Recently been to CUBA?

[daka]

We are booked on NCL SKY for CUBA December 11...

I'd like some comments on the ship and the Cuba visit...

tnx Daniel

[ColinIllinois]

Have you checked out the review section yet?

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=150

 

Current review a few pages back:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2561336

[drvmywifecrzy]

Cuba is awesome. People are poor but friendly. Do not take pictures of the security ladies at the metal detectors and dont flirt with them either. Do a ship excursion for comfort of filling out required documentation

[ja2nowak]

People are friendly for sure. And they most certainly are poor. Be prepared for everyone on the island to try to sell you cigars and trinkets. There is a ton to do right by the port area. I never felt unsafe until I had ventured about 3 miles from the port inland and even then it was more like I was an obvious tourist in a working class area who spoke fairly poor Spanish.

 

The ship itself? Well, it was an older ship. The onboard entertainment was ok. The open bar being included was nice. My cabin had various squeaks and unfortunately was located right above the Atrium lounge stage. Cageny's was as good as any other Cagney's. The service in the main dining rooms was a bit slow at times so I started going to dinner a bit later which made it much better. Nightlife was fairly awful on board after 11. The casino had newer games and wasn't too smoky imo. I didn't win, not like that is a surprise. But I still had a good time overall and can check Cuba off my list. If I could do anything different I would book a couple of shore excursions to get further inland to explore.

[sjbdtz]

Cuba is awesome. People are poor but friendly. Do not take pictures of the security ladies at the metal detectors and dont flirt with them either. Do a ship excursion for comfort of filling out required documentation

 

 

Based on your username, I'm wondering if this counsel is due to the reactions of the security personnel, or your wife???

 

 

Stephen

 

.

[drvmywifecrzy]

Based on your username, I'm wondering if this counsel is due to the reactions of the security personnel, or your wife???

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen

 

 

 

.

 

 

 

Nope, take a picture they will confiscate your phone

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Knighton]

Heads up new government rules took effect Nov 9. NCL site's Cuba page is now out of date. There are now different rules as to how you may get off the ship in Havana and for what reason. RCL posted their new info but since every cruise line is different I wouldn't go by them.

[daka]

Where are the "New Rules" posted?

[Knighton]

Here's the official state department info:

 

https://www.state.gov/e/eb/tfs/spi/cuba/index.htm

 

However, it doesn't really spell it out as far as cruises go. You could look at the new way Royal Caribbean is doing it as an example, already updated on their website, but that's them. Until NCL updates their page or announces that they won't be making changes, I would call them. And even that is opening a can of worms. Multiple people calling and gettting different agents at the same cruise line are sometimes getting completely different information.

[jsinflsunshine]

I have called NCL a number of times, and have been told that private tours are fine and things will remain the same. Of course, I know this not to be true. NCL Needs to update their FAQs with regard to Cuba to reflect the new Regulations. It’s so darn frustrating. We are planning to take one evening ship sponsored walking tour, and an all day educational tour with a Cuban guide. I am,thinking of checking People to People- Educational because of the ships tour, plus checking Support of the Cuban People because of 7 Hour Private Tour and dining in family owned Paladar,

Thoughts, anyone?

Please post info about your tours in Havana, and how they were handled by Norwegian in regard to the Afidavit that you filed before boarding the ship.

Need help, quickly. Leaving on Dec 4th.

Wish that Norwegian would get its act, and communications together.

[SPFfifty]

Called NCL and they said private tours still fine. Hopefully someone on today's cruise comes back and lets us know their experiences. Not sure I trust the information from their phone agent today.

[hawkeyetlse]

We are planning to take one evening ship sponsored walking tour, and an all day educational tour with a Cuban guide. I am,thinking of checking People to People- Educational because of the ships tour, plus checking Support of the Cuban People because of 7 Hour Private Tour and dining in family owned Paladar,

Thoughts, anyone?

I don't think you qualify under "Support of the Cuban people". That authorization is for people going to Cuba in the name of a human rights organization or pro-democracy organization. As an individual visitor, you would have to have show that you are going to Cuba in order to "promote independent activity intended to strengthen civil society in Cuba". Yes, you are helping a family-run restaurant make money by eating dinner there, but it sounds like a stretch to me.

 

In my opinion, checking two different boxes risks drawing unwanted additional attention to you. And checking anything other than "people to people" will also make you stand out (in a bad way). But I do understand your concern about your private tour, and whether it is still allowed under the amended regulations for people to people activities.

 

Did you book this cruise before June 16, 2017?

[hannibal54]

Based on your username, I'm wondering if this counsel is due to the reactions of the security personnel, or your wife???

 

 

Stephen

 

.

 

Make sure that you stand behind the lines, they will remind you. Also don't try to talk with them, they didn't like it when my girlfriend tried that.

[gregski]

Hey Hawkeye...

That's not what the requirements say exactly...

When you read the entire statement is 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-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 first two don't apply to local tour groups but the third part of the sentence clearly says... individuals (like guides)... who are giving full day tours... (full time schedule)...

 

I wrote the state department today in Havana to clarify/confirm this. I called their number listed on our US gov web site but go figure...it did not go through. I really do think it is ok and also knowing the full intent of the change is to not support military (see the link below as "no no" places to support...

https://www.state.gov/e/eb/tfs/spi/cuba/cubarestrictedlist/275331.htm

 

Here is the verbage of what we can support in Havana....

https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/cuba_fact_sheet_11082017.pdf

 

my question is what does "a traveler must engage in additional authorized Support for the Cuban People activities." listed at the bottom of this next paragraph... ??

 

Support for the Cuban People Travel

• In accordance with the NSPM, OFAC is requiring that each traveler under this travel category engage in a full-time schedule of activities that result in meaningful interaction with individuals in Cuba. Such activities must also enhance contact with the Cuban people, support civil society in Cuba, or promote the Cuban people’s independence from Cuban authorities. Renting a room in a private Cuban residence (casa particular), eating at privately owned Cuban restaurants (paladares), and shopping at privately owned stores run by selfemployed Cubans (cuentapropistas) are examples of authorized activities; however, in order to meet the requirement of a full-time schedule, a traveler must engage in additional authorized Support for the Cuban People activities.
  

What kind of ticks me off is RCC has thousands of folks getting off their ship every day in Cuba and they have not communicated what the deal is with using local tours as according to this documentation... you should be able to select "3" on the sheet for Support of the Cuban People... I have heard two conflicting RCC people saying yes you can and no you can't...

[jsinflsunshine]

Hey Hawkeye...

That's not what the requirements say exactly...

When you read the entire statement is 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-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 first two don't apply to local tour groups but the third part of the sentence clearly says... individuals (like guides)... who are giving full day tours... (full time schedule)...

 

I wrote the state department today in Havana to clarify/confirm this. I called their number listed on our US gov web site but go figure...it did not go through. I really do think it is ok and also knowing the full intent of the change is to not support military (see the link below as "no no" places to support...

https://www.state.gov/e/eb/tfs/spi/cuba/cubarestrictedlist/275331.htm

 

Here is the verbage of what we can support in Havana....

https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/cuba_fact_sheet_11082017.pdf

 

my question is what does "a traveler must engage in additional authorized Support for the Cuban People activities." listed at the bottom of this next paragraph... ??

 

Support for the Cuban People Travel

• In accordance with the NSPM, OFAC is requiring that each traveler under this travel category engage in a full-time schedule of activities that result in meaningful interaction with individuals in Cuba. Such activities must also enhance contact with the Cuban people, support civil society in Cuba, or promote the Cuban people’s independence from Cuban authorities. Renting a room in a private Cuban residence (casa particular), eating at privately owned Cuban restaurants (paladares), and shopping at privately owned stores run by selfemployed Cubans (cuentapropistas) are examples of authorized activities; however, in order to meet the requirement of a full-time schedule, a traveler must engage in additional authorized Support for the Cuban People activities.
  

What kind of ticks me off is RCC has thousands of folks getting off their ship every day in Cuba and they have not communicated what the deal is with using local tours as according to this documentation... you should be able to select "3" on the sheet for Support of the Cuban People... I have heard two conflicting RCC people saying yes you can and no you can't...

 

Please post your findings. TY