Guest chunkatlarge Posted July 10, 2015 Posted July 10, 2015 The world's largest cruise shipping company, Carnival Corp, says it has received approval from the United States government to offer trips to Cuba from Miami. The company said it was still seeking clearance from the Cuban government but the trips could start early next year. Last December Cuba and the US announced a historic thaw in relations. Americans are able to travel to the island, but only for humanitarian visits or to see relatives. Carnival says it is offering educational tours focussing on education, the environment and Spanish language courses. The tours would cost about three thousand dollars before taxes. The news comes as the US state department expresses concern about the detentions of around 100 people in Cuba this week. State department spokesman John Kirby said members of their interest section in Havana had confirmed the reports of the detentions which took place on Sunday. Mr Kirby said the reports would not change US policy concerning the restoration of diplomatic relations with Havana. "In fact, it reinforces the need to move forward with re-establishing diplomatic relations because opening that embassy, we believe, will advance our human rights agenda by opening up channels of official engagement." Short term detentions occur regularly in Cuba, where officials often hold dissidents for a few hours or sometimes days to dissuade them from further protests. A leading human rights watchdog in Cuba, the CCDHRN reported 563 such detentions in June - there have been an average of 470 short-term detentions each month this year. 1
westg Posted July 10, 2015 Posted July 10, 2015 You better come and see us soon ol mate .....been a while... can picture you there
TCContender Posted July 10, 2015 Posted July 10, 2015 Cuba sounds like a fun cruise, but I am not sure about Carnival: http://money.cnn.com/2015/06/10/news/companies/carnival-cruises-bottled-water/index.html?iid=ob_article_footer_expansion_cross&iid=obnetwork Harder to sneak in booze!
brschoppe Posted July 10, 2015 Posted July 10, 2015 The most interesting thing about this cruise is that you have to volunteer during the day to be part of the cruise. $3000 to go volunteer. Not that I am against volunteering, but that is a high cost to go do it. Plus, there is a bit of contrast between spending the whole day doing hard labor with some of Cuba's poorest only to come back to your Steak dinner, nice bottle of wine and a massage. 1
Jones Posted July 10, 2015 Posted July 10, 2015 I wouldn't go on a carnival cruise if they paid me 3k after all the problems they have had. 1
... Posted July 11, 2015 Posted July 11, 2015 I must say I'm quite curious about how successful that venture will be. I'm as prejudiced as the next guy and usually assume the 'organised cruise' crowd and the 'volunteering' crowd are purely incompatible... Would truly enjoy being proven wrong here
cigcars Posted July 11, 2015 Posted July 11, 2015 Carnival Cruise ...did you say, "Carnival Cruise"??? I'll take my chances on one of those rubber rafts or inner tubes the early Cubans used to sneak out of Cuba with!
jsummers157 Posted July 19, 2015 Posted July 19, 2015 Having never been to Cuba (yet), this sounds like a fun way to get a small dose, but maybe a proper trip would be better for my first time?
Habana Mike Posted July 20, 2015 Posted July 20, 2015 Note to self. Plan visits to Habana Vieja on days the cruise ships are not in...... 4
Habana Mike Posted July 20, 2015 Posted July 20, 2015 Having never been to Cuba (yet), this sounds like a fun way to get a small dose, but maybe a proper trip would be better for my first time? I'd agree with the latter. I've never found cruises the best way to actually experience a place.
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