New restrictions on travel to Cuba

[MalbecWine]

As a person who was born in Miami, I grew up with many  Cubans and learned fluent Spanish among French and German.  Castro and the US were at odds causing the Cuban Missle Crisis.    JFK was our president then. People left when Batista was the former leader knowing that Castro was dangerous.  Cuba at one time was a weathly County and had one of the best Universities in the world.  My grandparents use to fly the Pan Am clipplers out of Dinner Key to HAV for short hoildays.  They told me fabulous stories of their visits.   We have many people in our government who are  Cuban decent...Marco Rubiio comes to mind and many others.  We have our own Gloria Estphan who is a top singer and a proud Cuban.

 

As RallyDave said,  its where the ship is registered.  Any line can have an office in   any US state or elsewhere in the world.

 

Ok, the comment about drills, I went through the same thing at that time and we were less then 100 miles away.  I do not suffer from PTS.  I have long forgotten  about it and so have millions of us.  Without Cubans, Miami would be half the size it is now and less prosperous.  Cubans are professionals on all levels.  My Doctor is Cuban and is part of MDVIP (Concierge Doctor).

 

I hope this is resolved soon.  Our own government has been in chaos for two years with other countries. So time will tell.  I for one want to step foot on Cuban. soil and see the island.

 

 

 

 

 

For ourselves we definitely want to go to Cuba like Canadians and Europeans who have traveled there for years.   I hope this is resolved soon and let Americans in as many of us want to go.  Yes, Regent was the first and many lines followed.  Very disappointed in this government decision.  JMHO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gabelle]

20 hours ago, Kwaj girl said:

Glad we went last month on the Voyager, but won't be upset if we don't return on our Dec Explorer cruise.  For us, once was enough.  Too bad,  though, as we were looking forward to the "farm to table" excursion in Havana but that's about it.

The farm to table was a wonderful experience.  Wish you had joined us.  Would have been fun.

[Travelcat2]

Malbec Wine - I don't think that anyone is arguing with you or your experiences.  Your post is interesting, however, unless you have the ear of the current administration, we all have to live with this.  If you recall, a previous administration placed a $50,000 fine on U.S. citizens caught going to Cuba illegally (which stopped our visits to the lovely country).  

 

Getting back to Regent (and I am repeating this), Regent did not go to Cuba prior to it becoming legal under the previous administration.  I don't really care where Regent is registered.  What matters is what policies they follow.  So, in order to keep their strong customer base, they need to adhere to whatever laws affect U.S. citizens.

Edited April 19, 2019 by Travelcat2

[rallydave]

4 minutes ago, Travelcat2 said:

Getting back to Regent (and I am repeating this), Regent did not go to Cuba prior to it becoming legal under the previous administration.  I don't really care where Regent is registered.  What matters is what policies they follow.  So, in order to keep their strong customer base, they need to adhere to whatever laws affect U.S. citizens.

Suggest you research what changed regarding cruise ships going to Cuba.  The change that allowed cruise ships to go to Cuba was based on ships leaving a US port prior to arrival in Cuba and not a law affecting US citizens as the requirements for the passengers apply equally to everybody on board the ships and not just US Citizens.

 

There as a case almost a year ago where Azamara changed a trans Atlantic to make Havana their last port while departing from Lisbon.  Many non US citizens objected Azamara requiring everyone on board to buy Visa's from Azamara and comply with the new requirements since the cruise did not comply with the new requirements.

 

Just before the cruise was to depart Lisbon Azamara changed the itinerary deleting a stop in Bermuda and replacing it with a stop in Key West such that the cruise complied with all of the new requirements.  The requirements apply equally to any ship from any cruise line departing a US port before arrival in Cuba and not a law at all since laws have to be passed by Congress and this wasn't and not applying only to US Citizens.

[NCCruzQueen]

On 4/17/2019 at 8:15 PM, wishIweretravelling said:

A friend and I are also booked on that cruise. I suspect that, if existing plans are not grandfathered, Regent will switch it to a more traditional Caribbean cruise. Which would not appeal to us. We made our own air arrangements, so I suppose we'll just be out that money.

 

I will also lose the Free Night at the IHG property I booked for us.

[rcandkc]

3 hours ago, MalbecWine said:

As a person who was born in Miami, I grew up with many  Cubans and learned fluent Spanish among French and German.  Castro and the US were at odds causing the Cuban Missle Crisis.    JFK was our president then. People left when Batista was the former leader knowing that Castro was dangerous.  Cuba at one time was a weathly County and had one of the best Universities in the world.  My grandparents use to fly the Pan Am clipplers out of Dinner Key to HAV for short hoildays.  They told me fabulous stories of their visits.   We have many people in our government who are  Cuban decent...Marco Rubiio comes to mind and many others.  We have our own Gloria Estphan who is a top singer and a proud Cuban.

 

As RallyDave said,  its where the ship is registered.  Any line can have an office in   any US state or elsewhere in the world.

 

Ok, the comment about drills, I went through the same thing at that time and we were less then 100 miles away.  I do not suffer from PTS.  I have long forgotten  about it and so have millions of us.  Without Cubans, Miami would be half the size it is now and less prosperous.  Cubans are professionals on all levels.  My Doctor is Cuban and is part of MDVIP (Concierge Doctor).

 

I hope this is resolved soon.  Our own government has been in chaos for two years with other countries. So time will tell.  I for one want to step foot on Cuban. soil and see the island.

 

I’m NOT against Cubans!  I’m against their government. 

 

 

 

For ourselves we definitely want to go to Cuba like Canadians and Europeans who have traveled there for years.   I hope this is resolved soon and let Americans in as many of us want to go.  Yes, Regent was the first and many lines followed.  Very disappointed in this government decision.  JMHO.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[rcandkc]

I don’t have ptsd about Cuba but against their government, not the people, so I don’t want to visit.  I said I understand many want to visit and I hope it gets resolved for them. 

[Travelcat2]

53 minutes ago, rallydave said:

Suggest you research what changed regarding cruise ships going to Cuba.  The change that allowed cruise ships to go to Cuba was based on ships leaving a US port prior to arrival in Cuba and not a law affecting US citizens as the requirements for the passengers apply equally to everybody on board the ships and not just US Citizens.

 

There as a case almost a year ago where Azamara changed a trans Atlantic to make Havana their last port while departing from Lisbon.  Many non US citizens objected Azamara requiring everyone on board to buy Visa's from Azamara and comply with the new requirements since the cruise did not comply with the new requirements.

 

Just before the cruise was to depart Lisbon Azamara changed the itinerary deleting a stop in Bermuda and replacing it with a stop in Key West such that the cruise complied with all of the new requirements.  The requirements apply equally to any ship from any cruise line departing a US port before arrival in Cuba and not a law at all since laws have to be passed by Congress and this wasn't and not applying only to US Citizens.

 

Perhaps you should do some research as well.  While I don't know or care about Azamara or other cruise lines, I do care about what Regent does.  Once our former President visited Cuba, Frank Del Rio did as well (this was after Carnival was approved to sail one ship to Cuba).  It was through negotiations that Regent was permitted to sail their ships to Cuba (Oceania as well).

 

Once again, I did not say that there was a law allowing U.S. citizens to go to Cuba.  Rather, I said that Regent follows laws, visitation warnings, etc. that is dictated by the U.S. Government.  

 

Suggest that you speak with Regent top management to learn how all of this came about.  It is quite an interesting story - especially since Mr. Del Rio was born in Cuba and left when he was young ....... his family expecting to return in a month.  Obviously that did not happen.  His story is a matter of public record.

 

BTW, top management of Regent (and NCLH) are U.S. citizens and they are very loyal to their country.  There are reasons why cruise lines register in other countries.  If they didn't, they would have to pay minimum wage to cruise line workers (even though most of them are not U.S. citizens) and they would not be allowed to work the hours that they do.  While there are pros and cons to this,  is a subject for another thread. From my perspective, I would not want to see prices increase dramatically on Regent - just so they can register in the U.S.  Having worked in the area of H.R. for 20 years, my perspective is likely different than others.

 

 

[cruiseluv]

2 hours ago, rcandkc said:

I don’t have ptsd about Cuba but against their government, not the people, so I don’t want to visit.  I said I understand many want to visit and I hope it gets resolved for them. 

 

I understand you perfectly well. I was born in Cuba, my family left due to the Revolution, and I'm extremely happy and proud to call myself a US citizen. I must say that some of the "tours" that Regent sponsors, such as the so called "Farm to Table" ,while I'm sure they're beautifully executed, are grotesque. There's no "farm to table" available to the general population of Cuban people. The same goes for the "nightlife" that supposedly exemplifies what's available to the local population. Its not, its just a farce. I dont begrudge people for being curious and wanting to go, but like rcandkc, and for very obvious personal reasons, I dont want to visit due to the government, which is the main beneficiary of any deals that allow cruise ships to stop there.

[JPR]

Spot on. And then there is Cuba’s role in sending troops to prop up the vile Maduro in Venezuela...

Edited April 19, 2019 by JPR

[Bellaggio Cruisers]

We visited Cuba on Regents first voyage there in April 2017. I found the two days there very enlightening. The old town of Havana can be likened to an old painting, needing restoration to rediscover it’s beauty. 

Many of the rest of the sights were filled with poverty. We had the ability to rent one of the old cars on our own and were able to drive through much of Havana. 

We did the “farm to table” experience. It was nothing special. 

Mu DH, on the other hand,  was unimpressed. 

We are scheduled to visit there again on our December 2019 Explorer cruise. Will wait and see what happens. No matter, we will remain on this cruise. 

Sheila

[papaflamingo]

I certainly understand the feelings of those who don't want to visit Cuba due to the govt. etc.  I, on the other hand, want to visit Cuba.  I also grew up in the 60's and clearly remember the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis. I lived in San Diego, one of the largest Naval ports in the U.S.  We knew we were "ground zero" for a nuke if the missiles ever started flying.  In college I studied Cuba, the USSR, and Latin American politics.  So I'd like to see what I studied.  

But I wonder.  Many on this board visit Vietnam on cruise.  The current Govt. of Vietnam was a result of the war that we lost and a military that killed over 58,000 U.S. Military, and I was right at the age.  Some wounded or killed were friends of mine. The war in Vietnam fractured our country.   Yet we've been "friends" with Vietnam for many years.  

We were in a Cold War with the USSR since the end of WW II.  That finally came to an end in 1991 or so.  I've visited St. Petersburg, and I know many here have also.  How many Americans died during the Cold War?  

China has been one of the worst regimes in history.  How many here have visited China on cruises?

So, my point is simple.  Castro was an evil dictator.  But this has been going on over 60 years.  If you don't want to visit Cuba, I certainly respect that.  But for the U.S. Govt. to tell us we, as free Americans, can't visit Cuba and they cite Cuba's support for Venezuela as part of the reason is absurd.  Putin has flown over a hundred Russian troops to Venezuela to bolster the rule of Madera.  Why doesn't out Govt. also ban travel to Russia?  

Anyway, I hope saner minds prevail.  The best way to get rid of Communism and Socialism like in Cuba is to expose the people to the benefits of our system and show them what they can have.  Depriving Cuba of tourism deprives the Cuban people, not the Cuban govt.  

Just my Humble Opinion. 

[rcandkc]

I do understand your point and do hope it gets worked out.  I was only stating my preference for me..no one else. 

[UUNetBill]

While I wouldn't mind visiting Cuba, it's not what I'd call a 'bucket list' destination for me.

 

I do like their cigars, though.

[forgap]

Well said, Papaflamingo!

[Wendy The Wanderer]

As a Canadian I'm free to visit Cuba anytime I want, but I'm ashamed to say I haven't, mainly because my DH is a dual.  Many of my friends go there every year and love it.  Some day we'll just go, not from the States, but from Canada or Mexico.

[Ladys Mom]

I agree with you Papaflamingo.  Based on how much a particular country negatively impacts the US I would say that a ban on travel makes much more sense right now.  My husband and I were looking forward to taking Regent to Cuba.  Although the cruise in December was totally booked when we looked at it, we were hoping they would repeat the Cuba-intensive itinerary at sometime in the near future, since were are not interested in visiting the islands again.  Only time will tell what this latest ban will mean for future cruising.  I do know that Mr. Trump's move has negatively affected my NCL stock almost immediately.

[hypercafe]

We also have a trip booked for next year that over nights in Havana. I was in the Navy in the 60s and spend a year there on the base and always wanted to see what was on the other side of the fence. I always felt the whole embargo thing was silly and was encouraged by President Obama trying to open up the relationship. I hope we get to go however I was expecting this seeing the actions of the present administration.

[MalbecWine]

18 hours ago, papaflamingo said:

I certainly understand the feelings of those who don't want to visit Cuba due to the govt. etc.  I, on the other hand, want to visit Cuba.  I also grew up in the 60's and clearly remember the Bay of Pigs and the Cuban Missile Crisis. I lived in San Diego, one of the largest Naval ports in the U.S.  We knew we were "ground zero" for a nuke if the missiles ever started flying.  In college I studied Cuba, the USSR, and Latin American politics.  So I'd like to see what I studied.  

But I wonder.  Many on this board visit Vietnam on cruise.  The current Govt. of Vietnam was a result of the war that we lost and a military that killed over 58,000 U.S. Military, and I was right at the age.  Some wounded or killed were friends of mine. The war in Vietnam fractured our country.   Yet we've been "friends" with Vietnam for many years.  

We were in a Cold War with the USSR since the end of WW II.  That finally came to an end in 1991 or so.  I've visited St. Petersburg, and I know many here have also.  How many Americans died during the Cold War?  

China has been one of the worst regimes in history.  How many here have visited China on cruises?

So, my point is simple.  Castro was an evil dictator.  But this has been going on over 60 years.  If you don't want to visit Cuba, I certainly respect that.  But for the U.S. Govt. to tell us we, as free Americans, can't visit Cuba and they cite Cuba's support for Venezuela as part of the reason is absurd.  Putin has flown over a hundred Russian troops to Venezuela to bolster the rule of Madera.  Why doesn't out Govt. also ban travel to Russia?  

Anyway, I hope saner minds prevail.  The best way to get rid of Communism and Socialism like in Cuba is to expose the people to the benefits of our system and show them what they can have.  Depriving Cuba of tourism deprives the Cuban people, not the Cuban govt.  

Just my Humble Opinion. 

Perfectly said.  Thank you.

[hypercafe]

Was reading that now trump wants to put a total embargo on Cuba for helping and offering to help Maduro. Surely that will put an end to US citizens visiting the island on any mode. We have a trip booked from NYC for next year because it overnights in Havana, guess I will have to decide if I want just another Caribbean cruise. Even if we are still allowed if those terrible tweets start foul mouthing the Cuban government I will be afraid to get off the ship!!