2112

The currency exchange at the port closes at 8:00 pm.

8 hours ago, Cruiser24 said:

Did you actually visit a school to take your supplies or give them to someone to take?  I am going in June with four other teachers and have been filling backpacks with school supplies.  I have asked our local guide (Blexie tours) if we can visit  a school.  Hopefully that is still possible. 

Yes, we visited a school. It was called La Casa de Beneficencia y Maternidad, a preschool and kindergarten run by Catholic nuns.  This place used to be an orphanage during colonial times.  It is very close to the port. They were very appreciative and the children sang us some songs.

I went to Casa Roma 1860 right off the square at the Cathedral. I had 2 lobster tails with a mojito for $15. My wife and son had beef and pork dishes (both delicious - better than my lobster) for $12 including drink.

1 hour ago, kathy49 said:

and how would a boycott help that guide?  

It won't. Communism thrives on isolation. Isolation means the people have to depend on the government for everything. The original intent of the embargo was well meaning, but it really it just keeps the people poor and robs them of any possibility to rise up against their own oppression. The embargo hasn't worked for 60 years, so maybe it's time to try something different. After all, isn't trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results the definition of insanity?

This entire time people have been blowing off the possibility of getting audited. I've always that it a possibility, and today even more so. I fully expect to get some kind of notice in the mail asking for documentation in the next couple years. I also fully expect the the auditor may have a different definition of "Support for the Cuban People" than I do, regardless of what I send then. But I always figured that was a risk I was willing to take. Who knows, in 2 years we may have a new administration and an entire new set of rules. Whatever happens, happens. I know that we supported the Cuban people by our supporting capitalism, as well as by our donation of school supplies to a school in need of them. I believe we fulfilled the spirit of that category and feel good about it. If they try to fine me, well I'll cross that bridge if I come to it.

I had read to allow 90 minutes, but last week we left our cabin at 8:40 to meet a 10:00 tour, and we were in the plaza across the street from the dock by 9:00. Everything went fast, even though there was a bit of a line at immigration and at the money exchange. They quickly looked at the visa and your passport, took your picture, and then stamped your passport. Took only a couple minutes. They x rayed our bags (no line and only took a minute), then off to money exchange. There seemed to be a bit of a line there, but lots of windows open. I was pleasantly surprised how quickly it all went.

By the way, the tour guide we ended up with was Daliced Garcia at Free Walking Tour Havana (http://www.freewalkingtourhavana.com). Again, this was by sheer luck. She was excellent, and took us to a school as we brought some school supplies to donate. Very flexible and knowledgable. She recommended a great restaurant at the end of the tour (Casa Roma 1860), and in the restaurant we saw a sign on the wall about the car tour. 

12 hours ago, Sunsher28 said:

Well, this is disheartening. I just emailed Blexie last night to confirm a tour in July. Did she happen to mention if the situation had been resolved? 

I was told that the guide was held until about 3 pm and that she was really freaked out. Not sure how that will translate to the possibility of this happening again or not. Blexie also said he sent a driver to meet me, but I had already left.

I booked Blexie Tours for a tour last week and the tour guide never showed up. It turns out she, along with around 15 other tour guides, were arrested for not being properly licensed. Prior to this, all of my communications with Blexie were professional. I did receive an apology and explanation after the fact. Luckily, we found an excellent tour guide on the plaza across from the dock from Free Havana Walking Tours who gave us an outstanding 3 hour walking tour for tips (we gave her $60 for 3 of us) and then we hired a classic car (convertable) for $80 for 2.5 hours, so it all came out the same money wise.

Ok, I'll admit I'm confused, but isn't the Affidavit linked to your Visa?

 

Don't you fill out the Multiple Choice Affidavit (filed away by the cruise line) in order to get your Cuba Visa aka Cuban Tourist Card (filed away by Cuban Port Officials), your "Visa" does not reflect the Affidavit choice you made?

 

Thanks in advance to all for the clarification.

 

Sent from my 5049W using Forums mobile app

No, they are not related. The visa is required by the Cuban government. They consider you a tourist and couldn't care less what your affidavit says.

The Affidavit is for the US government to make sure you comply with the US government's Cuban embargo.

They are not related. The US government doesn't care about your visa and the Cuban government doesn't care about the Affidavit.

Now, the interesting thing is that RCCL apparently has a box for non-cruiseline, third party P2P tours, but as this thread seems to point out, their are no qualifying non-cruiseline, third party P2P tours. So the box exists, but actual qualifying tours don't. If you have a third party tour, you should check SFTCP, although it appears that cruise lines sometimes don't want you to check that box, perhaps due to lack of under standing on their part.

We had 2 great tours with a local agency.

We applied for a Visa on our own checking " Support to Cuban People".

I don't understand why many people wants to get a Visa under the P2P category while is so simple to get one just checking "support to cuban people"������ avoiding all the problems.

The Cuban Visa and the OFAC declaration are two completely unrelated items. Cuba doesn't care why you are there and they will issue a tourist visa regardless.

The OFAC does care why you are there and requires the declaration, as officially you can't visit Cuba as a tourist as far as the US government is concerned. This has nothing to do with the visa. Please do not confuse the two.

I go by what OFAC publish in the CACR. OFAC can only require a record of your activities if you go under P2P, and cannot require them under SFCTP.

Furthermore, under SFTCP you are allowed "free time or recreation", so no problem going to the beach. Under P2P there is no mention of free time or recreation being available.

I looked at your link and I still do not see anywhere that using the SFTCP prohibits the OFAC from asking you to furnish an itinerary should you be audited. Where does it state that?

Also, are we sure that the cruise lines store away the affidavits and don't forward them to the OFAC? I see that stated over and over here, but where did that info come from?

Not quite as you suggest:

 

However, I agree that OFAC includes many helpful examples for travellers concerned about compliance.

No, what I suggested is that a schedule matters. You implied that it did not. It clearly does matter what you are actually doing, and if you are audited it is important to be able to prove your activities qualified under the SFTCP license. As the OFAC points out, spending time on the beach does not comply with the license, even if you spend most of your day "supporting the Cuban people."

Many say that, but I disagree. The only matter for "interpretation" is what constitutes a compliant "activity".

In any case, under SFTCP OFAC can only audit your financial transactions, and not your activities. That being the case, you really only have to worry about the CRL, if you worry at all.

From the OFAC website:

20. What constitutes “support for the Cuban people” for generally authorized travel and other transactions?

This general license authorizes, subject to conditions, travel-related transactions and other transactions that are intended to provide support for the Cuban people, which include activities of recognized human rights organizations; independent organizations designed to promote a rapid, peaceful transition to democracy; and individuals and non-governmental organizations that promote independent activity intended to strengthen civil society in Cuba. In accordance with the NSPM, OFAC is amending this general license to require that each traveler utilizing this authorization engage in a full-time schedule of activities that enhance contact with the Cuban people, support civil society in Cuba, or promote the Cuban people’s independence from Cuban authorities and that result in meaningful interactions with individuals in Cuba. OFAC is also amending this general license to exclude from the authorization certain direct financial transactions with entities and subentities identified on the State Department’s Cuba Restricted List. The traveler’s schedule of activities must not include free time or recreation in excess of that consistent with a full-time schedule in Cuba. For a complete description of what this general license authorizes and the restrictions that apply, see 31 CFR § 515.574.

The OFAC website gives some examples of what would constitute SFTCP, and they specifically state, for example, that a person staying in independently owned establishments, eating in local restaurants, spending time talking to locals, and spending time at the beach surfing would not qualify for SFTCP status as it is not consistent with a full time schedule required under the SFTCP license.

It seems to me that the "Support for the Cuba People" guidelines is very broadly written and very subjective. If you ever were audited, it would likely be up to a specific auditor to determine whether what you did is compliant or not. Even the examples written on the OFAC website show a lot of grey area. If you ever were to be audited, it would probably be as a part of a political stunt (just as the change in the rules in November 2017 was), and as such they would probably not give you the benefit of the doubt in the case of a grey area. A friend of mine works on obtaining band visas for overseas musicians who want to play in the USA. One of the requirements is that they be "internationally recognized." What one agent will accept is completely different from what another agent will accept. There have been bands that have played 50+ international shows denied a visa while a different band that has only played a handful of international shows granted a visa. Once a determination has been made, it can't be appealled. I never would assume the US government, if you are audited, will just gloss over what you give them and give you the benefit of the doubt when politics might be involved.

Yes, I know that everyone has been booking tours with local operators and checking "Support for the Cuban People" on their declaration, but are their actually any local non-cruiseline operated tours that qualify under the new OFAC "People to People" guidelines?

Can anyone tell me how long is the walk from the aquarium to the port?

You will know when and if the new regulation is published in the Federal register. since some of the cruise lines are publicly traded that's how they handle this. If they decide to not issue a regulation they may or may not tell any one.

That's what I'm saying. They may never make an announcement.

That's exactly what I did. I'm going to get to leave from here this year, but not going to do it again any time soon til this is settled one way or the other.

How will you know if it is settled or not? Do you actually think they are going to make an announcement saying they decided to do nothing. Like someone said, this has been discussed since the 1970's and I don't think they ever made an announcement saying it was ever settled then.

Can I go with a 2 year old?

I agree: no swim diapers in the main pools!

I'm not sure why this has come up in this thread so many times - this is already a rule and I have never seen it broken on any of the 5 cruises I've been on!

How about some new itineraries and different ports. How about adding St. Vincent or Trinidad just to name 2 ports they could add.

How about moving a ship to San Francisco?

Have kids club from 2 years old and allow for non-potty trained kids to attend like Carnival does.

Add self service laundry facilities. Some of us don't mind throwing in a load of laundry during a long cruise. It saves us money and helps us pack a lot lighter. Other cruise lines give their passengers this option. Why not Royal and Celebrity?

YES!!!!!!

Just bumping up this great post!