CarribeanCruise321

Again obviously this is my anecdotal experience with Norwegian (not sure if another line might be different) but I was never questioned by the cruise line about my itinerary. I did not do any cruise line excursions, I did a free walking tour which lasted about 3 hours, and after that just did sightseeing without any guide. It's not mandatory to do any cruise line excursions.

This is the website I used for the free walking tour:

https://strawberrytours.com/havana

Thank you so much. We booked the cruise last April before the changes, I'm not sure if that makes a difference or not. I think I may be being pressured to use the cruise lines excursions. What are my rights? I am travelling under a US passport.

@Bernie21 I went with Norwegian in May and selected "Support for the Cuban People." There were no impediments to getting off the ship. The ship's security never asked any questions about it. It was just a standard debarking like at every port. All you need is you passport.

This might be helpful as well:

https://www.orlandoweekly.com/orlando/yes-its-still-legal-to-visit-cuba-heres-how-i-did-it/Content?oid=13091521

It was 6PM. They just changed it to 2PM, not 6AM.

I booked for May 07 thinking it was 2 full days leaving at 6PM. Then I saw on Norwegian website that it was 6AM.

Norwegian just announced that the Sky trips to Cuba in March and April have been shortened from 8 AM Tuesday arrival to 9AM and from 5 PM departure on Wednesday to 2 PM.

 

This is because the ship will be going slower due to "maintenance problems".

FYI Priceline is misleading, claiming Departure is 6PM on the 2nd day. It's 6AM.

https://cruises.priceline.com/sc.do?tab=itin&i=903268&c=34&v=690&Month=05/01/2018&ldMonth=05/31/2018&d=05/01/2018&d2=05/31/2018&IncludeAlumniRates=false&IncludeSeniorRates=false

Click on the submit button -- you can leave the number field blank -- and you'll get the form.

Well don't I feel silly. Thank you!

I think the cruiselines are each handling the details a bit differently, but a couple things will be the same.

 

The affidavit (the license that you claim is the reason why you're going to Cuba) needs to be filled out and signed by all passengers who leave from the USA. This is an Amerrican government requirement, not the cruiselines or Cuban government. Before Nov, 2017, we were instructed to check the "people-to-people" option. Apparently that option is gone and now the option to choose is "support the Cuban people." The rule says that tours should meet OFAC rules, but doesn't say whether they can be private or ship tours. And nothing is mentioned about going out on your own and doing activities that support Cuban people. There are no specifics in the rule except a list of forbidden places to go. We had to fill out the affidavit, sign it then fax it back to the cruiseline (Oceania) ahead of the cruise, but when we checked in at embarkation, we had to do it again. They had highlighted which license to check!

 

You do not have to share your itinerary with anyone!! Do not let a cruise line bully you into buying their expensive tours unless you want to.

 

Have a a wonderful trip...Cuba was great! :D

But the issue with Norwegian (at least from what I understand on their site) is that they want you to electronically certify through their website that the specific activities meet their official requirements as opposed to just filling out on a from the general "Support for the Cuban People" category (pictures inclided).

https://www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/cruise-travel-documents

That link takes you to a form that just has check boxes. Most cruise passengers will either check

 

Educational exchanges – group people-to-people through Norwegian or other organization

or

Support for the Cuban people

There is nothing about telling them what your itinerary is. This is no different than what other cruise lines are doing.

This is bizarre. I don't know if the link is taking us to two different pages but I don't see "a form that just has check boxes" at all.

This link (Click here to link to the certification form) takes me to a page that says

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE TRAVEL AFFIDAVIT.Enter your Reservation Number:

(picture included)

Show us where they state that requirement. The links that you supplied simply end up with an affadavit which looks pretty standard and does not ask about your itinerary.

https://www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/cruise-travel-documents#Cuba

In the section Cruising to Cuba:

How do I certify that I am travelling under one of the OFAC-approved categories of travel?

All guests must complete a certification form which sets forth and confirms that they will be participating in OFAC-compliant activities.

Click here to link to the certification form. One per guest.

Certification must be received by Norwegian no later than 3 days prior to the departure date. Please be advised that guests will not be able to board the vessel without having first completed the form.

All guests will be certifying which means that they are solely responsible for arranging a full-time schedule of OFAC-compliant activities, as explained above. These activities may include excursions provided by Norwegian or another U.S sponsoring organization.

I should say we did have to do the OFAC and select "People to People Educational Exchange", something like that. We do have to keep our receipts and notes and anything we determine to be 'documentation' of our trip & interactions with the Cuban people for 5 years.

 

And, FYI, I did NOT do 8 hours a day (well couldn't on day 2 if I wanted to :D).

But did they make you verify your itinerary online through their website prior to boarding?

It's a simple form. Whether it must be filled out 3 days in advance or "prior to boarding" as it says in the Royal Caribbean FAQ seems pretty much irrelevant.

Right, Royal Caribbean has a simple form, but Norwegian makes you verify your intended itinerary through a link on their website, saying you can't board unless you do.

Yes ... and if I remember correctly, I had to specify (check a box?) that I wanted NCL to process my Visa for me. It was $75 and a separate line item on the invoice.

Thank you again! One last question. According to NCL's website:

"All guests must complete a certification form which sets forth and confirms that they will be participating in OFAC-compliant activities. Certification must be received by Norwegian no later than 3 days prior to the departure date. Please be advised that guests will not be able to board the vessel without having first completed the form."

Was this the case with you? Did you have to specify your itinerary with them before they would let you on the ship? A link is provided to verify that your activity meets regulation, but can only be filled out AFTER you book your cruise:

https://ncl.secure.force.com/CubaTravelAffidavit

https://www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise...avel-documents

I was on an NCL Cuba cruise last year. NO ... the Visa for Cuba and the NCL Excursions have nothing to do with each other.

 

Having NCL purch./process the Cuba Visa for you is a SUPER convenient way to get the REQUIRED Visa to enter Cuba.

Thank you. According to Royal Caribbean, they automatically facilitate visas for their guest and charge the $75 fee on their onboard account. Each guest will receive their Visa during embarkation in Miami. Is NCL like this as well?

I am on NCL to cuba, I got the Visa on NCL website.

Do you know if NCL only provides the visa if you book one of their excursions?

According to what I am reading on Norewegian's website, they require "All guests must complete a certification form which sets forth and confirms that they will be participating in OFAC-compliant activities. Certification must be received by Norwegian no later than 3 days prior to the departure date. Please be advised that guests will not be able to board the vessel without having first completed the form."

https://www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/cruise-travel-documents

A link is provided to verify but can only be filled out AFTER you book your cruise:

https://ncl.secure.force.com/CubaTravelAffidavit

But according to what I can find on Royal Caribean, they do not require any pre-certification for getting on the ship. Is anyone able to verify this?

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cuba/faq/

First thing....the visa is not from Norwegian....Norwegian is purchasing the visa from Cuba for you. You are paying the cruiseline (ours cost $75) and they are just purchasing it for you as a convenience. You can go to a Cuban embassy to get it, but who needs that hassle if the cruiseline will get it. It is a Cuban law that you must get a visa in order to step foot on their land....it's not a cruiseline rule. Since everyone must have one, this obviously has nothing to do with excursions.

 

The American government is the one who made up the rules of having to choose a license to travel to Cuba. The one to choose is "Support for Cuban People." It does not say you have to take a ship tour or cannot go meet the Cubans on your own. You are promising not to patronize the list of forbidden places. By taking private tours or patronizing the local citizens establishments, you ARE supporting the Cuban people!

 

Don't let the cruiselines bully you into buying their expensive excursions unless you want to...we did go on one ship tour and it was great....but it was our choice. Everything else we did was on our own or a private tour.

So will NCL only obtain the visa for you if you go through their excusion?

Thank you. What does going through immigration involve? Any specific paperwork besides passport and visa?

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-governmental organizations that promote independent activity intended to strengthen civil society in Cuba; AND my schedule of activities does not include free time or recreation in excess of that consistent with a full-time schedule (31 C.F.R. § 515.574).

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cuba/content/uploads/2017/11/Cuba.Guest_.Instructions.Final_.Nov_.14.Rev_.pdf

Do you have to be back on the ship for a certain time, or can you come and go as you please the whole time the ship is in port?

If selecting the category "Support for the Cuban people," does the cruise require any specific documentation for passengers to get off the ship in Havana?