Has anyone gone to Havana from Cayman

[easyrider]

I was wondering if anyone has been to Cuba while visiting Grand Cayman ?

 

[caribbeansun]

I haven't done it personally but Cayman Air does have a regular schedule of flights to Cuba in case you wondered.

 

[johnmfaeth]

Make sure they do not stamp your passport in Cuba or you are in BIG trouble with the US State Department.

 

[Steamboat Bill]

I have always wanted to do this....any Americans do it lately?

 

[Dave M]

I agree with John.

Those contemplating a visit should carefully read the "Exit/Entry Requirements" section near the top of this page at the U.S. State Department site.

Travelers who fail to comply with Department of Treasury regulations will face civil penalties and criminal prosecution upon return to the United States.

 

[ralphd]

The Cuban authorities will not stamp your passport if requested. If you look back, I do not think anyone has ever been prosecuted for going to Cuba. There is also a list of occupations/reasons that will get you into Cuba legally.
It is not illegal to go to Cuba, it is illegal for US citizens to spend US dollars in Cuba. I think they also interpret US dollars as 'earned US dollars', which means foreign currency converted from US funds.

 

[johnmfaeth]

Hi Ralph,

You are SO off base it's rediculous, do a little research on the web and find out of the hundreds who got prosecuted each year, read some of the travel mags and you'll also learn of this.

Just google for yourself. Bush and his buddies hate Cuba, they actually toughened up the regs.

I have to say this, one thing I hate about TUG is people with no facts posting away....

John Faeth

 

[johnmfaeth]

This is a stat on US Government prosecution by the US Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control:

In contrast, OFAC opened 10,683 enforcement investigations since 1990 for possible violations of the long-standing economic embargo against Fidel Castro's regime, and collected more than $8 million in fines since 1994, mostly from people who sent money to, did business with or traveled to Cuba without permission.

The list of permissable trips, including educational excursions has been dramatically reduced under Bush.

 

[Dave M]

There's no question that Ralph's first paragraph is inaccurate, as John's data confirms.

Actually, the second paragraph of Ralph's post is close to being correct, although not quite. There is a prohibition, as he states, against U.S. citizens spending money in Cuba, unless they are licensed to do so, such as some journalists may be. However, (from the State Department site)...

The Regulations require that persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction be licensed to engage in any travel-related transactions related to travel to, from, and within Cuba. Transactions related to tourist travel are not licensable.

Thus, any tourist who spends money in connection with getting to Cuba violates the Treasury regulations and becomes subject to prosecution.

 

[easyrider]

Well it looks like we arent going to Cuba. Just out of curiosity has anyone met anyone who has been prosecuted ? How would any one even know a person was over in cuba if you paid cash ? Just wondering.....

 

[Kola]

Just out of curiosity has anyone met anyone who has been prosecuted ? How would any one even know a person was over in cuba if you paid cash ? Just wondering.....

Just out of curiosity.... why not ask any Canadian you are likely to meet this month in Orlando, or Miami, or Las Vegas, or.....well, almost anywhere. I bet you most of their expenses in Cuba are usually prepaid and for any extras cash is the only way to go !

Kola

 

[CatLovers]

Just ask for no stamp in your passport

Canadians and Americans travel to Cuba all the time. For the most part you don't even have to ask for "no stamp" on your passport as the Cuban officials routinely do not stamp Canadian and Americans passports. They recognize that it could cause future problems and they are, for obvious reasons, unwilling to cause that kind of grief for their visiting tourists. They recognize that many Canadians travel to the US as well, so they don't create a record on your passport, just in case if could be a problem in the future. To be safe though, just ask for "no stamp". Almost all the Americans going to Cuba go thru Canada or Mexico.

 

[ricoba]

Just google for yourself. Bush and his buddies hate Cuba, they actually toughened up the regs.

Speaking of facts, do you know any American president since the Bay of Pigs that's been cozy with Cuba?

 

[johnmfaeth]

Hi Ricoba,

No our foreign policy has been ineffective for 47 years now. But Bush did toughen up regualtions that his father and Bill C. left alone.

Not an attack on GW, but I do wish things were better, I personally would love to visit Cuba...but the rules exist and are apparently considered a priority in enforcement.

John

 

[bogey21]

I have to say this, one thing I hate about TUG is people with no facts posting away....

John Faeth

John - Here are "no facts" for you. I am a US citizen and routinely go to Cuba via Cancun. I use a Bank of Montreal Visa Card and have absolutely no problem. Cuba is deliteful. Two trips ago I bought a Cuba National Baseball Team hat MADE IN CHINA. Go figure!!

GEORGE

 

[bogey21]

OFAC opened 10,683 enforcement investigations since 1990 for possible violations of the long-standing economic embargo against Fidel Castro's regime

Come on John, 10,000 in 15 years is what? 750 per year!! Go to Cuba and enjoy. It is a fabulous place.

GEORGE]

 

[Kola]

For those with natural curiosity a few facts about foreign tourism in Cuba: total number of foreign tourists/year 2,300,000
of which with Canadian passports 600,000
(how many of these are Canadians living in the USA is unknown)
second place -tourists with British passports, followed by German, Dutch,etc.
In the last couple of years foreign tourism to Cuba has been declining mainly due to stronger competition by the Dominican Republic in terms of resort facilities and package pricing.

Kola

 

[Carolinian]

Come on John, 10,000 in 15 years is what? 750 per year!! Go to Cuba and enjoy. It is a fabulous place.

GEORGE]

I imagine that if you are unlucky enough to be one of the 750, it would NOT be an enjoyable experience! There are too many other interesting places to go, where one does not have to worry about that problem. My brother did go to Cuba on a scientific trip that was authorized and he did enjoy it, but for me I will wait until it is legal.

 

[elina]

Stamping the passport

OK, I am now confused...

We're going to Cuba in few months and we're Finnish citizens. However, we will fly back to Finland through New York where we will spend one night (actually after Cuba we will spend about 10 days in Mexico and then fly back to US). If they stamp our passport in Cuba can we have problems when returning to JFK and New York?

This is probably silly question, but just wanted to make sure.

Thanks,
Elina

 

[johnmfaeth]

Hi Elina,

You will be fine. These restrictions apply only to US citizens and corporations.

John

 

[ricoba]

I do wish things were better, I personally would love to visit Cuba...but the rules exist and are apparently considered a priority in enforcement.

John

You are correct, we need a better policy on this issue. Perhaps when Castro passes on, things may loosen a bit. But until then, there is a very large and influential voting block that has kept all previous administrations from changing the policy.

BTW, my wife and kids can go to Cuba, on their Canadian passport, but dad (me) would have to stay home. Good thing we would all rather go to Hawaii!

Rick

 

[Beaglemom3]

I was supposed to go to Cuba with a medical/nursing group (Madre) out of Boston. We were not on a humanitarian mission (I'd rather be helping out in New Orleans if it was), but on a cultural learning exchange.
I will be glad to go when sanctions have eased.
B.

 

[Rod in Louisiana]

My brother did go to Cuba on a scientific trip that was authorized and he did enjoy it, but for me I will wait until it is legal.

Bravo, Carolinian. I, too, would love to visit Cuba. But I, like you, will wait until the laws of my country premit me to do so legally.

 

[ralphd]

According to Frommer no one has been tried or convicted of traveling to Cuba:
See 'What to do if you get busted':
' http://www.frommers.com/destinations/cuba/3173020059.html '

Read 'Get Out' on Wikitravel:
The constitutionality of OFAC's "presumption of guilt" regarding spending money in Cuba has not been tested in the courts thus far.)
' http://wikitravel.org/en/Americans_in_Cuba '

Sidestep travel website:
' http://www.sidestep.com/travel-info-g10054-t48432-entry_requirements_cuba '

Free legal advice is offered thru some of the links provided.

Other links are available thru Google search.

I have not been to Cuba and have no desire to visit the island.

 

[ralphd]

Hi Ralph,

You are SO off base it's rediculous, do a little research on the web and find out of the hundreds who got prosecuted each year, read some of the travel mags and you'll also learn of this.

Just google for yourself. Bush and his buddies hate Cuba, they actually toughened up the regs.

I have to say this, one thing I hate about TUG is people with no facts posting away....

John Faeth

Hope you will post the link to the source of your information about the hundreds of people that are prosecuted each year!