Travel to Cuba

[dpollitt]

Does anyone have experience, information about travel to Cuba? A few questions: if one is a US Citizen can one visit the Island? If not directly US to Cuba is the way via another country? If one has dual citizenship(US and British)does that change the question at all? What are the penalties if picked up by the US Coast Guard? If the boat is 'documented' does this make the power of the USCG more fierce...ie confiscating the boat in international waters?

I wont get into my opinion of most of these problems but needless to say the situation needs to be changed and the priorities of USCG need reexamining.

thanks alot
david pollitt

[dacust]

Here's my Google search:

References to cuba in Cruisers Forum

At the top of the list are a few dealing with your exact question. It has been brought up numerous times and discussed ad nauseum.

-dan

[David M]

From the horses mouth (The US Department of State):

Cuba

It appears to be more trouble than its worth.

[dpollitt]

Hi David
thanks for the reply......yes indeed the horses mouth but what a lot of hysterical nonesense is being put out by our 'state department'....the country is a small caribbean nation!!!

thanks again
david

[AnchorageGuy]

Under the current administration it is illegal for any US citizen to travel to Cuba from anywhere without express permission, and permission is never given to the average citizen. Wait a while and that will probably change. Standing orders for the Coast Guard are that they have the legal authority to seize your vessel if the "believe" you are traveling to or coming from Cuba. This has been discussed a bunch of times on the board. If you are interested in our visit, which was some time ago and legal under the Clinton administration have a look Voyages of Sea Trek: 05. Our Soundings Cuba Article

[AnchorageGuy]

to save having all of this rehashed here are a few discussions
Cuba - Google Search

[nautical62]

I believe things have changed since the Clinton administration. I think U.S. sailors figured out then that the rules were not against travel, but were a trade embargo, and sailors could at least reasonably claim they didn't spend anything while in Cuba. I understand Clinton was okay with this as it helped open realtions for a time, when the embargo might be lifted, yet technically, the embargo was still in place. However, I believe Bush changed that to a travel restriction based on national security arguments so the restricitons are now what Dave M posted above. They are no longer based primarily on the long standing trade embargo, but rather, actual travel.

[David M]

Originally Posted by dpollitt

Hi David
thanks for the reply......yes indeed the horses mouth but what a lot of hysterical nonesense is being put out by our 'state department'....the country is a small caribbean nation!!!

thanks again
david

I was just trying to answer your questions by giving you a link to the State Departments website. I'm not saying I necessarily agree with our current policy. In my personal opinion, some aspects of our current policy concerning Cuba don't make sense to me either.

It's your decision whether or not you choose to break the laws of this country. At least you are aware of those laws now...which goes back to your original question.