Cuba- Could it open up for boaters soon?

boatbum

boatbum

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This could be HUGE for boaters in South Florida as well as marina operators and restaurants in Cuba.

Who's in for making a trip to Cuba? Are there any Canadians that can shed some light on what it is like to visit Cuba?
 
So if I get my 6 pack captains license, can I bring 6 cubans back to USA? That's people not cigars, those are illegal!
 
Got mixed feelings about it. Any $ spent there would still go in the communist party Swiss bank accounts. That really bothers me

Frankly from what I ve seen Cuba is best enjoyed on land. The old towns, the mountains, etc. from a strictly boater perspective I don't think you can beat the bahamas
 
Why is fuel still 6 bucks a gallon in the Bahamas?
 
Seems like Cuba is an old grudge that is silly today. No disrespect to decisions made in the 60s, but 50 years later they are no threat. We know the threats today but we can visit those countries?
 
quote:
Originally posted by boatbum

Why is fuel still 6 bucks a gallon in the Bahamas?

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The price of gas is pretty much the same all over the world. The difference in the price at the pump is taxes. Some countries even subsidize the price to the point their prices are under $1 per gallon.
 
The Bahamas owes about 150 million in oil money from the electric company. I believe this is hindering their ability to cut deals.
 
"Are there any Canadians that can shed some light on what it is like to visit Cuba?"

Edited by - boatbum on Dec 17 2014 15:38:35

Cuba is a pretty popular, economical vacation destination for many Canadians... It's known to be very safe, have beautiful beaches with a friendly population. A consistent knock against Cuba seems to be the quality of tourist/resort food...it's not what many North American travellers would expect....simply more basic and less luxury.
Most hotel/resort star ratings would need to be downgraded, to match up with North American expectations, IMHO.
A well connected Canadian friend of mine has just helped get the Cruise Ship business off the ground in Havanna...
 
I guess it's easy to forget about how Castro sent a bullet through the skulls of cubans that opposed the revolution. But hey, at least you can take a cool picture drinking a mojito on the beach while you nurse a bad sun tan right?

BTW, I know what I'm talking about.....
 
quote:
Originally posted by CurrentSea

So if I get my 6 pack captains license, can I bring 6 cubans back to USA? That's people not cigars, those are illegal!

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Cuban cigars are now legal, with today's policy change. At least that is what the news folks are reporting from Havana.
 
The "Key West Citizen" newspaper (Keysnews.com) has major articles on this today (18DEC14) although you may have to subscribe to read most of it. I think no one has started to figure it out.
 
I've been there three times over the years. The cruising will be very good if rustic at least for a few years till they build up their boating infrastructure.
 
quote:
Originally posted by MarioG

I guess it's easy to forget about how Castro sent a bullet through the skulls of cubans that opposed the revolution. But hey, at least you can take a cool picture drinking a mojito on the beach while you nurse a bad sun tan right?

BTW, I know what I'm talking about.....

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Well said

People have very short memory. Look how cheguevara is embraced and idolized by many in this country forgetting that he was a murderer. Anyone noticed the picture of Alan Gross upon arriving in the us sitting in an office with a picture of cheguevara on the wall?

It s not about grudges it s about not supporting a regime that tramples human rights. People are still being thrown in jail, tortured and killed for no reason.

There is something very interesting about the timing of this push to lift the embargo, which probably shoul be lifted as it is not working. But why now? Why now as oil prices are collapsing? Does it have anything to do with Russia and Venezuela, the two countries that keep the cuban economy alive, are on th verge of economic collapse in part because of th price of oil falling?

Back in the early 90s, if europe had not replaced the defunct Soviet Union in supporting the cuban economy, cuba woudl be free by now. So it is probably time for the embargo to be lifted. At least give the people the choice to go or not to go.

From what I can see, cuba is not an easy boating destination. First it s a long crossing across the stream, then in the north shore there isn't that many ports and marina limiting cruising options as the whole coast is exposed to the prevailing north easterlies. The south shore has some interesting cays and islands but appears more developed with resorts and mass euro tourism than the bahamas.

Basically seems it's a great place to visit but not so much as a practical boating destination

Disclaimer, I haven't been there but have done quite a bit of research having considered going and chartering locally.
 
Mario;

I'll assume that you have a Cuban heritage, and I do not doubt that you know what you speak of. Unfortunately that is the nature of revolutions, and the same can be said about any of the others that have taken place in the past century. With that being said, I have watched this country normalize relationships with many, many foes, including Japan, Vietnam and Syria all of which have committed much greater atrocities against the U.S. then Cuba ever has. Cuba's true "crime" was being an ally to the USSR during the Kennedy Administration, and they have paid a heavy price for that friendship. Hell we as a country are more compassionate to the former Soviet Bloc countries than we have been towards Cuba.

While I can only imagine that your pain runs deep, and I probably never will understand your point of view, from my standpoint the normalization of relations with this small country 90 miles off of our border is long over due.

We all have our causes. During the 70's and 80's I watched friends and family murdered in Northern Ireland, because they dared take part in a revolution. It is the price that is paid by those on the losing side of an unpopular conflict. Was the Castro regime any more brutal than that of Daniel Ortega, Manuel Noriega, or Papa Doc Duvalier? They were all just on the wrong side of history during a time in the World's cycle.

Sorry for the rant, but the argument could be made that the Cuban people were hurt more by the U.S. embargo, then they were ever helped by it.

Edit: I just realized that this should be on NBR, and if Les seems fit to move it, I'm ok with that. Unfortunately that would keep Mario out of the conversation.
 
Recent details say travel restrictions wont be fully dropped that will take congress and they wont do anything before the election.
 
The Germans and Japanese weren't too friendly to certain ethnic or political groups, Mexico is corrupt as it gets etc. etc. If you don't want to go to Cuba don't go but the embargo is a throwback.
 
If we want to talk about a short memory we can include Germany, Japan, Vietnam, and who knows where else. It's time to fight the battle of communism from the inside out. Embargos and sanctions don't do any good.

I have been asking people on various fora what there experience has been with boating in Cuba. Many have been very positive. There may be more precautions with regard to traveling with arms or renting a car, but otherwise the experience has been positive. I do not have charts for Cuba but it seems that there are good places to visit although anchoring out is not something that is permitted?
 
I've been to Cuba. It's a diamond in the rough. Very little violence and crime with a population that is friendly, educated and literate. The cities are old and crumbling especially its infrastructure but filled with classic architecture. As the Cuban government relaxes it's oppressive human rights record and begins to allow personal and economic freedoms they will eventually invite US investment and development. As the US eases its failed embargo and monetary restrictions that prevent investment and tourist travel, Cuba will become the go to country for cheap labor and tourist development. It's inevitable. Yes, it will happen and Cuba will become one of the premiere tourist destinations in the Caribbean including cruise ships, boat charters and sex tourism (when I was there I met a few Canadians who were there for that reason only). It won't happen immediately and the results for the average Cuban will be mixed with huge increases in prices, drugs and crime as well as prosperity for some (especially the ruling political class and their cronies...something like a mix of Jamaica and China). Democracy? You're fooling yourself if you believe any third world country has anything close to a real democracy.
 
The notion that Democracy exists elsewhere, like the United States, is also a bit of a stretch. ANYWAY-

Good info on Cuba. Yes, I can see it taking it on the chin as a result of the influx of tourism. Hopefully the general population fairs better in the long run.
 
It's just that it is so easy for anyone that has never had any skin in the game or has had a loved one executed simply because of not agreeing with the communist government to simply say that the embargo and the political war against Cuba should end. The reality is that those that are really saying that really say it strictly for personal benefit for the reasons I explained above. The difference is that the Cubans that sought freedom because of the Cuban revolution of the late 50's early 60's never intended to leave Cuba but had no choice but to be exiled in the USA. Although the Cuban people here in the usa consider themselves patriotic Americans and consider the usa our home, the cubans will forever feel exiled. Because of this, to hear people with no skin in the game say that the policy should be changed is simply white washing the murderous communist government at the expense of the most disenfranchised and abused. And for what? To say that you can go to Cuba? That to me is disrespectful, self centered and shallow and does not represent American values, ethics or morals.

Now, do I want the embargo to be lifted and the political policy towards Cuba changed? Of course! But that change must come through the Cuban citizens and not through the political whims of a leftist American president coddling a communist dictator....
 
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