Obama Administration to Ease Cuba Travel Restrictions

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Hud3

From my reading, it appears that nothing's changed as far as (U.S. citizen) cruisers being barred from legally visiting Cuba. That is, unless you happen to be a student or member of a traveling church group.

I haven't seen any reference to students or members of a traveling church group in Obama's press release.
➥ http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv...ts/09_cuba.pdf

OOPS - My mistake! I've been reading a press release from 2009.

Here's Obama's current press release, which makes exactly those references, and others:
➥ http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-...t-cuban-people
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/01/14/reaching-out-cuban-people

[ActiveCaptain]

Any way you look at it, it's good news for cruisers. These small gestures are the way diplomacy works. The US lifts restrictions in certain ways; Cuba starts buying more grain and meat from the US; and before you know it, Taco Bell in Havana.

In all seriousness, I'd like to see Cuba before it gets too touristy but I'd sort of like to be there with some telecommunications, mechanical help if I need it, and some basic services for safety.

[shadow]

Originally Posted by Tellie

Other than respecting and obeying your own countries laws.

As the other cruiser stated, respect is earned not a right and sorry but, I'm not a DOG, I don't "obey" things that are so archaic and ridiculous. That's why we have the right to band together and change laws collectively, when it goes beyond common sense...

Originally Posted by mrohr

I would love to sail to cuba from my home here in the land of the free,however our gov. has been threatening to confiscate boats that do so upon return.

This sounds OK to everyone in the States?? People need to wake up there and start cleaning house, from the top down..

I do not and did not want to mention anything politics, but I had to respond to those 2... Hope it's OK.. cheers

[Ram]

And we all know where that has got us the last 50 years!

[Hud3]

From experience, expressing your strongly held political views in a thread like this will elicit equally strongly held political views, and will quickly drive the thread into the ditch. Strongly held political views almost always have nothing to do with cruising.

[keepondancin]

If travel restrictions to Cuba are eased, the Bahamian Government should re-think their current cruising fees and time constraints, otherwise, it's going to be very lonely in the Bahamas.

[Hillbillyfunk]

what if someone were to take a floating chapel, would that count?
Weddings On Water -Sarasota Bay Area's Most Unique Beach Wedding Venue

[hummingway]

Originally Posted by Hillbillyfunk

what if someone were to take a floating chapel, would that count?
Weddings On Water -Sarasota Bay Area's Most Unique Beach Wedding Venue

That is priceless! Hope the bride doesn't get seasick ...

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by David M

Allowing US citizens to travel there will be a good thing for Cuban citizens in a certain political way which ultimately will provide them with some much needed economic benefits.

Worked for Haiti

[capnorv]

Hope I can legally visit before I'm too old to.

[Gemini Dreams]

Dear Mr. President,
Forty nine years ago the USA placed an embargo on Cuba as you know. Since then we no longer "duck and cover" to protect us from the missiles. Mariel sent 100,000 by boat to Miami. Captain Casey Abbott became the President of The United States of America. The USSR dissolved 20 years ago. The machines have taken over the world (internet) and the Terminator has been a Governor for years. The USA is in financial debt to China. There are no more pigs in the bay! But the name Castro still reins supreme with the help of our embargo. Why is it I can openly sail in the land of Chavez and Santos but not such a simple place only 90 miles from home?

[sww914]

I have some sort of outdoor travel guide to the Caribbean that has detailed information about every little island with a light or a flag on it and throughout the whole book it's almost as if Cuba doesn't even exist. There is a grand total of 1 reference to it, a single sentence. Looking at my map Cuba is almost the size of the Yucatan or Florida, big. How can that not exist? I'd love to see some additional honesty on the subject in US publications and I'd really love the chance to travel there legally.

[oldcal46skipper]

Without getting "political", I have never been able to understand how we can spend billions with China and treat Cuba the way we have for 40+ years. The Cubans we met do not understand either.
In our cruising we visited over 20 countries and were never treated more hospitably than in Cuba, even the officials. Compare and contrast with Puerto Rico and the USVI, whom we subsidize with millions of $$$. Both of these are on our list of "Never Return". Top of my bucket list is, Return to Cuba.
Right wing, politically conservative,
Old Cal 46 Skipper Tom

[senormechanico]

Steve B.

[Khagan1227]

Hmmm.. religious groups can travel to Cuba, but an atheist can't. I see the ACLU filing a law suit in the near future.

Don't know why they'd return Guantanamo to the Cubans, theCuban government leased it to the U.S. in 1903. I've been there a few times before the prison was built, nice place, great diving, would love to go back.