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It’s never been easier for Americans to visit
Cuba. At the direction of President Obama, the Office of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC) has introduced new general licenses within 12 categories of authorized
travel to Cuba that require no formal application, prior permission, nor post
trip report to U.S. officials. Cuba Cruise now welcomes Americans on board by
offering two easy ways to travel: book a comprehensive program with a U.S. tour
operator partner, like Road Scholar and InsightCuba, or book directly with Cuba
Cruise and register for a People-to-People Cuba Cruise program with U.S.
non-profit organization Fund for Reconciliation and Development (FFRD).
 “Our
People-to-People Cuba Cruise program qualifies for the general license and is
designed to immerse U.S. travelers in Cuban culture and history,” said John
McAuliff, Executive Director of the Fund for Reconciliation and Development, and
Coordinator of the Cuba/US People to People Partnership. “The exclusive cruise
program circumnavigates the island, fostering genuine interaction and cultural
exchange both ashore and onboard. It is the most accessible and affordable
introduction to Cuba currently available to Americans.”
Educational activities available include Cuban-led dance and Spanish workshops;
one-on-one cultural exchanges with Cuban crew and performers; day-trips to
historical places of interests like Biran (the birthplace of Fidel Castro),
Trinidad, Santiago de Cuba and Cienfuegos; onboard lectures and film screenings
delivered by a University of Havana professor; and more.
By joining the FFRD group on the cruise, Americans will receive a participant
letter from the organization authorizing travel to Cuba under the new general
license for people-to-people travel. The process is simple:
Book Cuba Cruise directly online
www.yourcubacruise.com ), by phone (1-855-364-4999) or through a travel
agent.
Register for the FFRD’s People-to-People group
travel program online at tinyurl.com/P2Pcruise and receive a participant letter
of authorized travel.
All visitors to Cuba require a Cuba Tourist
Card, which can be obtained from most airlines flying to Havana or from Cuba
Cruise on departure from Montego Bay. Travelers must provide proof of travel
health insurance and passports must be valid for at least six months from the
date of departure.
In partnership with Road Scholar and InsightCuba, both licensed and registered
with OFAC, Cuba Cruise has and continues to successfully host groups of
Americans onboard the cruise vessel since December 2013. During those
comprehensive 12 or 13-day programs, Americans spend five nights aboard the
Louis Cristal, embarking from Cienfuegos and visiting unique destinations around
the island like the Isle of Youth, Havana, Holguin and Santiago de Cuba.
“We are experts at hosting both American and international travelers in Cuba,”
says Dugald Wells, Cuba Cruise President and CEO. “When guests travel with us,
they discover the country’s rich culture and history in unprecedented ways and
engage with diverse Cubans from a variety of backgrounds, including musicians,
dancers, service staff and academics. We are very proud to offer a safe, simple
and comfortable way to experience Cuba and we cannot wait to welcome more
Americans onboard.”
Cuba Cruise is experiencing a surge in interest from the U.S. and expects to
sell out the remaining 2015 departures soon. Rates for the 7-night
People-to-People Cuba Cruise, sponsored by the FFRD, start at CAD$782, plus port
fees (CAD$178) and the cost of registration (US$75). Weekly departures from
January 30 to March 23, 2015 are available to book now. Passengers can embark
from either Montego Bay or Havana.
There’s never been a better time to visit Cuba. For more information about Cuba
Cruise, visit www.yourcubacruise.com
About The Fund for Reconciliation and
Development
The Fund for Reconciliation and Development (FFRD) is a thirty year old
not-for-profit organization based in in New York, working for normal US
diplomatic, cultural, educational and economic relations with Cuba as it
successfully did with Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.. |
