Any U.S. cruise lines going to Cuba?

[iheartbda]

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.

Americans cannot fly in. You must have been there before 1963 when the travel ban was instituted.

[sfaaa]

Americans cannot fly in. You must have been there before 1963 when the travel ban was instituted.

 

Only hijackers would fly to Cuba after the ban.

[luddite]

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.

 

When the Castro brothers are dead.

[zqvol]

Americans cannot fly in. You must have been there before 1963 when the travel ban was instituted.

 

 

This is no longer true. It is relatively easy for Americans to visit Cuba, as long as it is done through the correct tours.

[zqvol]

When the Castro brothers are dead.

 

 

Not at all true. It will happen much sooner than that, and it should, but that is a political discussion that has no business being on these boards.

[thinfool]

most (not all) of the major cruise lines are US Corporations.

 

Hank

 

I used to think this, too...but somewhere (likely on CC) it was pointed out that this is not true.

 

Carnival Corp. is chartered or incorporated under Panamanian law and Royal Caribbean is incorporated in Liberia.

 

No doubt there are tax advantages at play here.

[cirman52]

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.

 

It is legal. I am sure the cruise comoany has figured out a way to handel this, otherwise it wouldn't be available to the USA market[/b]

 

Americans cannot fly in. You must have been there before 1963 when the travel ban was instituted.

 

Not true. Brother & sis-n-law flew into havana from Tampa just this past March. What can and can't be done is changing rapidly[

[donaldsc]

Americans cannot fly in. You must have been there before 1963 when the travel ban was instituted.

 

Not true. Check your facts.

 

DON

[Hlitner]

It might be helpful if some of the posters looked at the current US travel rules for US citizens. Yes, it is possible to fly directly to Cuba. But no, you cannot do this as a mere tourist. There is a large list of allowable reasons to go to Cuba and your trip must satisfy at least one of those criteria to be legal (although plenty just ignore the law).

 

Hank

[iheartbda]

Not true. Check your facts.

 

DON

I don't have to check any facts. I was replying to a person who said they were there years ago and I said they probably flew in at the time before any sanctions. It helps to read in the proper context to what or why it was posted.actually posted

 

Also, I do know that people are able to fly in IF certain criteria are met, educational purposes for one. Also, since this subject was brought up before, when some small movement was made on the situation, people seemed to think it was an open door and they could just start flying or cruising in as tourists. Try that.

[cruising cockroach]

The more-important question is where the large cruise ships will/can dock.

 

Havana harbour is reportedly too shallow and the cruise terminal in town can only take small ships (like the Louis Cristal). The CEO of the Canadian outfit using the Cristal said the large ships will have to dock in Mariel (far west of Havana) or something like that.

 

As for other ports, not too many. Maybe Matanzas (oil terminal and refinery) but not much to see there and still an hour + outside Havana. Entrances to Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba bays are really narrow and/or windy. Would be interesting to see a huge ship get past El Morro!

[iheartbda]

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.

 

It is legal. I am sure the cruise comoany has figured out a way to handel this, otherwise it wouldn't be available to the USA market[/b]

Here's some very interesting info from a Cuban site telling how to fly to Cuba, Tourists need visas to travel to Cuba and it's called a "Tourist Card". The card is not attached to your passport in any way and your passport should not be stamped if you travel to Cuba through Cancun, for instance. Therefore, there should be no evidence that you have travelled to Cuba.

 

Another thing they suggest is to book a flight through Cubajet. Cubajet will not bill you with the word Cuba in your credit card receipt, rather, they will use a nondescript billing. There are other instances where payments are required and they also say that no mention of Cuba will be made

 

Isn't it rather strange that the above advice is being given to avoid US citizens so there is no indication that they've been to Cuba? Why do you suppose this is?

 

AGAIN, yes, US citizens can fly in, but only for educational, humanitarian, professional research, religious, journalist activities etc. etc.

 

 

 

Americans cannot fly in. You must have been there before 1963 when the travel ban was instituted.

 

Not true. Brother & sis-n-law flew into havana from Tampa just this past March. What can and can't be done is changing rapidly[

Once again, I said educational is the operative word. If they were not on such a trip, they would not have been able to just fly in as tourists.

[zqvol]

Here's some very interesting info from a Cuban site telling how to fly to Cuba, Tourists need visas to travel to Cuba and it's called a "Tourist Card". The card is not attached to your passport in any way and your passport should not be stamped if you travel to Cuba through Cancun, for instance. Therefore, there should be no evidence that you have travelled to Cuba.

 

Another thing they suggest is to book a flight through Cubajet. Cubajet will not bill you with the word Cuba in your credit card receipt, rather, they will use a nondescript billing. There are other instances where payments are required and they also say that no mention of Cuba will be made

 

Isn't it rather strange that the above advice is being given to avoid US citizens so there is no indication that they've been to Cuba? Why do you suppose this is?

 

AGAIN, yes, US citizens can fly in, but only for educational, humanitarian, professional research, religious, journalist activities etc. etc.

 

 

 

Americans cannot fly in. You must have been there before 1963 when the travel ban was instituted.

 

Not true. Brother & sis-n-law flew into havana from Tampa just this past March. What can and can't be done is changing rapidly[

Once again, I said educational is the operative word. If they were not on such a trip, they would not have been able to just fly in as tourists.

 

 

You really need to do some serious fact checking from reliable sources before you post this stuff.

[thinfool]

Don't forget bass fishing. NPR reported that more than 10000 U.S. Citizens belonging to bass clubs have been to Cuba.

[iheartbda]

Once again, I said educational is the operative word. If they were not on such a trip, they would not have been able to just fly in as tourists.

 

 

You really need to do some serious fact checking from reliable sources before you post this stuff.

OK, correct me, give me the facts.

Edited June 3, 2015 by iheartbda

[donaldsc]

Check out "31 CFR 515.207 - Entry of vessels engaged in trade with Cuba."

 

"31 CFR 515.207 - Entry of vessels engaged in trade with Cuba.

There is 1 rule appearing in the Federal Register for 31 CFR Part 515. View below or at eCFR (GPOAccess)

CFR

Updates

Authorities (U.S. Code)

Rulemaking

prev | next

§ 515.207 Entry of vessels engaged in trade with Cuba.

Except as specifically authorized by the Secretary of the Treasury (or any person, agency or instrumentality designated by him), by means of regulations, rulings, instructions, licenses or otherwise,

(a) No vessel that enters a port or place in Cuba to engage in the trade of goods or the purchase or provision of services, may enter a U.S. port for the purpose of loading or unloading freight for a period of 180 days from the date the vessel departed from a port or place in Cuba; and

(b) No vessel carrying goods or passengers to or from Cuba or carrying goods in which Cuba or a Cuban national has an interest may enter a U.S. port with such goods or passengers on board.

Note to § 515.207:

For the waiver of the prohibitions contained in this section for certain vessels engaged in licensed or exempt trade with Cuba, see § 515.550.

[58 FR 34710, June 29, 1993, as amended at 66 FR 36687, July 12, 2001]

 

This might explain why there will be no cruises to Cuba for a while. BTW - I do not believe that Obama can waive this requirement as it must be done by Congress.

 

DON

[Smokeyham]

This was just posted on the USA Today website:

 

"Cruise giant Carnival to launch sailings to Cuba."

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2015/07/07/carnival-cruise-fathom-cuba/29805319/

 

The article states that "The cruises will be operated bi-weekly out of Miami by the company's new social impact-focused fathom brand, which will debut in April 2016 with volunteer vacations to the Dominican Republic."

[marco]

And check out the"Cruise News" thread on CC. MSC is going to position the "Opera" for the winter season home porting in Havana. It's offering a fly stay/cruise tour, but NOT to US citizens, at least..............not yet!

[cruising cockroach]

Here's some very interesting info from a Cuban site telling how to fly to Cuba, Tourists need visas to travel to Cuba and it's called a "Tourist Card". The card is not attached to your passport in any way

 

The Tourist Card (basically visitor information that is required by countries that require entry forms) is required by ALL visitors to Cuba. Canadians airlines include it in the fare. From all other places (except the U.S.) you buy it from a desk at the airport.

 

It is probably not stapled to your passport because the Cubans lack staples. Better not lose the exit copy for hen you leave!

 

and your passport should not be stamped if you travel to Cuba through Cancun, for instance. Therefore, there should be no evidence that you have travelled to Cuba.

 

Recent reports are that the Cuban immigration officers are stamping everyone's passport. No exceptions.