Cuba Visa Question

[MichelleLiebler]

Hello,

 

Apologies if I am posting in the wrong place as this is my first post.

 

My husband, almost one year old son and I are on the Norwegian Sky for a cruise to Havana next month. Who has done this cruise and used the “Support for the Cuban People” reasoning?

 

I would like to select this option as the group People to People option is not something we want to do - with our young son, a long group tour with pre-determined stops is not ideal. Instead, we plan to book a private car tour through a local company, eat at private paladors, etc. I am quite sure that this is OFAC compliant after doing my research.

 

However, NCL is giving us a hard time and not allowing us to select this as a reason. I am pretty sure this is because we are trying to purchase the visa through them, since it’s really not legal for them to stop us from using “Support for the Cuban People”.

 

So then we can just purchase the visa through an outside company, that’s fine. But what is the process like to disembark the ship? I am reading horror stories of people being held up by the cruise line (not by customs) when trying to select “Support for the Cuban People” - is this only because they are trying to get their visas through the cruise line? Or is NCL doing visa/affidavit checks before allowing you off the ship, even if you purchase the visa from an outside source?

 

Hopefully this question makes sense - I appreciate any insight you all have.

[katesmarma]

Just say people to people. You should not have to take tour as far as I know. Once you go thru customs they take visa card stamp passport and you can then come and go as you please. That affidavit has nothing to do with visa but say you are aware of visiting rules Check other topics many out there

[katesmarma]

https://legalcubatravel.com/ Good info Sail on Sun May 27th

[RupanIII]

Group People to People is the way to go. Are you going to be interacting with people? Are you visiting as a part of a group? On a cruise the answer is yes to both questions. 

[Jembeccatoo]

We were in Havana in April. We purchased our visas through NCL and took a private tour. Nobody checks what your visa says. You hand it in at customs the first time you disembark. After that, you’re free to come and go as often as you wish, no questions asked.

[pinkie60]

On 5/11/2019 at 4:00 PM, MichelleLiebler said:

Hello,

 

Apologies if I am posting in the wrong place as this is my first post.

 

My husband, almost one year old son and I are on the Norwegian Sky for a cruise to Havana next month. Who has done this cruise and used the “Support for the Cuban People” reasoning?

 

I would like to select this option as the group People to People option is not something we want to do - with our young son, a long group tour with pre-determined stops is not ideal. Instead, we plan to book a private car tour through a local company, eat at private paladors, etc. I am quite sure that this is OFAC compliant after doing my research.

 

However, NCL is giving us a hard time and not allowing us to select this as a reason. I am pretty sure this is because we are trying to purchase the visa through them, since it’s really not legal for them to stop us from using “Support for the Cuban People”.

 

So then we can just purchase the visa through an outside company, that’s fine. But what is the process like to disembark the ship? I am reading horror stories of people being held up by the cruise line (not by customs) when trying to select “Support for the Cuban People” - is this only because they are trying to get their visas through the cruise line? Or is NCL doing visa/affidavit checks before allowing you off the ship, even if you purchase the visa from an outside source?

 

Hopefully this question makes sense - I appreciate any insight you all have.

You’re making a big deal over nothing. If you take people to people you are free to go wherever and whatever you want to do. Is your purpose to make a political statement? If that’s your purpose this is not the platform to make it on.

[MichelleLiebler]

51 minutes ago, pinkie60 said:

You’re making a big deal over nothing. If you take people to people you are free to go wherever and whatever you want to do. Is your purpose to make a political statement? If that’s your purpose this is not the platform to make it on.

Excuse me?  There is no need to be rude and make assumptions.  You are also wrong on two counts - no, I am not trying to "make a political statement" - I am simply trying to follow the regulations correctly.  And you are also incorrect about the People to People requirements - you are not free to do whatever you want under that reasoning.  I've read the OFAC regulations and they require you to go on a group tour with a US-based tour company/US citizen tour guide.  This is why I am trying to use a different reasoning - our travel will not fulfill the People to People requirement, and I want to ensure that I've followed regulations should we get audited.

[pinkie60]

56 minutes ago, MichelleLiebler said:

Excuse me?  There is no need to be rude and make assumptions.  You are also wrong on two counts - no, I am not trying to "make a political statement" - I am simply trying to follow the regulations correctly.  And you are also incorrect about the People to People requirements - you are not free to do whatever you want under that reasoning.  I've read the OFAC regulations and they require you to go on a group tour with a US-based tour company/US citizen tour guide.  This is why I am trying to use a different reasoning - our travel will not fulfill the People to People requirement, and I want to ensure that I've followed regulations should we get audited.

Sorry you felt that I was being rude, I apologize if I offended you. If you read what others are saying and I have, you’ll be able to get on and off the ship with the proper documentation anytime you’re in port. Most of the cruise lines want you to purchase their excursions which aren’t truly necessary with the visa. Please read more of the other OP’s comments on their experience in Cuba.

[pbenjamin]

People, the only relationship between the visa and the OFAC affidavit is that the cruise line is involved with both and may try to influence how you check the OFAC form before issuing you a visa, in hopes of selling you an excursion. "Nobody checks what the visa says" because the visa has nothing to do with "people to people" or "support for the Cuban people".  The visa is for the Cuban government and has nothing to do with the OFAC form.

[C cruise]

when we were just there, you could get on and off the ship all day/night... it didn't matter if you were going on a tour or walking into the square... but they did advise us to check off people to people ... why not do what the ship advises?