Well, there goes my trip to Cuba !!

[hsi88]

Looks like they are going back to enforcing the ban on Cuba from the U.S.

[Cotemar]

SO SAD, we were planning a trip to CUBA also.
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Trump draws a harder line on Cuba | TheHill
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[Diesel Bill]

Been listening on Fox and they say airlines and cruise ships still O.K. to go. Just no businesses allowed to operate there. Still on my bucket list.

[Safari38LH]

Just go via Nassau.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Safari38LH

Just go via Nassau.

Big Brother may still be watching. I was checked out closely by a USCG copter once when sailing thru the Windward Passage. We were bound for Jamaica, but I was thinking how nice it would be to visit Cuba again...right at that moment he dropped outta the sky like he had mind penetrating RADAR. [emoji15]

[CarlF]

I expect a few people will be made "examples" of by US Customs to show they're serious. Confiscating a few "yachts" should do the trick.

The big problem for cruisers is that the rules now say that US citizens must go as part of a group tour organized by a licensed tour operator. Organized races are probably fine but going on your own looks risky as long as Trump is in office.

[chris mac]

It's good to be Canadian. Cuba is still one of my favorite places

[Lepke]

Why would anyone want to go to a communist country? Go to Venezuela. See what Cuba will be at the end.

[Hearts Content]

Poverty is not romantic - that's a rationalization to justify profiting off their enslavement. Cheap women, services and goods. That's all it takes for the blinders.

Hurry before they free themselves and it's all ruined! Boy, that would suck now wouldn't it.

[Sandibar]

Originally Posted by Lepke

Why would anyone want to go to a communist country? Go to Venezuela. See what Cuba will be at the end.

Aha. So China should also be avoided, nevermind the offerings it has to travellers? One does not have to agree with the regime to enjoy the spectacular places and I think the same goes for Cuba (never been there). People are not the same as the ruling party, whatever views one holds.

[SailsTeam]

Originally Posted by Sandibar

Aha. So China should also be avoided, nevermind the offerings it has to travellers? One does not have to agree with the regime to enjoy the spectacular places and I think the same goes for Cuba (never been there). People are not the same as the ruling party, whatever views one holds.

In all of these places you should be careful about getting in serious trouble. In China you can't even access youtube or gmail or google maps without breaking the law. Everyone here seems to think it is a good idea posting on the internet about how to break the Cuba embargo and go spend a bunch of money there on vacation. You are all prime targets for a criminal investigation. I wouldn't go anywhere near the place if you value your freedom. All they have to due is serve the forum with a subpoena and you will all be identified instantly. Cuban people seem to be friendly. Unfortunately when you run aground down there the fisherman aren't allowed to help you get pulled off. You aren't even allowed to anchor anywhere. When you go to Hemmingway Marina you are giving money directly to the Cuban government/military in violation of the embargo. You are also giving them much needed cash to stay in power which hurts the Cuban people!!!

[Gradient]

We just left Cuba after 6 weeks sailing the South coast. We loved it, favourite place in the Caribbean but this is only our third year cruising so we still have much to see. For the record we anchored everywhere, it's only the north coast that is restricted. We found the Cuban people to be the most welcoming, gracious and generous people we've met anywhere. Despite what some may think (who clearly haven't been there) people are not living in abject poverty, in fact I did not see a single homeless person anywhere unlike any city anywhere else in the world. People may not have access to everything we are used to but they have enough to live pretty well and are amongst the happiest I have seen anywhere in the world. It's a pity for Cubans and Americans but at the same time it would be sad to see such an amazing place go the way so many other places have gone after being overwhelmed by tourism and big business.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Lepke

Why would anyone want to go to a communist country? Go to Venezuela. See what Cuba will be at the end.

Originally Posted by Hearts Content

Poverty is not romantic - that's a rationalization to justify profiting off their enslavement. Cheap women, services and goods. That's all it takes for the blinders.

Hurry before they free themselves and it's all ruined! Boy, that would suck now wouldn't it.

You can of course take a negative view of Cuba, or any country, but the real reason to visit Cuba is the people. Despite what they have been thru, and continue to suffer thru, the Cuban people are awesome!

In addition to that there is historic interest, beautiful landscape, good snorkeling/diving, and of course cruising. Given that it occuppies such a large expanse of the N Carib, it also makes a very handy stop over.

Visiting a country is not an endorsement of the negative aspects of that country. Would you also exclude China and Russia from your acceptable to visit list?

From my perspective, Im very glad I visited Castro's Cuba back in 2001. It was very enlightening to see the realities of Cuba versus the propaganda spewed by Cuba/USA...neither of which is of course accurate regarding the real Cuba. We spent several months there and became friends with a number of locals...great people...and a very memorable life exprience.

If you chose not to visit a country because of its negative aspects, they you best lock yourself up at home...and ponder the negatives of your home country.

[John Holbrook]

I don't think sailors will be effected. Trump limited USA doing business with Cuba because just about every big business in Cuba is owned by the military. The military and the regime in Cuba is one of the same and the sooner it falls the sooner Cubans can have a democratic government. The regime is currently under a lot of pressure because Venezuela has vastly reduced shipping Cuba free oil.

Cuba like its pup Venezuela is not socialist or communist, they are just corrupt. Here is the end result.
Venezuela's child malnutrition crisis grows - BBC News

I live in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela so I see a lot of this with my own eyes.

[keith4001r]

There are several countries I wouldn't consider visiting. Cuba because until I hear otherwise from the State Department, it's illegal for me to go there. I would avoid countries where bribes are demanded (DR comes to mind). Open bribery means anarchy, and I'm not interested.