IS THIS AN AZAMARA THREAT?

[Covepointcruiser]

If we purchase an Azmara tour will we still be obligated to convert money?    I don’t want to convert U.S. dollars with the 10% surcharge and I would like to keep our safety net of Euros.    Can live without purchasing goods in Cuba but will we be coerced into converting funds by Cuban officials?

[marinaro44]

41 minutes ago, Covepointcruiser said:

If we purchase an Azmara tour will we still be obligated to convert money?    I don’t want to convert U.S. dollars with the 10% surcharge and I would like to keep our safety net of Euros.    Can live without purchasing goods in Cuba but will we be coerced into converting funds by Cuban officials?

We've been twice, used ship's tours, and never converted dollars.

[Trend]

My personal opinion it is not the cruise line it is your government and they have to tow the line.

[hubofhockey]

3 hours ago, Trend said:

My personal opinion it is not the cruise line it is your government and they have to tow the line.

The cruise lines don't need to toe the line for the US government.

[Grandma Cruising]

3 hours ago, hubofhockey said:

The cruise lines don't need to toe the line for the US government.

I think they do if they want to use US ports

[Trend]

Agreed their offices run out of US and they use US ports to depart for Cuba.

Canada does not have those restrictions but they don’t depart for Cuba from Canada.

[hubofhockey]

I just don't think the US government really cares too much about touring privately or with Azamara.  If someone purchases a private non-Azamara tour, they would be qualified to do the Azamazing Evening.  However, it's possible that Azamara doesn't want to go around asking its passengers for confirmation of private tours that day.  It could be a logistical nightmare for them.  At that, it looks more like an administrative burden on Azamara than any  threat to Azamara or Azamara having to toe any line.  I suppose the US government could make it easier on cruise lines, but that doesn't appear to be happening now.  

 

I will do a cruise to Cuba when political waters are a bit calmer.  If I were going now, I would decide between a private tour and the Aza evening and probably choose the private tour.  

[ellbon]

22 minutes ago, hubofhockey said:

I just don't think the US government really cares too much about touring privately or with Azamara.  If someone purchases a private non-Azamara tour, they would be qualified to do the Azamazing Evening.  However, it's possible that Azamara doesn't want to go around asking its passengers for confirmation of private tours that day.  It could be a logistical nightmare for them.  At that, it looks more like an administrative burden on Azamara than any  threat to Azamara or Azamara having to toe any line.  I suppose the US government could make it easier on cruise lines, but that doesn't appear to be happening now.  

 

I will do a cruise to Cuba when political waters are a bit calmer.  If I were going now, I would decide between a private tour and the Aza evening and probably choose the private tour.  

I think you could do both and have no problem. The private tour gives receipts. The private classic car i did did not. but i bet  he would of given me his card and i would of said i talked to  people/