Cuba?

kingcan · #1 (**permalink**) 09-01-2010

Hi All,

We have to be at a wedding in Havana in February 2010. We're considering a bareboat charter for a week or two in the Caribbean to attend the wedding, then do a little cruising. A few questions:

- Does anyone know if there are restrictions for US-chartered vessels (i.e., chartered out of Miami or USVI) entering Cuba? The embargo doesn't exist for Canadians (eh), and I've not found "yah or nay" info online anywhere.

- If we decide to do this, any recommendations for where in the Caribbean we should start (i.e., ease of access to Cuba and rest of Caribbean and #/availability of charter operations)?

- Any recommendations for charter co's you'd like to pass along based on positive experience?

- Finally (whew), any "watch-outs" for cruising to Cuba? (The wedding - and we - would be at the Hemmingway Yacht Club.)

Thanks for any and all info!
F

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 09-01-2010

AFAIK, you won't be able to take boats based in the US or US terrirtories to CUBA... regardless of your citizenship.

sailor50 · #3 (**permalink**) 09-01-2010

If you need to be in Cuba by Feb 2010, you literally missed the boat dude!

bogdog · #4 (**permalink**) 09-01-2010

wish we were going with you (stupid politicians anyway)

>

kingcan · #5 (**permalink**) 09-01-2010

as sailor50 kindly pointed out, it should read Feb 2011 above. thnx

Starlyte · #6 (**permalink**) 09-01-2010

I spent 2 x'mas's in Gitmo.....I love Cuba.
As a pleasure boater, or going on another boat, I wouldn't do it.

chall03 · #7 (**permalink**) 09-01-2010

hmm I terms of cruising in Cuba, check out the following article written by an aussie couple who recently cruised there, they identify clearly some of the issues you might face.

My Sailing: The land of cigars, rum & Castro

I have always had a thing for Cuba, I do like the idea of cruising in the country, but maybe not the easiest of cruising grounds.

Starlyte · #8 (**permalink**) 09-01-2010

Personally, I would fly in and out. Out as in a hurry. I would also travel with the minimum.

QuickMick · #9 (**permalink**) 09-02-2010

An old colleuge of mine went there, via the Canada route you mentioned above. IIRC when he got to Cuba they didnt actually stamp his passport, but gave him some paper receipt that way it wouldnt raise eyebrows when he headed back into the states w/his passport. He loved it, and no issues returning via the northern tundra as well.
oh, you know why the Canadians do it Do&&ie style? So they can both watch the hockey game.... har t har

have a great trip, good luck

Gary M · #10 (**permalink**) 09-02-2010

Cuba is not really close to other islands and if you want to make the wedding on time I would suggest a plane. Havana is a very nice city to visit but there would really be no suitable cruising grounds any where near it. The north shore in general would not be great. You would have to go down near Cayo coca to find some islands.

The south shore would be better I believe but personally have only been to the Bay of Pigs.

There is no embargo per-say but the US government forbids Americans from having financial dealings with anyone in Cuba without advance permission.

There are many Americans who travel there through Canada and Mexico. They do not stamp passports of anyone and I assume that is why.

On the other hand the Cuban Navy and police are not always friendly. About 3 years ago 4 Canadians were delivering a boat across the north of Cuba. They did not plan to stop there but bad weather forced them aground on Cayo Coco. The police threw them in jail for several days the Canadian Consulate got them out and back home. If we were not such a valuable source of tourist dollars that might not have turned out so well.

If you want any more info pm me and we can talk. I see the bridge at LTC in your photo.

Enjoy Havana.