Cuba Anyone?

[sppunk]

He has a pen and a phone, so he can change any low without congress.

 

An ending of the full embargo to travel to Cuba will require an Act of Congress, an executive order cat get this one done if I remember my constitutional law correctly.

[serendipity1499]

An ending of the full embargo to travel to Cuba will require an Act of Congress, an executive order cat get this one done if I remember my constitutional law correctly.

 

OK I stand corrected, but believe that it will be open very soon if Pres. Obama pushes hard enough.. He does not need Congressional approval to restore diplomatic relations, which he has done, so hopefully the embargo will be lifted very soon.. We released our Prisoners & Cuba has released some of ours, so can't see Congress trying to stop it especially since the Pope has been encouraging it..

 

I would be very happy to take a cruise to Cuba.. Have talked to several Canadian Sailors who winter in Florida.. These men & women have actually sailed there & love it..

[sppunk]

OK I stand corrected, but believe that it will be open very soon if Pres. Obama pushes hard enough.. He does not need Congressional approval to restore diplomatic relations, which he has done, so hopefully the embargo will be lifted very soon.. We released our Prisoners & Cuba has released some of ours, so can't see Congress trying to stop it especially since the Pope has been encouraging it..

 

I would be very happy to take a cruise to Cuba.. Have talked to several Canadian Sailors who winter in Florida.. These men & women have actually sailed there & love it..

Rubio already said he won't allow an ambassador to see the light of day for a vote. And they won't fund the embassy.

 

Gotta love our Congress, huh?

[serendipity1499]

Rubio already said he won't allow an ambassador to see the light of day for a vote. And they won't fund the embassy.

 

Gotta love our Congress, huh?

 

Rubio talks out of both sides of his mouth.. Several years ago he was one of the first to push for giving illegal's the option of becoming U. S. citizens... Now that Obama is pushing it, he's against it..:confused:

 

One day he's for something & the next day he's against it..:confused:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Rubio

 

quote In 2013, Rubio served on the bipartisan group of Senators that crafted comprehensive immigration reform legislation.[54]

 

In January 2013, Senator Rubio proposed a plan providing a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States. Rubio’s multistep plan includes fines, back taxes, background checks, and a lengthy probationary period. His proposal contrasts with the Republican party’s long-held view that offering citizenship to undocumented immigrants is virtually the same as amnesty.

Unquote

Edited December 17, 2014 by serendipity1499

[sail7seas]

The good news for cigar smokers is you can now legally bring Cuban cigars home with you. :D Oh, yes....... Cuban rum as well. :D :D

 

Maybe HAL will stock some in the Duty Free shop on board. I suspect some Caribbean ports will be stocking a whole lot more than they currently offer.

 

[SeaBands]

still in force. Business, cultural and family travel for Cubans will be permitted. Watch the new congress try to reverse Obama. No US cruise lines in the pipe line for several years.

[iancal]

We love Cuba. Some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Wonderful people.

[sail7seas]

Is it true what we hear that visitors should bring soap, toilet tissue, toothpaste etc?

That these things if easily available are very costly?

[ithaca gal]

The good news for cigar smokers is you can now legally bring Cuban cigars home with you. :D Oh, yes....... Cuban rum as well. :D :D

 

Maybe HAL will stock some in the Duty Free shop on board. I suspect some Caribbean ports will be stocking a whole lot more than they currently offer.

 

[/quote

 

True. But just $100 of cigars and rum combined.

[donaldsc]

People I know who have been there , say it is beautiful . I would love to go.

 

It is easy to go. Just book and escorted "educational" or "cultural" tour. We will be there for 16 days in February. My brother was there last year. Theer are ways of getting places that do not involve a ship.

 

DON

[KirkNC]

I heard the same thing. Though the President may wish to lift the embargo, there is such clear language that forces this to go through Congress. This is not something the President has the power to do.

 

 

That doesn't seem to stop this President.

[ODECCIT]

An ending of the full embargo to travel to Cuba will require an Act of Congress, an executive order cat get this one done if I remember my constitutional law correctly.

 

Please, constitution doesn't exist in Chicago politics. Just ask Dick Durbin.

[Scrapnana]

That looks pretty good. Would have to go to Jamaica though. I am waiting to sail from Ft Lauderdale or Miami.

 

By the way. That ship on their site looks like the old NCL Leeward ship. I am be wrong though.

 

According to this, you are correct.

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=44996330&postcount=10

[iancal]

The last time we were there we stayed at an all inclusive in Veradaro. We did not need soap, toilet tissue, etc. Not certain where you heard this.

 

While we were there, we left the resort, took the local bus to Havana. We had pre arranged a B&B and a guided tour of old Havana. It was wonderful. Our guide spoke English and had previously worked at Cuba's UN office.

 

Lot of Americans go to Cuba. But many, many more visitors from Canada and from Europe.

 

Resort food was/is mediocre-poor but I suspect the lifting of that silly embargo will solve that problem.

[sail7seas]

It is easy to go. Just book and escorted "educational" or "cultural" tour. We will be there for 16 days in February. My brother was there last year. Theer are ways of getting places that do not involve a ship.

 

DON

 

There are many legal ways for Americans to visit Cuba. Our Congregation offered a study tour several years ago. If the dates had worked for us, we definitely would have gone.

 

[kangforpres]

I'm guessing it will be an upscale/Luxury line like Crystal or Regent. However many Premium Mass Market lines have a huge presence in the Caribbean with lots of ships.

 

At any rate it will be great to see Cuban ports added to both Eastern and Western intermarries since it's the Caribbeans largest island and so freakin' close to Florida.

 

It was nice to wake up to some good international news for a change.

 

Happy Holiday's,

 

Paul

[doublebzz]

Anyone who wants to visit Cuba without the hassle, export restrictions and political intrigue need only get on a plane and fly to my home town - Miami.

[keeponcruising]

Is it true what we hear that visitors should bring soap, toilet tissue, toothpaste etc?

That these things if easily available are very costly?

 

The beauty of a cruise ship is that they provide these products except the tooth paste.;)

[mskaufman]

Already received a promo from an unheard of cruiseline out of Jamaica.

[godawgs2012]

I used to work for a Congressman (please don't hate me!). In regards to everyone's point regarding the embargo - it is codified and therefore cannot be lifted by executive order. Also, the three agencies that control import/export regulations (Depts of Commerce, State, and Treasury) will work to ease their regulations within their flexibility - but there isn't much flexibility there. I would imagine that there will be considerable bipartisan support for both lifting and keeping the embargo (the Speaker, Sen. Menendez (D-NJ), Sen. Graham (R-SC) and Rubio have already vowed to block this measure) while there are some heavyweights on the side of lifting the embargo.

 

I believe that the State Department has plenty of discretionary funds that they can use to work towards opening an Embassy, but the problem will be on the anonymous hold that will be placed on the Ambassador to Cuba (although there is the possibility of a very quick recess appointment in between the 113th and 114th Congress, and if the President wanted to dive all in, he would recess appoint an Ambassador in the next two weeks after the House and Senate adjourn).

 

Cuba is a touchy subject for so many - I feel like we all most likely know someone touched by the Castro regime in some way or form. I think there could be enough votes in the Senate to overcome a filibuster (but I believe executive appointments aren't subject to the filibuster with the rule change that Sen. Reid put into place) to appoint an Ambassador and/or lift the embargo - the issue will be the House. It will be interesting to watch and I know that my wife and I would be in line to visit Cuba, either on a cruise or on land.

[Copper10-8]

There are many legal ways for Americans to visit Cuba. Our Congregation offered a study tour several years ago. If the dates had worked for us, we definitely would have gone.

 

 

 

You're correct of course, S7S. Another way to do it legally is for U.S. citizens of Cuban background, who still have family on the island, to visit them. My DW fits that category

[sail7seas]

I used to work for a Congressman (please don't hate me!). In regards to everyone's point regarding the embargo - it is codified and therefore cannot be lifted by executive order. Also, the three agencies that control import/export regulations (Depts of Commerce, State, and Treasury) will work to ease their regulations within their flexibility - but there isn't much flexibility there. I would imagine that there will be considerable bipartisan support for both lifting and keeping the embargo (the Speaker, Sen. Menendez (D-NJ), Sen. Graham (R-SC) and Rubio have already vowed to block this measure) while there are some heavyweights on the side of lifting the embargo.

 

I believe that the State Department has plenty of discretionary funds that they can use to work towards opening an Embassy, but the problem will be on the anonymous hold that will be placed on the Ambassador to Cuba (although there is the possibility of a very quick recess appointment in between the 113th and 114th Congress, and if the President wanted to dive all in, he would recess appoint an Ambassador in the next two weeks after the House and Senate adjourn).

 

Cuba is a touchy subject for so many - I feel like we all most likely know someone touched by the Castro regime in some way or form. I think there could be enough votes in the Senate to overcome a filibuster (but I believe executive appointments aren't subject to the filibuster with the rule change that Sen. Reid put into place) to appoint an Ambassador and/or lift the embargo - the issue will be the House. It will be interesting to watch and I know that my wife and I would be in line to visit Cuba, either on a cruise or on land.

 

 

Very helpful post. Thank you.

I wonder if the new majority that will be sworn in January will have sufficient votes (or inclination) to reverse Sen. Reid's rule? Were that to be the case, could they vote to lift the embargo?

 

 

You're correct of course, S7S. Another way to do it legally is for U.S. citizens of Cuban background, who still have family on the island, to visit them. My DW fits that category

 

 

 

Wouldn't it be wonderful for your DW and you to visit her family in Cuba !!

I hope she has that opportunity....... if that is something she would like.

 

Welcome Back. You've been missed. :)

 

[world~citizen]

I don't post much here anymore since we have been grounded by a parrot. When I saw the news about Cuba though, the first thing I thought of was this board.

 

As a Canadian, I am very happy our Embassy was involved in brokering the deal. In my view this is the most appropriate role for our diplomats to take in the world - the honest broker. This is just one in a series of similar diplomatic successes over our history.

 

I anticipated the vast majority here would be looking for a cruise to Cuba. I suppose you can count DW and myself in that one.

 

Now if we could just sort out the mid-east and the Crimea...

 

I hope some day to get to Cuba, and see an American flag flying over your embassy there. If it would be while wearing a HAL excursion tag on our shirts, all the better.

 

Smooth sailing...

[doublebzz]

I used to work for a Congressman (please don't hate me!). In regards to everyone's point regarding the embargo - it is codified and therefore cannot be lifted by executive order. Also, the three agencies that control import/export regulations (Depts of Commerce, State, and Treasury) will work to ease their regulations within their flexibility - but there isn't much flexibility there. I would imagine that there will be considerable bipartisan support for both lifting and keeping the embargo (the Speaker, Sen. Menendez (D-NJ), Sen. Graham (R-SC) and Rubio have already vowed to block this measure) while there are some heavyweights on the side of lifting the embargo.

 

I believe that the State Department has plenty of discretionary funds that they can use to work towards opening an Embassy, but the problem will be on the anonymous hold that will be placed on the Ambassador to Cuba (although there is the possibility of a very quick recess appointment in between the 113th and 114th Congress, and if the President wanted to dive all in, he would recess appoint an Ambassador in the next two weeks after the House and Senate adjourn).

 

Cuba is a touchy subject for so many - I feel like we all most likely know someone touched by the Castro regime in some way or form. I think there could be enough votes in the Senate to overcome a filibuster (but I believe executive appointments aren't subject to the filibuster with the rule change that Sen. Reid put into place) to appoint an Ambassador and/or lift the embargo - the issue will be the House. It will be interesting to watch and I know that my wife and I would be in line to visit Cuba, either on a cruise or on land.

 

Excellent analysis. I doubt, however, that many politicians want to expend political capital on this issue else it would have resolved long ago.

[world~citizen]

Excellent analysis. I doubt, however, that many politicians want to expend political capital on this issue else it would have resolved long ago.

 

That is hasn't been resolved long ago is a mystery to the world, and what the world thinks is starting to be more important than before.

 

I am very happy for those who have long awaited this moment. As to Congress - well - it shouldn't be a surprise it will be obstructive, US federal government has become increasingly dysfunctional, so that is neither here nor there.

 

Its the thin edge of the wedge. Something to celebrate.