Beating the crowd to Cuba

[Mr_Gimlet]

Yeah, friend of mine said that you have to have a fluent Spanish speaker to make independent travel realistic for Cuba. We're going on a tour but it is quite expensive - but anything in Cuba that is pitched at tourists isn't cheap. I suspect the upside of more tourists in the next few years will be lower prices.

Fortunately we are going in September.Also fortunate that we are doing a cruise around Cuba visiting National Parks and places less visited.It is an expedition cruise.
With MSC basing a ship in Havana later this year and Carnival starting regular cruises early next year the changes will accelerate I am sure.

Don't read too much into Carnival's announcement. The arrangement is with a new subsidiary, Fathom, and is all about volunteering and humanitarian stuff - presumably so Americans can legally travel on it under one of the existing visa classes - and isn't what most people would consider a cruise. The ship is basically floating accommodation for sincere voluntourists.

Obviously the European cruise companies are more traditional cruises, but they are very difficult for Americans to access even with the softening of relations.

There will need to be action by Congress to unlock Cuba as a tourist destination for Americans.

 

[drron]

But the MSC Orchestra is from an European owned company so no such restrictions.2550 pax capacity and going to be based in Havana.

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

But the MSC Orchestra is from an European owned company so no such restrictions.2550 pax capacity and going to be based in Havana.

Sorry, yes, that was the difference I was trying to highlight, as opposed to the Carnival opening. The Norwegians have done Cuba for a number of years now. But my understanding is that Americans still can't legally access the European cruises unless they are in one of the special visa categories.

 

[drron]

On Silverseas which is the line we are taking we know Americans that are going.Just as with loyalty schemes you just need to know the lurks.Even in past years there were quite a few US "educational" tourists to Cuba.

 

[kpc]

Even Barack Obama decided to visit Habana with his wife and 2 daughters...the floodgates are just about open!!
Barack Obama makes history as US relations with Cuba thaw

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

the floodgates are just about open!!

Not until Congress rescinds the embargo they're not.