PHOTO: It's now easier for U.S. resident to sail to Cuba with a cruise line based in Canada. (Courtesy of Cuba Cruise)
It's now easier for U.S. residents to take a cruise around Cuba, according to Cuba Cruise, a Calgary-based company now in its second season of circumnavigating the long off-limits island.
The company said Americans now can sail with new general licenses that do not require a formal application, prior permission, or post-trip report to U.S. officials. The regulations recently were eased by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) at the direction of President Obama.
Cuba Cruise said Americans can continue to sail with the company by booking with a U.S. tour operator partner, including Road Scholar and InsightCuba. Or, they now can book with Cuba Cruise and register for the People-to-People Cuba Cruise program with U.S. non-profit organization Fund For Reconciliation and Development (FFRD).
"Our People-to-People Cuba Cruise program qualifies for the general license and is designed to immerse U.S. travelers in Cuban culture and history," said John McAuliff, executive director of the FFRD and coordinator of the Cuba/U.S. People-to-People Partnership. "The exclusive cruise program circumnavigates the island, fostering genuine interaction and cultural exchange both ashore and onboard. It is the most accessible and affordable introduction to Cuba currently available to Americans."
By joining the FFRD group on the cruise, Americans will receive a participant letter from the organization authorizing travel to Cuba under the new general license for people-to-people travel.
Travelers can book through a travel agent or directly with Cuba Cruise online. Then, travelers must register for the FFRD's People-to-People group travel program online and receive a participant letter of authorized travel.
All visitors must have a Cuba Tourist Card, which can be obtained from Cuba Cruise on departure from Montego Bay or from most airlines flying to Havana. Travelers must provide proof of travel health insurance, and passports must be valid for at least six months from the date of departure.
In partnership with Road Scholar and InsightCuba, both licensed and registered with OFAC, Cuba Cruise continues to successfully host groups of Americans onboard the cruise vessel as it has since December 2013. During those comprehensive 12- or 13-day programs, Americans spend five nights aboard the Louis Cristal, embarking from Cienfuegos and visiting destinations such as the Isle of Youth, Havana, Holguin and Santiago de Cuba.
"We are experts at hosting both American and international travelers in Cuba," said Dugald Wells, Cuba Cruise president and CEO. "When guests travel with us, they discover the country's rich culture and history in unprecedented ways and engage with diverse Cubans from a variety of backgrounds, including musicians, dancers, service staff and academics. We are very proud to offer a safe, simple and comfortable way to experience Cuba and we cannot wait to welcome more Americans onboard."
Cuba Cruise says it is experiencing a surge in interest from the U.S. and expects to sell out the remaining 2015 departures soon. Rates for the seven-night People-to-People Cuba Cruise, sponsored by the FFRD, start at CAD$782, plus port fees (CAD$178) and the cost of registration (US$75). Weekly departures from Jan. 30 to March 23, 2015 are available. The cruise sails every Monday from Havana and every Friday from Montego Bay.
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