. I'm sure the cruise wouldn't be a problem either. Money talks. Actually, money screams! I:D

 

The cruise would be a big problem if it started or ended in the USA. CBP is well aware of a ship's itinerary and the cruise line would be aiding and abetting the commission of a crime by all the US citizens onboard. And since the cruise line would have to pay "fees" to the Cuban government this would also have them violating the law. Keep in mind that regardless of the "flag of convenience" most (not all) of the major cruise lines are US Corporations.

 

Hank

[Chunder Worthy]

That's my point Hank, yes I personally realize it's not technically legal, but in that corner of the world with much bigger fish to fry on either continent and profits as the continual incentive, in practice, nobody really cares too much.

[calisilent]

That's my point Hank, yes I personally realize it's not technically legal, but in that corner of the world with much bigger fish to fry on either continent and profits as the continual incentive, in practice, nobody really cares too much.

 

There was a very interesting article on what is likely to occur when Cuba is opened up for American travel in the March 26th issue of Time magazine. It's well worth reading and you can find it on line.

 

Cathy

[zqvol]

I expect that within the next 3 - 5 years relations between Cuba and the US will be fully normalized and that most ships sailing out of Florida will be making stops in Cuba.

[iheartbda]

We are US citizens & we are booked on this ships Cuba cruise for 1/1/16

 

American citizens can only go to Cuba under certain specified conditions. Visiting on a cruise ship is not one of them.

 

Not true.

 

My brother & sis-n-law did an educational land tour of Cuba this past March. They loved it. They could not use any US money, they had to convert the US $ into special toursit money.

The operative word here is educational, yes, those trips are legal and must meet certain requirements.

We are going thru Cuba Cruise & I think they are based out of Canada because the prices were posted in Cadanain dollars.

Canada has no sanctions for its residents on travel to Cuba. Is this an educational cruise? If not, it is still not legal for a US citizen.

[Mimosa09]

For what it's worth, I just got another Vantage catalog (river boat cruising, land journeys & small ships). This company caters to Americans. Anyway, they are advertising small group journeys to Cuba flying out of Miami starting January 2016.

[Gingee]

I wonder why you can fly into Cuba but not cruise into Cuba? I was there as a young child going with my parents - first stop Cuba. Second stop Puerto Rico. Castro's men escorted us.