Crusing to Cuba - Royal Caribbean

[wraithe]

I would love to visit Cuba, but....

 

I wouldn't do it until they change their government, for the same reasons that I would not visit Viet Nam, or North Korea. Just a personal thing, spent too many years ready to send ugly things to Communist countries who were just as ready to annihilate the U. S. to get past it easily. If I was on a ship that pulled in to Cuba while the government is still Communist, I would simply remain onboard with my wallet in my pants pocket, tightly closed.

[tgjr]

I'd love to visit Cuba....and I think eventually it will open up and ships will call there.

 

But' date=' not in the near future.

 

Cuba's infrastructure is in ruins. Almost 50 years of stagnation and neglect seems to have left the whole country a wreck. It will take years to modernize, rebuild, improve the economy, etc....much less build port facilities for modern cruise ships.

 

When/if the country ever opens up, I think you'll see much trouble there for a long time. I think it will surpass Jamaica as one of the poorest, most troublesome islands...right up there with Haiti.[/quote']

 

And the still got the best Public helth system in the world....

 

Go Cuba...I think US is soon back in the old hard 30 ies

[peabody99]

I would go to Cuba in a heart beat. It is such a large country I would like to stay for a week or so rather than just stop on the ship.

[CGTNORMANDIE]

We all dream of going to Cuba someday...however...

I would not go to Cuba unless the Cuban-Americans said it was OK to do. I have too much respect for their sacrifices and loss of their homeland...it would be a slap in the face of the good people who came to the USA and became good citizens. If the Cuban Americans say it is OK to go...then I will go...but not until...CUBA LIBRE!!!

[caskar]

We travel to Cuba for all-inclusive vacation 2-3 times a year. It is our favorite place in the world. The people are wonderful. You have never seen a culture swo cares more about their family and friends, it is amazing.

 

I sure hope their any changes that may come for the Cuban people are only for the better.

[BobBeaSea]

I'd love to visit Cuba....and I think eventually it will open up and ships will call there.

 

But' date=' not in the near future.

 

Cuba's infrastructure is in ruins. Almost 50 years of stagnation and neglect seems to have left the whole country a wreck. It will take years to modernize, rebuild, improve the economy, etc....much less build port facilities for modern cruise ships.

 

When/if the country ever opens up, I think you'll see much trouble there for a long time. I think it will surpass Jamaica as one of the poorest, most troublesome islands...right up there with Haiti.[/quote']

 

G'ma, what is your source for this info? Cuba's economy far surpasses that of Jamaica in all aspects. The country is open, tourists from around the world visit, in fact the number of visitors vacationing in Cuba is about 2 million annually with very, very few Americans visiting . Contrast this with Jamaica where tourist visits are about 2.2 million annually of which about 1.1 million are cruise ship passengers (day trip only). 70% of visitors to Jamaica are American. The hit Cuba took with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 was severe however they are climbing back. Haiti is a nation of misery and decay, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. To compare Cuba to Haiti is wildly off the mark.

 

While Cuba wants, and greatly welcomes, American tourists, my advice still holds - don't do it. Travel to Cuba without permission violates U.S. government restrictions placed on Americans travelling to Cuba and the penalties can be severe. If you do go, just make sure Cuban Customs doesn't stamp your passport - they know not to stamp U.S. tourists passports however slip ups happen. :)

[BobBeaSea]

I would love to visit Cuba, but....

 

I wouldn't do it until they change their government, for the same reasons that I would not visit Viet Nam, or North Korea. Just a personal thing, spent too many years ready to send ugly things to Communist countries who were just as ready to annihilate the U. S. to get past it easily. If I was on a ship that pulled in to Cuba while the government is still Communist, I would simply remain onboard with my wallet in my pants pocket, tightly closed.

 

I can well understand your thoughts given your service on Ohio class boomers. At a business meeting last week I had a chance to spend some time with a nice fellow who served on LA class attack boats (Petty Officer), he was very envious, if not outright jealous, of the crews on boomers :). While all those serving in our armed forces are very special people I think submariners are a wee bit extra special. :)

[wraithe]

And the still got the best Public helth system in the world....

 

Go Cuba...I think US is soon back in the old hard 30 ies

 

With all due respect, I'd like to see your source of data. Cuba has a very good health system if you're one of the ruling class, if not, it's catch as catch can, and usually way out of reach of the average person. Case in point, if their medical system is so great, why did Castro out source his own health care when his life was on the line? I had "socialized" medicine in the military for many years, never get to know your doctor, have no choice when you choose your doctor. Might get a good one this time and a complete yahoo the next. May be able to see a specialist if one is available, maybe not. May have the meds available, if not, then pay for it our of your pocket. Most people think that government paid for, one source medicine is going to mean nothing except that they will no longer have to pay for insurance or doctor's visits. They're so wrong, so very wrong.

 

I can well understand your thoughts given your service on Ohio class boomers. At a business meeting last week I had a chance to spend some time with a nice fellow who served on LA class attack boats (Petty Officer), he was very envious, if not outright jealous, of the crews on boomers :). While all those serving in our armed forces are very special people I think submariners are a wee bit extra special. :)

 

Thanks, I appreciate that, most people think submariners are special, but they usually don't say it in a nice way! LOL. It definitely takes a certain type of person to do it, and then keep on doing it.

[mjx2]

We travel to Cuba for all-inclusive vacation 2-3 times a year. It is our favorite place in the world. The people are wonderful. You have never seen a culture swo cares more about their family and friends, it is amazing.

 

I sure hope their any changes that may come for the Cuban people are only for the better.

 

Caskar ... this pretty much sums it up perfectly ... it is one of our favourite places in the world too ... we have visited Cuba six times over the past few years ... friends of ours have been there 13 times ... the "feeling" you get when visiting Cuba is hard to explain until you have experienced it ... the people who live there are amazing ... it's a beautiful place ...

 

I only wish the best for our Cuban friends ...

[BroncosFan2010]

Count me in! I would want to do an overnight stay, that would be great. Although, I don't think I would go without being on a cruise.

[will work to cruise]

I would love to visit Cuba, but....

 

I wouldn't do it until they change their government, for the same reasons that I would not visit Viet Nam, or North Korea. Just a personal thing, spent too many years ready to send ugly things to Communist countries who were just as ready to annihilate the U. S. to get past it easily. If I was on a ship that pulled in to Cuba while the government is still Communist, I would simply remain onboard with my wallet in my pants pocket, tightly closed.

 

I could not agree more!

 

Although, if they had a excursion to Club Gitmo :rolleyes:. Just kidding!

[shipshape sam]

Hi folks,

 

I have an interesting question for you folks. If the travel ban to Cuba was lifted and the cruise lines were to start to go there. How many of you would go?

 

Myself, I would jump at the opportunity to go. It would be very interesting.

 

I would like to visit Cuba and would do a cruise that had that port vs not having that port.:)

[tmoret]

I would love to go there... I would enjoy a excursion for the day that went to a few cigar makers and a nice lunch... OMG where do I sign up........

[BillOh]

We'd be on the first ship over! Knowing all cruise lines have itineraries in the works just waiting for the green light, it should be less than a few years.

 

 

I'll be on the 2nd - 5th cruise, let you work out the bugs or problems.

[tomko2]

I would love to visit Cuba on a cruise!

Kathy:)

[Cloverfield]

I have to agree with my fellow Canadians....Cuba is fantastic, it has become our favorite vacation spot over Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

There is just something about its unspoiled atmosphere that keeps us going back for more.

If US cruise ships ever have a stop in Cuba as a port of call, I so hope that will not spoil the beauty of that country, what a shame it would be.

[CBowling]

I would be there - for sure!!!

[FL_Cruiser64]

I won't wait for the first cruise ship. I'll be right over there.

 

Sounds great ... but is there even a PORT there that could handle a cruise ship? (I'm being serious here - have they had need for something the size of a cruise ship?)

 

Plenty of cruise lines dock in Cuba. As a matter of fact Costa used to call Cuba as a destination. Once Carnival took them over they were not allowed. same with Pullmantur and RCCL.

I think the only ones going to Cuba are british and german lines (Aida?).

 

While Americans can get to Cuba from any country but the USA it is illegal to visit/vacation in Cuba. Flights leave from Miami for anyone given permission to travel. Permission is on a case by case for journalism, academics, athletes, family, performers, etc. There are steep civil penalties, fines, imprisonment for US citizens who get caught traveling to Cuba. :eek:

 

The ban is not for US citizens only. It is for all US Residents.

 

This country is the only country who has that travel embargo against Cuba. It has hurt the people over there more than helped them.

 

If the US lifts the restrictions I hope cruises won't open up for another 2 or 3 years. It would be a nightmare for Cuba and its residents having a ship with almost 4,000 US people acting like they own the island in port so shortly after being open to the US market. :D

[Davey Interweb]

I would love to visit Cuba, but....

 

I wouldn't do it until they change their government, for the same reasons that I would not visit Viet Nam, or North Korea. Just a personal thing, spent too many years ready to send ugly things to Communist countries who were just as ready to annihilate the U. S. to get past it easily. If I was on a ship that pulled in to Cuba while the government is still Communist, I would simply remain onboard with my wallet in my pants pocket, tightly closed.

 

I notice any mention of China is conspicuously absent in your post. Maybe you'd say you don't wish to travel there either, but you still give them your dollars anyway. I suppose doing so is near unavoidable, though.

 

It's odd to read posts on a Royal Caribbean thread pointing out a distaste for oppressive regimes, considering Labadee and all.

[The Grumpus]

It's odd to read posts on a Royal Caribbean thread pointing out a distaste for oppressive regimes, considering Labadee and all.

When Haiti points nukes at our cities, 50 or so miles away from Miami, then they'll get a similar reaction.;) In the mean time, the same Cuban dictatorship which did that in the 60's is still there.... less we not forget.

 

That being said, I hope to visit Cuba some day.

[Davey Interweb]

When Haiti points nukes at our cities, 50 or so miles away from Miami, then they'll get a similar reaction.;) In the mean time, the same Cuban dictatorship which did that in the 60's is still there.... less we not forget.

 

That being said, I hope to visit Cuba some day.

 

Although all of this occurred a decade before I was even a glint in my father's eye, I'm familiar enough with the Cuban Missile Crisis. Those 'nukes' you speak of weren't exactly homegrown, and last I checked the US has had reasonably normalized relations with Russia for some time now. Not so as far as Cuba is concerned, if only because formal relations with Cuba provides the US with very little in the way of strategic or economic benefit. Cuba's citizens ultimately pay the price under this idiotic embargo, and not the Castros of this world.

 

If some would choose to mix politics and travel that's fine; their loss. I'll still merrily point out their hypocrisy all day long, though.

[The Grumpus]

Although all of this occurred a decade before I was even a glint in my father's eye, I'm familiar enough with the Cuban Missile Crisis. Those 'nukes' you speak of weren't exactly homegrown, and last I checked the US has had reasonably normalized relations with Russia for some time now. Not so as far as Cuba is concerned, if only because formal relations with Cuba provides the US with very little in the way of strategic or economic benefit. Cuba's citizens ultimately pay the price under this idiotic embargo, and not the Castros of this world.

 

If some would choose to mix politics and travel that's fine; their loss. I'll still merrily point out their hypocrisy all day long, though.

The U.S. only normalized relations with Russia (former Soviet Union) after the people threw out their oppressing Communist leaders and embraced Democracy. I'm sure when Cuba's oppressed people do the same with their leaders, the U.S. with establish normalized relations as they did with Russia.

[wraithe]

I notice any mention of China is conspicuously absent in your post. Maybe you'd say you don't wish to travel there either, but you still give them your dollars anyway. I suppose doing so is near unavoidable, though.

 

It's odd to read posts on a Royal Caribbean thread pointing out a distaste for oppressive regimes, considering Labadee and all.

 

I do include China in my "won't go there" missive. I did not say at any point that I would not purchase Cuban products, or Chinese products (although I do try to avoid it when possible), I said I would not visit their shores or spend money while on their shores. If you find hypocrisy in that, then so be it. I didn't ask you to do the same as me, or suggest anyone do the same as me, I simply stated my opinion on the OP's question, would you cruise to Cuba, no I would not. While politics is woven into everything we do every day, it's impossible not to mix politics and life anymore, I choose not to support Communist regimes out of personal conviction only.

[jaxon41]

I'll be on the 2nd - 5th cruise, let you work out the bugs or problems.

 

my sentiments, too.

[not2old]

Count us in, would fit in great with the other Caribbean ports! Would like to be there overnight, though!:D