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Cuba this spring:from Cruise Industry News


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I have been to Cuba and loved every minute of it - I am hoping the future cruise visitors do their homework and realize that Cuba is very much a work in progress. The infrastructure is limited and if thousands upon thousands of cruise passengers are disembarking on the same day all demanding experienced tour guides and clogging up the streets, people may get the wrong impression of the country, as some do of other Caribbean islands.

 

IMO - Cuba is one place that should be experienced as a land tour and one needs to spend more than one day to get the true value of the country. With all the recent developments, I am sure that significant changes are coming and the Cuba of today will be a memory.

 

gnomie :)

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We have been to Cuba twice and really enjoyed it. When we were there (technically illegally), we were not limited as to where we could and could not visit. It is unclear how much freedom will be given to cruise passengers (i.e., can you take a taxi for a private excursion or will the same limitations that have been in place for U.S. visitors in the past few year still be in place?)

 

IMO, it is better to have the food and cabin that cruise ships offer in Havana instead of staying at local hotels (not that they are bad - they just are older). Varadero, on the other hand has modern hotels and is quite touristy.

 

Also wondering if non-U.S. citizens would have a desire to visit by cruise ship as they have been able to visit Cuba for years (without restrictions).

 

I do not think that there will be thousands of passengers disembarking there since the infrastructure will not support it. I cannot imagine one of Royal Caribbean's giant ships docking there any time soon.

Edited by Travelcat2
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As nice as it is that Regent will be cruising to Cuba, passengers won't be able to experience Cuba. These are people-to-people tours meaning the tours are sanctioned by the government and they only show you what they want you to see. Yes, they will take you to Old Havana, and you will see some darling children, and take you to the market. However, they don't tell you that Cuban people cannot shop in the market unless they have CUD (Cuban currency that unless you work in a good government job that pays CUDs instead of Cuban pesos, or relatives send you dollars so you can buy CUDs, you can't shop there because you don't have the money), that Cuban people still have their food rationed, or that there are three levels of health care. That wonderful health care people talk about is for tourists or high level government employees. Regular citizens get third grade care and they have to bring soap, toilet paper, sheets, because the hospitals don't have that for them and the care is awful. You won't be able to get in a taxi and go where you want. You have to take the ship's tours which are dictated by the government. So if you really want to see Cuba and be able to do it on your own, go illegally the way TravelCat2 did. And, if you were born in Cuba (even though you're an American citizen and travel on a US passport), you need a Cuban visa if you left the country after 1970 or a Cuban passport and visa if you left before 1970. The Cuban constitution says that if you give up your citizenship you're not a citizen of Cuba any longer and will travel on passport of your new nationality. However, since the Cuban government does not respect the constitution they make Cuban-Americans have a visa or even Cuban passport. So yes, you can visit Cuba but you will be seeing what Castro wants you to see. It's not like going to China or VietNam that even though they are communist countries allow you to go on your own. Maybe some time in the future we will be able to see Cuba in its totally. Presently, all we are doing is adding to the Cuban government coffers. I'd love to see Cuba but I want to get off the ship and go where I want. Get on a taxi or walk where I want instead of seeing government propaganda. Sorry, but this is sore point.

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This is the same when we visited East Berlin before the wall came down. We were driving but had to leave our car at Checkpoint Charley and board a tour bus. We only saw what they wanted us to see. We could not get off the bus and we were checked before leaving. Our rental car was thoroughly checked and I mean everything.

 

Several years later we went back and we were allowed to roam freely and boy what a change. We saw McDonalds and Burger King and department stores it was like night and day from our first visit.

 

Many investors are waiting to get to Cuba to build hotels, condos, restaurants...you name it. Cuba will definitely change in the next five years.

 

I am a native Floridian and my grandparents always went to Cuba during the Batista era for weekends on the Pan Am Clipper of Dinner Key in Miami and they loved it. Castro destroyed Cuba as well as his Russian allies.

 

The Cuban Americans are thrilled that Castro is gone but his brother Rauel is not much better.

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I just spent a week in Cuba with my family. I went legally with a Cuban tourist visa purchased for 85 USD arranged through American Airlines. We arranged our own private tour guide through recommendations on TripAdvisor. It was fabulous! You can now (since April) travel legally to Cuba without an organized tour as long as you are going for a cultural/educational experience, and not spending your week in an all inclusive resort. We had free afternoons and evening, and wandered freely around Havana and the other cities we visited without restrictions.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

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I just spent a week in Cuba with my family. I went legally with a Cuban tourist visa purchased for 85 USD arranged through American Airlines. We arranged our own private tour guide through recommendations on TripAdvisor. It was fabulous! You can now (since April) travel legally to Cuba without an organized tour as long as you are going for a cultural/educational experience, and not spending your week in an all inclusive resort. We had free afternoons and evening, and wandered freely around Havana and the other cities we visited without restrictions.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

 

Happy to hear that you enjoyed your time in Cuba. You actually made my point when you said that can go on an "organized tour as long as are going for a cultural/education experience". When we were there illegally (but not illegally for most of the world), we took a taxi from Havana to Veradero and were able to stop at different places to buy souvenirs, etc. We were not limited as to where we could go. We went to the Tropicana show in Havana that has been there for decades (not inexpensive - they gave us a small bottle of rum and the equivalent of Coke -- the show was great - it was interesting to see all of the girls with natural "boobs" -- really a nice show).

 

The first time we stayed at two different all-inclusive resorts - one being "Club Med" (when it was owned by the French). Food was amazing but, for whatever reason, they ended up leaving Cuba (Club Med was permitted to have their own chef so the food was great).. We also stayed for 3 nights at another all-inclusive resort and the food was mediocre to poor. We stayed at Club Med for our second visit and realized that we were in an environment that was not typical.

 

At Club Med, we had long discussions with a tennis instructor. He was delightful and believed that the U.S. brought down their own World Trade Center (we did not disagree or comment out of respect - only commented that this is not what we believe). He was fortunate to have a job in the tourist zone (a place where Cubans are not permitted to visit unless you work there). He said that when he saw the news (usually 100% Castro), he felt that he was "born again". His dream was to visit Canada and Mexico. We did ask what would happen if Castro passed away and he believed that things would continue as they were. He was proud of the free education and seemed very happy.

 

While I love my country, I am a bit saddened that they will change almost everything about Cuba if they are allowed to build hotels, etc. Our desire to revisit Cuba is lessened with the knowledge that there will be so many tourists that want to change everything.

 

Note: We do want to see change in terms of human rights, etc. but do not want to change the culture of Cuba.

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Thank you Forevertravel, you're a 100% correct. I find it ironic that given Mr Del Rio's background he's so eager to contribute to the coffers of the dictatorship. Well, of course, it will probably be good for his company's bottom line, probably that's his main consideration.

 

Cuban Americans (like myself) should also be aware that even though we're US citizens we dont have the same protections as "regular" US citizens while in Cuba: http://www.incubatoday.com/news/article76178597.html

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I don't see anything about Cuba in the current Mariner itinerary. All are still listing the current places as they did 2 months ago. Not everyone might be excited to go to Cuba or have Cuba on the itinerary, for a variety of reasons.

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Story of page one of today's New York Times (12/9/16) regarding the limited food sources available in Cuba, esp agriculture are being used to feed tourists (3.5 million last year) and the locals are left with nothing - very interesting read.

 

gnomie :)

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I don't see anything about Cuba in the current Mariner itinerary. All are still listing the current places as they did 2 months ago. Not everyone might be excited to go to Cuba or have Cuba on the itinerary, for a variety of reasons.

 

They are updated now. Overnights in Havana on the Mariner April 11th and April 18th cruises.

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Wow! I'm also Cuban-American and that article is chilling. Yes, you can travel by air as long as you satisfy one of the requirements like being a journalist, visiting relatives, participating in cultural experience (read seeing what the Cuban government wants you to see). Sad that with as little food as there is in Cuba for its citizens, it is now used to feed tourists. Raul Castro and his government honchos do not suffer from lack of anything, it's the citizens who suffer but then tourists don't see any of that. By the way, Regent has not posted any tours for Havana. It'll be interesting to see what tours they have since they have to follow guidelines of cultural/educational. Seeing dancers, old Havana, artists'studios, etc, is not seeing Havana. Of course, if what you want to see is the old buildings, the malecon, the cathedral, dancers/musicians, etc, these cruises or land tours are right for you.

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Thank you Forevertravel, you're a 100% correct. I find it ironic that given Mr Del Rio's background he's so eager to contribute to the coffers of the dictatorship. Well, of course, it will probably be good for his company's bottom line, probably that's his main consideration.

 

Cuban Americans (like myself) should also be aware that even though we're US citizens we dont have the same protections as "regular" US citizens while in Cuba: http://www.incubatoday.com/news/article76178597.html

 

Interesting article! Some elderly people that immigrated to the U.S. with their families would like to visit their home country - step foot on the soil - one last time. I know that this was the case with Mr. Del Rio although this is no longer possible as his father passed away 6 weeks prior to the launch of the Explorer (he talked about this while we were on the Explorer in July).

 

When we went to Cuba, it was not our intent to put money into the government's pocket but in a way that is what we did. For us it was more important to fill a suitcase full of gifts to give to the people (we packed useful items for men, women and children - there is so much that they are not able to get in their country) than the small amount of money that Castro made off of us.

 

There is a current thread from the Mariner in the Amazon. One thoughtful poster filled a suitcase full of things for the children, schools, etc. Below I am posting what she learned while onboard the ship (stand by..... there is a point to this - sometimes it takes me forever to get there).

 

Terry Breen is on board and has been giving us some interesting information. In her lecture yesterday, she told us something that might be of interest/help to those of you planning to do this cruise in the future. We had been informed on our roll call by people who had been to the Amazon before that we should bring "gifts" to the children of the village Boca da Valeria (things ike pens and pencils, coloring books, etc). So of course I go out and get a bunch of stuff and drag it in my suitcase. Well, it turns out that that village is a bit of a ruse. The "villagers" don't actually live there...they live in a very modern community complete with cell phones and a soccer stadium. Boca da Valeria was built as a replica of what an Amazonian village once looked like, strictly for the cruise ships. The "villagers" travel by boat down a tributary to the made up village when cruise ships are tendered there, and do their thing. Which apparently includes fooling cruise ship passengers into believing it is an authentic Amazon village. Hmph. Looks like I'll be dragging my "gifts" back to the US to give to truly needy kids there.

 

BTW, she did find someone to get the gifts to the right people.

 

With Regent's announcement of the Mariner going to Cuba, it is a perfect time to suggest that passengers bring an extra suitcase (just leave it with someone in Cuba so that you don't have to schlep it home) filled with useful items (you can find out the most needed items by Googling). These lovely people appreciate it and their smiles will remain with you forever.

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Wow! I'm also Cuban-American and that article is chilling. Yes, you can travel by air as long as you satisfy one of the requirements like being a journalist, visiting relatives, participating in cultural experience (read seeing what the Cuban government wants you to see). Sad that with as little food as there is in Cuba for its citizens, it is now used to feed tourists. Raul Castro and his government honchos do not suffer from lack of anything, it's the citizens who suffer but then tourists don't see any of that. By the way, Regent has not posted any tours for Havana. It'll be interesting to see what tours they have since they have to follow guidelines of cultural/educational. Seeing dancers, old Havana, artists'studios, etc, is not seeing Havana. Of course, if what you want to see is the old buildings, the malecon, the cathedral, dancers/musicians, etc, these cruises or land tours are right for you.

 

Yes, forevertravel, as you're well aware the happy dancers/ musicians on the streets, etc is just part of the script and has nothing to do with the real Cuban culture. I think very few people know that before Castro's revolution Cuba had one of the highest per capita income in Latin America, rivaled only by Argentina. The Cuban people now live in a truly apartheid system , where the tourists (even those that were born there and now visit as tourists) can access places and goods that are verboten to the Cuban people, among these are hotels, beaches, stores and hospitals.

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I just saw this and may be interested in going. My question is this: Since this is within the 240 day excursion window for concierge and silver and above society levels and they haven't finalized the Cuba tours yet, how will they prioritize who gets first crack at the tours? Thanks for your insights.

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With Regent's announcement of the Mariner going to Cuba, it is a perfect time to suggest that passengers bring an extra suitcase (just leave it with someone in Cuba so that you don't have to schlep it home) filled with useful items (you can find out the most needed items by Googling). These lovely people appreciate it and their smiles will remain with you forever.

 

Although relations b/w the US and Cuba have improved, Cuba is still under the control of Raul Castro and I would be quite surprised if the Cuban authorities would allow passengers to disembark with "an extra suitcase" or for that matter, anything larger than a normal daypack without closer inspection. Cuba wants all visitors to believe that the citizens are well taken care of and do not require any assistance from well meaning tourists. I would suspect that the authorities will "volunteer" (a/k/a forcing one to turn over any and all items brought into the country for donation) which of course will not be distributed to the poor and those in need, but rather will become the property of the government.

 

Also, one needs to make sure that donations get into the right hands and not just someone who volunteers - otherwise there is the possibility that the donated goods become bartering goods and are sold.

 

About two years ago I attended a lecture by an individual who is the tour escort for Cuba for a well known travel company - according to him, Cuba knows that the individuals who can afford to take the more expensive trips are likely to have some nice items for donation, esp new clothing, and they actually monitor the trips and are stationed at the airport for "custom inspections".

 

gnomie :)

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Although relations b/w the US and Cuba have improved, Cuba is still under the control of Raul Castro and I would be quite surprised if the Cuban authorities would allow passengers to disembark with "an extra suitcase" or for that matter, anything larger than a normal daypack without closer inspection. Cuba wants all visitors to believe that the citizens are well taken care of and do not require any assistance from well meaning tourists. I would suspect that the authorities will "volunteer" (a/k/a forcing one to turn over any and all items brought into the country for donation) which of course will not be distributed to the poor and those in need, but rather will become the property of the government.

 

Also, one needs to make sure that donations get into the right hands and not just someone who volunteers - otherwise there is the possibility that the donated goods become bartering goods and are sold.

 

About two years ago I attended a lecture by an individual who is the tour escort for Cuba for a well known travel company - according to him, Cuba knows that the individuals who can afford to take the more expensive trips are likely to have some nice items for donation, esp new clothing, and they actually monitor the trips and are stationed at the airport for "custom inspections".

 

gnomie :)

 

I did not mean to suggest that you should take a piece of luggage off of the ship....... simply put some items in your backpack or Regent bag whenever you leave the ship. We handed them to people - did not make a big donation to one place. It may have been easier for us as we stayed in hotels and left gifts for the cleaning people on the bed or handed it to them every day. The places that we stayed were fairly expensive and we had no problems at all.

 

It is yet to be seen what passengers arriving on the Mariner (or Marina or NCL's ship) will have to go through upon arrival or when they disembark the ship. At this point do we know whether people can go off of the ship unescorted to wander on their own???

 

Remember that thousands of Canadian's and people from other parts of the world enter Cuba all the time. They are used to tourists and those tourists can walk around Havana or Varadero at will.

 

It seems that Carnival passengers have the most knowledge in terms of sailing to Cuba so I checked out a few sites on CC. Here is a link to the reviews of Havana http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/ports/havana-cruises/ . It may have some information for people thinking about sailing there. Also, if you go to the Carnival board and do a search for "Cuba", many threads come up.

 

Hope this helps!

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They are updated now. Overnights in Havana on the Mariner April 11th and April 18th cruises.

Also note that the fares are sharply higher for the new itineraries. (For Cat H, from $2,199 to $2,999.)

 

I wonder whether the higher fare is Regent thinking there is more demand, or if there are actually higher costs associated with stopping in Havana.

 

Note that similar new itineraries on Oceania Marina did not go up in price ... yet.

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Two of our friends have gone on volunteer programs to Cuba this is easy to secure through your TA. JetBlue, American and I think United are flying daily flights from Ft. lauderdale and Miami. The airlines are charging higher fares as they are paying some sort of landing fees. Of course it is a money grab for the Cuban government.

 

Our friends were able to walk around to markets and use US currency and bought some Cuban rum and other trinkets. We are planning to go for a few days by air. I speak fluent Spanish so I have a bit of advantage.

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They are updated now. Overnights in Havana on the Mariner April 11th and April 18th cruises.

 

I am sure glad I am not booked on this and past final payment; I would sure be in a "boatload" of trouble if I went to Cuba (and maybe even if found out i was "booked" on a cruise to Cuba).

 

edited to add: I wonder about timing; you would think Del Rio and Montague would be on first cruise to Cuba; does that mean they are going to skip the 25th anniversary cruise? If so, what does that say about honoring Radisson/Regent's history?

 

Marc

Edited by Marq
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I am sure glad I am not booked on this and past final payment; I would sure be in a "boatload" of trouble if I went to Cuba (and maybe even if found out i was "booked" on a cruise to Cuba).

 

Marc

 

Face it, Cuba will be another destination for most cruise lines. One I guess should not visit Russia or Germany(E. Berlin) because of the past or other countries around the world that have endured communism. Please don't visit Japan or Cambodia as they suffered the same plight if not worse in history.

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