Would you take a cruise that calls in Cuba if the travel embargo is lifted?

[timespliters]

I've only cruised the Caribbean once so there are still a ton of ports I haven't visited yet, so I wouldn't automatically book a cruise just because Cuba was on the itinerary. There are still lots of places for me to explore! However, if the rest of the itinerary looked good to me and there was a decent excursion offered in Cuba and the price was right, I would book it. I would not avoid Cuba because of its government or history.

 

 

Well said and hope you have many more cruises.

[GORDONCHICK]

As much as I dream of been able to return to my birth country, to be able to once again enjoy the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, to be able to look up to the sky and tell my father buried in Miami "see, Dad, I came back and brought your memories with me"... No, I will not cruise to Cuba.

 

I am a cruiseaholic, I would love to go to Varadero once again. But as someone wrote before: I know where the money will go. And I add: and it does not go to the people.:(

 

For your information, those that work on the tourism industry get paid approx 80-100 Cuban Pesos a month while the government gets approx 1000-1200 USD a month salary payment from the foreign hotel chains. The money goes to the government not the worker!! This is the best example of slavery in this century. This is an excellent example of what Communists call "exploitation of men by men".

 

I refuse to support any Socialist or Communist government that takes away from their people all freedoms as well as not providing for the most basic human needs of food and proper/safe healthcare. I will not financially support a country where Human Rights are violated every minute of the day.

 

But if one day, Cuba is free again, yes, I will travel to Cuba because it is my birth country, it has the most beautiful beaches in the world, and where you can drink the BEST Mojito anywhere in the worl!!!!!

 

AlinaMaria

 

What she said, except, I'm not from there or Florida!

[Grandpaul]

As you speak about this subject a group of US reps visited with the old bearded leader today.

[sail7seas]

...... and I think these U.S. Reps were told that U.S. Policy toward Cuba has not worked.

 

[Dezi]

I have been all over the world....Cuba is soooo close and yet always so far away!!! I would love to go there. I have heard nothing but wonderful things about the beaches and the people...and the food!!!

[cruiserbryce]

heck yes I would...a new Carib port would be nice and a new place for me to visit

[nitnyleo]

YBYSA I WOULD!

 

The so-called halcyon days of Batista are a picture painted by corrupt Cuban expatriates who were no longer able to live a life of luxury on the backs of the poor . . . they, and their offspring, are the same ones who exploited the poor when they were "in control". And, now they want to commiserate with the plight of the poor?!?!? (Much too little; much too late).

 

[if nothing else, the "poor" in Cuba have better health care than many parts of the US.]

 

The embargo was, and continues to be, a HUGE mistake . . .

 

PS: Thanks to all the Canadians and Europeans who helped keep this island alive. Hopefully, there are enough, properly trained service oriented Cubans able to greet all of the US cruise ships. :D

[nitnyleo]

The question should be: Where to build the ports?

 

Obviously, Havana. But, there should be one on the western tip and, of course, one on the eastern tip (easy excursion to Guantanamo (not, that we'll see anything)).

[SargassoSage]

If Cuba is not democratic enough for capitalist tourism why then is Haiti good for enough for the cruise industry. It is the worst run country in the americas by far!

[Aquahound]

If Cuba is not democratic enough for capitalist tourism why then is Haiti good for enough for the cruise industry. It is the worst run country in the americas by far!

 

The only Haiti cruise port I am aware of is a private peninsula owned by the cruise line.

[Aquahound]

...to any country that would allow us there. Our government should not selectively choose where we can go.

 

Even though I disagree with travel to Cuba, I agree with this statement. I believe it should be up to each individual American citizen to decide where they want to travel.

[gertz]

YOU BET. WOULD BE 2ND TRIP BOTH LEGAL.:D

Jack

for the lovely

[njreo]

We can travel to the largest communist country in the world, China. We can travel to Viet Nam. The "embargo" against Cuba has been in effect for so many years and accomplished abolutely NOTHING!

 

I live part of the year in Canada and my Canadian friends have been traveling to Cuba for years. I think we are the only country in the Western Hemisphere with this embargo. Why? again, it has accomplished absolutely nothing.

 

Had we not had this embargo all of these years, I'm sure the communist country would have changed years ago. This was a great mistake in our foreign policy which hasn't changed in over 50 years. It's time for change and I'll be very happy to be able to go to Cuba and see what's going on for myself.

 

We've been close to this decision many times, but I think it will actually happen this time. Those older Cuban's who lost a lot when Castro took over have kept us away. I'm sorry for what they lost, but at this point, it's better to move on.

:cool:

[floridarob]

Having been to Cuba many, many times over the last 10 years...all I can say is GO NOW!

 

It has been a propaganda issue, scaring Americans to go... you CAN NOT be arrested.

 

See it now BEFORE it turns into another boring island out there with all the same souvenirs but with "Cuba" written on them.

 

Cuba is by far one of the safest places I've been to, I've traveled to 50 countries and walking in downtown at midnight, I didn't feel the least bit worried.

 

I have written Cuba on my customs declarations when coming back, I had Cuba stamps in my old passport... when I sent it out for more pages, they entered the new pages and the tape went right across the Cuba stamps.

I was only questioned once while returning to the US about the stamps, the immigration official said " you know you're not supposed to go there" and I told him, yeah, I know.

 

It is the largest island in the Caribbean, there will be enough places to develop that it will be its own 7-10 day itinerary.

 

Like many people here have posted, why support a communist country?

we do it all the time.... also I once spoke to an old time waiter that had come to the USA and could've stayed... he didn't want to. He said families were closer together there than here... his examples were...they eat dinner together, watch TV together, go for walks together... he said those family values don't exist anymore up here, kids have their own TV/computer/cell phone. They are always going to the mall movies with their friends, not family. And drugs are, in my opinion, non-existent as the jail terms for such offenses are extreme.

 

I'm not saying is a paradise to live in, but neither is here with all of our problems... but ,most people that have the luxury of cruising may not be familiar firsthand with how bad our problems really are.

[LeDemonBlond]

I know alot of follow Canadians who have gone to Cuba and the opportunity to cruise there would be popular IMHO. But I won't be one of them to visit. Even though China is a communist country, I don't have issues with people traveling there. At least Chinese there have an opportunity to just not travel but immigrate. I could travel to Cuba if the people there had those same opportunities. I could be wrong but I don't believe Cubans can travel or immigrate.

[grand isle joe]

No!

[Liz54]

The only Haiti cruise port I am aware of is a private peninsula owned by the cruise line.

 

The Cruise line owns land in the Country of Haiti. When you are on the Labadee beach you are in Haiti!

[Aquahound]

The Cruise line owns land in the Country of Haiti. When you are on the Labadee beach you are in Haiti!

 

I am aware of that.

 

But there is a gate with armed guards preventing you from leaving the peninsula, and preventing others from coming in.

 

It is a private island (peninsula) stop where everything is provided by the cruise line, not a normal port of call.

[Host Mick]

to any country that would allow us there. Our government should not selectively choose where we can go. It's ok to go to Saudi Arabia where the royal family controls everything and women are treated as chattle. Or China where there is a communist government in control and they limit the number of children a family can have. That's not even choice that the Republicans are so much against. Cuba is a beautiful neighbor and we should do everything to help their people recover from the foolish programs of Castro. I would love to travel there.

 

The problem is that Florida is a swing state. The Cuban expats or refugees (choose your term) can swing the vote in Florida and they very strongly support the embargo.

Now if Cuba were to make some changes in their law friendly to the Cuban community in Florida, it would happen. Those changes would have to include returning seized property to their pre-revolution owners which is apparently a deal-killer for the Castro brothers.

[m steve]

I can't see them giving back the Havana Club factory to the Bacardi family that supports the embargo with their contributions.

[WeBeGone]

I'd cruise in a heartbeat! Heck, I'd go there now, illegally, if I weren't so scared of my passport being seized. Living in Key West I hear all the pros and cons of opening relations with Cuba. I try to keep an open mind. However, the US has such a double standard that it's hard to make a case for the embargo. US citizens can travel to all the former Russian countries. We can travel to China and Korea. We can travel to Venezula and Jamica and Haiti, etc etc etc. I just hope that after 50 years some reason can prevail in DC and Cuba can be a country open to all.

[BobBeaSea]

I'd cruise in a heartbeat! Heck, I'd go there now, illegally, if I weren't so scared of my passport being seized. Living in Key West I hear all the pros and cons of opening relations with Cuba. I try to keep an open mind. However, the US has such a double standard that it's hard to make a case for the embargo. US citizens can travel to all the former Russian countries. We can travel to China and Korea. We can travel to Venezula and Jamica and Haiti, etc etc etc. I just hope that after 50 years some reason can prevail in DC and Cuba can be a country open to all.

 

I haven't been to Cuba - some day perhaps. Another spot I haven't been to yet is Key West - another on my list of places to visit. :)

[lysolqn]

We've looked forward to the lifting of the travel embargo to Cuba since we started cruising 25+ years ago. While I sympathize with those who fled the oppressive Castro regime and whose families remain under its control, at this point in time the embargo defies logic and remains in place solely as a respone to emotions running high and political pressure. As long as we Americans can book a tour to Viet Nam, and continue to import toothpaste made with anti-freeze and toys made with lead paint from China, we should be permitted to visit Cuba.

[Aquahound]

Another spot I haven't been to yet is Key West - another on my list of places to visit. :)

 

We'd love to have ya! ;)

[Travelcat2]

I have no doubt that American's will be able to travel to Cuba in the not too distant future. Having been there, we recognize the fact that Cuba is simply not ready to receive cruise ship passengers.

 

They do have a few well developed tourist areas (large resorts, etc.), however they are all-inclusive because there are no privately owned restaurants in Cuba. We were driven from Havana to Varadero (about 100 miles) -- beautiful beaches, beautiful scenery -- no restaurants, stores. . . nothing!

 

In terms of support Communism:confused: The two times we have visited Cuba, we packed gifts for the people (everything from baby rattles and bibs to socks, belts, make-up for women...... to many things to mention). These items went to the hard working people of Cuba. The only money the government received from my trip was airport taxes and whatever they received from the resort.