Knighton

I'm not picking and choosing, I'm trying to understand the changes to the policy and how the cruise line intends to keep their passengers compliant.

 

Box 3 that you mention includes categories of travel that I believe have always been available, even before the Obama administration changes (Please correct me if I'm wrong on this). But US cruise lines did not start taking passengers to Cuba until the restrictions on person-to-person travel were relaxed. If booking a private tour is all it takes to satisfy the requirements of "support for the Cuban people" (box 3), then why weren't all these cruise lines going to Cuba for years? Why wasn't it until the self-guided person-to-person option was allowed that the cruise lines started visiting Cuba? You may say that a private tour satisfies the requirements of box 3 on the RCCL form, but I am skeptical of that until I hear some official word from a cruise line or the US government.

 

The question of whether or not booking a cruise line excursion is enough to qualify you under box 1 is a different issue. My point in the post you quoted is that not that an excursion is the only legal way to visit Cuba, but that RCCL is essentially telling passengers that booking one of their excursions is all they need to be legal. But I have serious doubts about a 3 hour activity can meet the definition of a full-time schedule of activities. I don't see how it can, but maybe they know something I don't.

The people to people reasons we're created by the Clinton administration. However until president Obama's executive order it was still illegal for airlines and cruise operators to go there from the u.s. That's why noone was going there yet. And it was a 2 part thing. In 2012 there was some easing but it wasn't until 2015 I think that the order came out that would make individual people to people ok and also included an ok for airlines and cruise lines to go from the u.s. as long as passengers stated they were going under one of the people to people reasons and not for vacation. Fast forward a year or so and finally the airlines and cruise lines were starting to be ready.

As far as excursion length I agree. That's why I'm not trusting that rcl is doing this for your convenience and ease of mind as they would lead you to believe. If you split hairs, they could say well if all you do is the 3 hour excursion then that's the full time you will be off the ship, won't it? They're out to make a buck and you using a private local certainly doesn't make rcl money. That's why the wording of the information on their Cuba FAQs to me really looks like scare tactics. I've seen a number of times on these 2 threads people insisting there's only 1 way to get off the ship when that simply isn't true. People only see the scary part and start jumping to conclusions without reading the rest.

Does this mean no cigar shopping in Cuba since they are state run ?

Hard to say. Most of those shops are government run so the official tours will have to stop going there. There was a place selling rum and cigars in the artisans market (great place for souvenirs) but I don't know if it was government run.

Here's a link to a post on the RCCL board that includes the email that was just sent to people booked on a future Cuba cruise. RCCL is telling their passengers that self-guided people-to-people travel is no longer allowed, but suggests that booking one of their excursions ensures that your trip is legal.

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=54527070&postcount=9

 

I checked the RCCL excursions for Cuba. There are a couple that are 3 hours, and a few more that are 4 hours. Does that really make the trips legal? The law states you must maintain a full-time schedule of approved activities, and the ships are in port for roughly 12 hours, or even more for an overnight stop. I don't see how 3 hours would cut it, especially when you look at some of the hypothetical examples given by the US government.

 

 

(emphasis mine)

See the bottom of page 4 in this PDF:

https://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/documents/regulations-docs/federal-register-notices/federal-register-2016/1448-treasury-rule-31616/file

Another case of picking and choosing what you want to see. It's specifically worded to scare you. Read on to the part after the scare tactic. It says "or qualify for one of the other categories". Look at the document you have to fill out. There are 4 choices. Box 3 as I've said a zillion times is what you use if you have a private tour booked. In.my other posts I've gone into the specifics please go back and look I'm really tired of repeating myself.

Castaway Cay is a Bahamian island. You were on foreign soil' date=' outside of the US. Thus, on your next US entry (Key West), you had to go thru Immigration.[/quote']

Right. I was just clearing up that other people were insisting there was no passport check when they went so they obviously had to have gone to key West first.

I believe it's an Immigration agent.

Whatever. Some government representative. The point is yes there was someone looking.

I contacted the tour company we are booked with in April and this is the document they sent to me, sounds like the only way to travel with them is to make it fit into "professional research". I'm extremely confused and because of that debating cancelling. :mad:

 

 

 

 

Trump´snew rules regarding travel to Cuba

 

TheTreasury Department published on November 9th, 2017 new restrictions on American travel to the island andplaced dozens of military-owned hotels and shops off-limits. These are the mostimportant things you should know when planning your trip to Cuba:

 

1.When did you book your trip?

If youbooked your trip to Cuba before June 2017, you do not have to worry about theTrump´s announcement regarding Cuba. Just make sure you have proof when youbooked your ticket to Cuba to show it was done before the June announcement.The rules, announced in June, come into force on Nov. 9, but do not affecttravel plans already in process.

 

2.Key points of the restrictions:

-Under the new rules, Americans will no longer be permittedto visit Cuba on individual “people-to-people” trips. Still, there are manyways to travel legally to Cuba. People-to-people trips will still be legal, butvisitors must travel as part of an organized group, which will make travel moreexpensive.

 

-Americans should continue to visit, but they must pay close attention to therules, travel experts said.

 

-There is a long list of hotels and business in which Americans cannot staybecause of their ties with the government. Airbnbseems to be the best option at the moment for American guests traveling toCuba.

 

-According to a fact sheet published on Nov. 8 by the Treasury Department,individual travel will still be allowed within 12 categories, includinghumanitarian and religious travel; family visits; journalistic activity; professional research; and participation inpublic performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions.

Thosetraveling in these categories will still be able to book a flight and reserve aroom online and they will not be required to apply for a specific license.However, they should pursue the activity inCuba for which their license is granted, whether it be helping areligious group or bringing humanitarian aid, and keeprecords of their visit for the requisite five years.

 

 

3.How can Havana Journeys help with yourtrip to Cuba?

 

-We are a team of chauffer-guides who work privately so we are not part of thelist of business and shops that were blacklisted.

 

-We are based in Cuba so we are not under US jurisdiction that means we cannotorganize "individual people to people travel to Cuba" under the newrestrictions.

 

-We can help with organizing itineraries thatcomply with "professional research" which is one of the possibilitiesof individual travel to Cuba. See the description below please:

 

Whatconstitutes generally authorized travel-related transactions for “professionalresearch”in Cuba?

 

OFAChas issued an expanded general license that incorporates prior specific licensingpolicy and authorizes, subject to conditions, travel-related transactions andother transactions that are directly incident to professional research in Cuba.

 

Amongother things, this general license authorizes, subject to conditions,professional research in Cuba relating to atraveler’s profession, professionalbackground, or area of expertise. In accordance with the NSPM, OFAC isamending this general license to exclude from the authorization directfinancial transactions with entities and sub entities identified on the StateDepartment’s Cuba Restricted List.

 

Thetraveler’s schedule of activities must not include free time or recreation inexcess of that consistent with a full-time schedule. An entire group does notqualify for the general license merely because some members of the groupqualify individually.

 

Werecommend reading the full article:

https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/cuba_faqs_new.pdf

Please see my posts #56 and #71. (Sorry, fingers are getting tired of repeating what I've already posted) They on the right track, but maybe you could help them out by pointing out supporting the Cuban people is the better reason-it makes more sense since you're not researching anything and maybe it will help them drum up more business.

How I intrepid full are required to go back to the ship after your designated tour. There is no more people to people clause so you cannot walk on your own. How will this be enforced? Only time will tell. This is an American policy. Cubans want our money, they won’t arrest us for spending it.

For our cruise in March, to play it safe, we have a 6 hour car tour the first day, if we have to go back to the ship after, I’ll feel satisfied. The second day, we have a 3 hour food walking tour. After day one I’ll have my feet wet with what I can and can’t do and that will determine if I book a second tour for the second day.

I’m excited to hear how the cruises over the next 5 months go.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Unless either the tour guides or some other rcl person are outside the terminal counting heads and forcing you inside I would feel free to go off and explore. I sincerely doubt anyone will be doing that, but this definitely is the one part we'll have to wait for reports on.

It looks like enforcement is going to be as you board the ship in Miami. Check out the new forms at: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/cuba/faq/

Be sure to examine the actual passenger certification form - not just read the narrative. It appears they are not going to let you get on the ship if you are not in compliance with the new rules. It is not clear that they will even let you remain on the ship in Cuba without taking the approved people-to-people program - or have some other acceptable circumstances under the embargo rules.

 

Hopefully we will get some actual reports from passengers.

Guess I have to do it again here. (There are 2 threads in 2 different places.) Anyway, yes please do read the actual form as well as the direction sheet that is a separate download. There is no requirement that you take only rcl excursions. The form has 4 choices. Box 1 is for those that are fine with royals offerings. Also there will see that box 2 is what you check if you booked before June 16. That's your key to doing private tours. Booked after June 16 box 3 is what you want. Specifically in the directions it would be "support for the Cuban people" and what applies there is "I am traveling to Cuba to engage with individuals that promote independent activity intended to strengthen civil society.". (abridged to only include what applies). If I hire a local citizen to show me important historical sites then I am strengthening civil society by keeping him employed and not on the streets doing anti government activities.

And again, it clearly states in the rcl FAQs that if you wish to stay on the ship that's fine and they won't charge you the visa fee. However that's a 1 way decision. You can't change your mind once you get on the ship I would imagine, since the notation on the manifest would probably be set in stone at sailing. Although I really don't know why anyone would go on the cruise at all if not to see Cuba. It's the oldest smallest ship and it's not exactly inexpensive as far as using it for a quick getaway.

 

It appears that RCI intends to enforce the sanction requirements at boarding in Miami. It is not clear that there is even an option to remain onboard in Cuba without participating in the RCI people-to-people program - unless some other exception to the sanctions apply..

Yes it is germane because here's where you yourself mention staying on board and it is patently false. The rcl site clearly states that if you wish to stay on board you will not be charged the visa fee, therefore there IS an option to do just that. I really don't know why anyone would bother going on the cruise at all if they weren't getting off in Havana, but there you go.

I too thought that I might be able to visit Cuba under "Support for the Cuban People" . Then I read the "Certification Instructions" that are also on the RCL site. The link is in the FAQ, just under the "Travel Certification" link.

 

Here's what the "Support for Cuban People" section says:

 

"Support for the Cuban people.

I am traveling to Cuba to engage with recognized human rights organizations,independent organizations designed to promote a rapid, peaceful transition to democracy,or individuals and non-governmental organizations that promote independent activity intended to strengthen civil society in Cuba; AND my schedule of activities does not include free time or recreation in excess of that consistent with a full-time schedule.(31 C.F.R. § 515.574)"

Also the Certification Instructions for the rest of the "General License Categories" look to me to be more restrictive than they at first appear.

Yes. I've been quoting that. I shortened it because what's after "or" is what applies, specifically "individuals" "that promote independent activity intended to strengthen civil society in Cuba". If I'm hiring an individual to show me important historical sites, then I am strengthening civil society by keeping him employed, right? That way he's not on the street being some kind of anti government radical. Sheesh I can't believe we have to go this deep in the weeds on this.

Dwgreenlee, I HAVE carefully examined the form and I would suggest that YOU please read the document more carefully!! There are 4 choices to choose from. Only ONE is the one where you are ok with doing only royal Caribbean's offerings and it is by no means being forced on people as the only choice. Box 2 is for those booked before June 16 going on private tours. Box 3 is for those booked after June 16 who don't want to be forced to exclusively use royals excursions. The one in box 3's list that applies is "support for the Cuban people". More specifically, "I am traveling to Cuba to engage with individuals and non government organizations that promote independent activities intended to strengthen civil society in Cuba.". All of this is listed in the FAQs you are suggesting everyone should read. Have you read them? The exact form is there for download as well as specific directions for it in a separate download. There is nothing, I repeat nothing anywhere that says the only choice is to use their excursions. And if you read the FAQs carefully they also state that you may stay on the boat and never get off, and they will not charge you the visa fee.

Thanks for your post. I am in slight panic because our booking for our November 20 sailing says June 16. So that probably means option 3 but I also read a posting (on a popular social media site) that unless you booked before June 16, you have to reserve an excursion with RCCL or you can't get off the ship (based on the poster's conversation with RCL). But option 3 people to people (and specifically Aiii under 515.574) Individuals and non-governmental organizations that promote independent activity intended to strengthen civil society in Cuba; and

According to RCL website, you're box 3. It specifically says "before June 16th", and since you're booking date is June 16th you're under the new stuff. I looked all over, even tried to make a mock booking, and there's nothing on their website that either says anything about or tries to force me to make a shore excursion through them. I would do a private tour.

If you booked the cruise before June 16th. I think you can still do private tours

You can do them either way. Before 6/16 off the hook. Booked after 6/16, still no problem, just a different box on the same form and a more specific reason that still covers private tours. Check out what I posted in post 35.

For what it's worth, it's way too early to get scared into submission by the cruise lines as far as whether or not private tours are allowed. I would not trust any cruise line agent's answers at this point. Treasury literally just released the rules November 9th, so there's no way any cruise line has informed their customer service agents as a group as to the exact impact and requirements. On the various threads, people are getting different answers to the same questions from different agents.

Gregski, there's not really anyone to ask for approval as far as I know, it's just fill out the new form. I know it's a tough decision since you're going there so soon that there won't be definitive answers from the latest batch to have gone there. I really think you'll be ok with the local tour, but if you do the ship's tour, hopefully once that tour is over, they won't be sticklers about making sure you go straight into the cruise terminal when the bus lets you off afterwards. If they don't seem to care if you walk off, that would be your opportunity to walk around, maybe hire a cab and see some other stuff shown to you by a local without even booking ahead. Believe me, there are loads of people right there offering their cabs. Oh, and BTW, the Carnival information is out of date. It's all from before the new stuff was put in place Nov 9th. I guess they haven't updated their website yet. Hope you have a great time.

Will be in Cuba on Nov 24th with Royal Caribbean and I was also planning on doing a local guide for the day and canceling our current scheduled royal caribbean tour but now feel i need to cancel the local tour :(

 

I talked to royal caribbean and they confirmed this but what is totally messed up is that the 3 hour overview group tour we take through the cruise line is "ok" and covers us for our educational people to people tour requirement, but the 6 hour local tour with a local tour guide who we would get SO MUCH MORE out of and also dump more money in the the hands of the cuban people, is not ok'd.

 

We are supposed to be done around 12:30pm and the cruise doesn't leave until 8pm so i can try to arrange some other local tours i guess.

 

What is more ironic... is click on the following document from Carnival that talks about a full time or half day schedule as the local guided tour we were going to take would meet the full time guidelines much more than our 3 hour royal caribbean tour.

https://help.carnival.com/ci/fattach/get/1553089/1497626123/redirect/1/filename/guest-affidavit-final%20(13.Apr.17)-%2

 

The local company i was booked with for a full day tour for 4 people said their company is not listed among those that were listed by the OFAC and would truly be supporting Cuban people.

 

Anyway... glad we get to see Havana and sure we will have a good time but very sad with the decisions of our current administration that just hurts the people of Cuba and the US visitors to Cuba.

Dumb question, who told you the local tour doesn't qualify? From what I'm reading on these threads it seems like if you call multiple cruise line agents, you'll get a dozen different answers as to what they say qualifies. If you check box 3 on their new form, that will do. There are directions for this form in a separate file on the same page on their website. The directions spell out each reason in the box 3 list. Here's what qualifies your locally booked tour (verbatim from the RCCL directions sheet):

• Support for the Cuban people. I am traveling to Cuba to engage with recognized human rights organizations,independent organizations designed to promote a rapid, peaceful transition to democracy, or individuals and non-governmentalorganizations that promote independent activity intended to strengthen civil society in Cuba; AND my schedule of activities does not include free time or recreation in excess of that consistent with a full-time schedule. (31 C.F.R. § 515.574)

The part I made red and underlined is what makes most sense as an explanation for having a private tour. If they want proof you booked a private tour, have a printed copy of the confirmation to show whoever feels the need to ask. There's nothing on the RCCL cuba FAQs that says you need this as proof, but better safe than sorry. And, there's no list in the FAQ's of approved/not approved tour guides, either, so unless they come up with some kind of exact list of who they like and don't like, all they are doing is trying to scare you into spending way too much $ on a crowded bus tour that doesn't get you to half the places you could go otherwise. There is a list on the state department website of businesses and tour operators that are not approved, so if you're scared, look there. As long as your tour provider isn't on the list, you're fine.

reason enough for me to avoid it - we hated every single minute we were in vegas...actually very single second...:o

Sorry you hated Las Vegas. I guess it's not for everyone. Word to the wise. If you don't like gambling and glitz, don't go to Las Vegas. I LOVE Las Vegas!! :hearteyes: However, as I said, Celebrity is an acceptable substitute to DCL and is only 1/4 the price. That was my point. It's ok that you missed that-I tend to forget everything I've read in a paragraph except for the last line, too.

Anyone having done a Cuba cruise before now wouldn't have been subjected to anything new, therefore what you did on your cruise before this week doesn't matter and doesn't apply to what is fact now. The announcement in June was accompanied by a qualifier that said it wouldn't take effect until Treasury and State could make the exact rules and announce them. I went in July and I did what I wanted. That has pretty much ceased as of Thursday. So, since Treasury announced Wednesday the 8th that they would take effect Thursday the 9th, that's when things changed. Anyone who booked before June 16th (the day the prez made the announcement) is off the hook and can freely self certify, so if you look at Royal Caribbeans sheet that's box 2. Anyone who booked after that and wants to do private tours has to use box 3 and the part of the list there that applies would probably be (this is verbatim from RCCL instructions on how to fill out the new certification):

• Support for the Cuban people. I am traveling to Cuba to engage with recognized human rights organizations,independent organizations designed to promote a rapid, peaceful transition to democracy, or individuals and non-governmentalorganizations that promote independent activity intended to strengthen civil society in Cuba; AND my schedule of activitiesdoes not include free time or recreation in excess of that consistent with a full-time schedule. (31 C.F.R. § 515.574)

The part I made red and underlined is what makes most sense as an explanation for having a private tour. I think I said before, book a private tour show whoever wants to know on the ship your confirmation from the tour co. and if you really want to do other stuff on your own, I would just do it once your private tour is done. I'm pretty sure they won't let you back off the ship just to walk around.

Here's an idea. I would wait for reviews to come in from any Cuba cruises that started after Nov. 9th. They will be the first set of people that should be under the new rules.

We received the same info from RCCL. We are on Dec. 4 trip and have already booked a private car tour and a private walking tour. Much cheaper than RCCL. Does anyone know yet whether we can still take our private tours or if we have to book a much more expensive tour thru RCCL? Since we have already booked, are we exempt from these new rules? Or, is RCCL going to take advantage of us by forcing us to book tours thru them? It appears we are using the same company they are for our car tour.

If you booked after June 16, here's the deal. On the new Cuba FAQ page on the RCCL site, there is a certification form you need to fill out. Here's a link:

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/cuba/content/uploads/2017/04/Cuba.Guest_.Cert_.Final_.pdf

It looks like box 3 will do nicely for private tours. The other thing they mention is you need to have a copy of whatever confirmation you got from whoever you booked the tour through to show them. So, I figure, in order to get off, you need to have the proof of a private tour, but there's no rule that says you are going to be forced to get right back on the ship after the tour. Just be prepared to have to go wherever else you want to go that night without getting back on the ship. Unfortunately that means no freshening up and also having to find dinner elsewhere.

First let me say, I am a HUGE Disney nut. Love everything they do, see all the movies, and we go to Disney World for a week every year. I loved my first DCL cruise in 2013 and said I'd definitely cruise them again. Service great, shows great, loved the ships decor, food great. It took awhile to return, mainly because even though I loved them, comparisons with other cruise lines prices made it more affordable for my family to go on one of those other lines. Finally returned to DCL last February. Same feelings as the first one, except this time the food was meh. Even in Palo. Fast forward to a few months ago when they opened the bookings for Thanksgiving 2018. I know, holidays are more expensive, but it's one of the few times during the school year my whole family can do a vacation together. Went online the day bookings opened and a 4 night inside cabin thanksgiving cruise for 2 was $4000??!! NO WAY. I knew I could do better. I now have a 5 night Celebrity cruise, Thanksgiving 2018, in a concierge balcony cabin with $300 OBC for $1000. I love Disney, but not NEARLY that much! If you can afford it, fine, go for it, but I personally would rather have 4 Celebrity cruises than 1 Disney, especially since my 12 y.o. son said he loves Celebrity because their service is great. Celebrity IMO is just as nice as DCL, the only thing missing is Disney characters roaming everywhere. And the food seems to be better than DCL as well. Walt must be rolling in his grave-yes he wanted to make money as much as any other businessman, but he also envisioned Disney vacations as something everyone should be able to afford and enjoy. The theme park ticket prices now are outrageous. We're also considering not going every year anymore because of this. Not that we can't afford it, I just don't see the value for the money at over $100/day. And I can't see enough of an extra kick in spending 4x as much on a DCL cruise as I would spend on a Celebrity cruise, and I'll even jump in and say I also LOVE Carnival, which is even less expensive. Maybe they're not as elegant, but it's not the booze cruise anymore. I see families, old people, young people all having a great time, and so do I. I used to be a snob about Carnival until I tried it just to see what all the fuss was, and the first thought I had on embarking on my first Carnival cruise (Sensation, so it wasn't even a new ship!) was, "Gee, there's nothing wrong with this. It's like Las Vegas got dumped into a cruise ship!"

In February we went to castaway cay first. At key West we had to go to a lounge on the ship along with everyone else and see a customs agent before we could get off.

I think box 3 is the way to go. Book a private tour, print out your confirmation and tour details as proof. I doubt when you get back from the private tour there will be someone there forcing you back onto the ship.

Heck, I always do that. Mostly because I love my cruise shirts and other tchotchkes, and partly because I wonder if when the staff of cruise brand x sees me wearing something from cruise brand y or even another brand x ship maybe they'll know they're helping an experienced cruiser and give me that extra special touch that keeps me coming back. Probably wrong, but I can dream, can't I?

Since it's so close to the trip and inside final payment, I'd skip it unless, like other have said, you need the points. I got an amazing deal myself, though, because I'm always looking for price drops. I booked an inside on a thanksgiving cruise on the Infinity for 2018. Already cheap to start with (5 nights for $900 total), but I checked last week and upgraded me and my son all the way to a concierge c3 for only $40 more and they added a $300 OBC. WOW. Still scratching my head as to why a holiday cruise like this one is so inexpensive!

I hope that everyone who will be cruising to Cuba in the next few months will post their experiences.

 

I am now struggling with the question of whether or not to cancel the cruise I have booked (NCL) and/or the cruise I'm waitlisted for (Oceania). Payment date for NCL is February 2.

Last year we did a Princess cruise that included St. Petersburg. We were not allowed to get off the ship unless we were on a ship's or approved tour. (I think this was Russia's policy, not that of the U.S.) The port call was disappointing. I only saw traffic, rain, and tourist sites that the guide wanted me to see. I don't feel as if I've visited St. Petersburg.

I don't want to cruise to Cuba if that's how it's going to be.

 

Any suggestions?

I would wait and see. February 2 is 2 1/2 months away. Since the rule just went into effect today, I wouldn't jump ship just yet until we find out exactly what the cruise lines are doing. I would think by January it should be pretty clear, which gives you time to find a different cruise if the Cuba ones don't look like they're going to be as interesting anymore.

Gee, Russia's rules have changed. We had an overnight port call in St. Petersburg 10 years ago. First day we took a day trip to Moscow (so cool-they flew us there, toured the city all day, then flew us back-does anyone offer that anymore?) and the second day I'm pretty sure we had a private tour of St Petersburg booked-it was just us 2 in a private car with someone and it was terrific.

Can we get back to what should be the topic? Whether or not you are a Cuba lover or a Cuba hater has been hashed over many times on cruise critic and every time a question comes up someone invariably jumps in and starts that old argument again rather than contributing to the question relevant to cruise critic. I understand there are strong feelings (and I would bet there are a zillion websites dedicated to the Cuba debate that you could post on), but isn't anyone here that either has already or will be cruising to Cuba wondering how this will exactly affect cruises? I skimmed the state department document and it does not mention cruises specifically even though they will be affected, too. What I have heard (and until the cruise lines confirm this, I'm not totally sure) is that you won't be able to get off the ship unless it's a ship sponsored excursion. Which would make it easier for them to prove that the guides would be U.S. based. It would be total chaos if they said you can book a private excursion on your own as long as it's a U.S. based one. How would anyone provide proof and what would be an acceptable form of proof?

For those that have already booked cruises (and other individual travel) the state dept website inferred that the new rules don't apply to pretty much anything that has already been established before today (Nov 9). So I doubt cruises will be cancelled, but it's hard to say at what point they will cease to let you off the ship on your own. And what I would wonder about is any new cruises to Cuba that are announced from Nov 9 onward. They will be drastically different, if they happen at all. It depends on whether the lines think the money they will make is worth the extra hoops they have to jump through.

What I have heard (and until the cruise lines confirm this, I'm not totally sure) is that you won't be able to get off the ship unless it's a ship sponsored excursion. Which would make it easier for them to prove that the guides would be U.S. based. It would be total chaos if they said you can book a private excursion on your own as long as it's a U.S. based one. How would anyone provide proof and what would be an acceptable form of proof?

For those that have already booked cruises (and other individual travel) the state dept website inferred that the new rules don't apply to pretty much anything that has already been established before today (Nov 9). So I doubt cruises will be cancelled, but it's hard to say at what point they will cease to let you off the ship on your own. And what I would wonder about is any new cruises to Cuba that are announced from Nov 9 onward. They will be drastically different, if they happen at all. It depends on whether the lines think the money they will make is worth the extra hoops they have to jump through. I skimmed through the whole document and it doesn't mention cruises at all, but that doesn't mean they are completely exempt.