Tagged With "cuba"
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Update: Cuba clears way for Fathom cruise
Cuba has given permission for Cuban-born Americans to sail on Carnival's Fathom cruises to Cuba; the first trip is back on schedule for May 1st.
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Royal Caribbean may cruise to Cuba this summer
Royal Caribbean's CEO semi-announces the line's plans for cruises to Cuba.
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No smooth sailing yet for U.S.-to-Cuba cruises
Delays in Cuba's government licensing process are putting U.S.-to-Cuba cruise plans on hold, but operators hope to get going soon.
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Starwood Hotels heads for Havana
On the eve of Obama's visit to Cuba, Starwood has signed deals with three Cuban companies to take over management of several Havana hotels.
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Now it's Booking.com with a Cuba deal
The Cuba deals continue to roll out; yesterday Starwood signed up to manage hotels in Cuba; now Booking.com will be able to book rooms.
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Airbnb has Cuba news, too: Open to all visitors
Airbnb, previously limited to Cuba rentals for U.S. residents, can now begin booking anyone into its network of 'casas particulares' in Cuba.
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Carnival accepting reservations to Cuba for May
Carnival is taking reservations to Cuba for May before getting Cuba permits.
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It's official, Carnival is going to Cuba in May.
Carnival gets official permission from Cuba to sail to three cities.
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Non-U.S. tourists see big change in Cuba already
For tourists from Europe, England and Canada, who have been traveling to Cuba for years, the big change anticipated when Americans start to arrive has already started to happen. A report by Claire Boobbyer of Skift, the travel industry news and analysis site, says that visitors are already seeing price rises, shortages of rooms and crowding at popular spots, even before the expected changes in the U.S. ban on "normal" tourism ends. During the first 11 months of 2015, Cuba played host to over...
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U.S., Cuba agree on re-starting regular air service
After a year of change, with eased travel restrictions and re-opening of embassies, the U.S. and Cuba have come to agreement on arrangements for restoring regular airline service between the two countries, according to a Wednesday report from the Associated Press. The report has no details so far on when first flights might happen, but the outline indicates payment systems that would allow flights to be booked online and would streamline other aspects that have made travel to Cuba...
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More details on U.S.-Cuba airline agreement
The U.S. State Department has confirmed yesterday's press reports that the U.S. and Cuba have come to agreement on resuming regular commercial flights between the countries, with service starting in the first half of 2016. However, the U.S. restrictions on tourist travel to the island remain in place; travelers will still need to self-certify that they fall into one of the allowed categories of travel, which include cultural activities, journalism, academic pursuits, people-to-people...
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China jumps into growing Cuba market with Beijing flight
Air China has opened a new route for Chinese tourism and influence with a direct flight from Beijing to Havana, with a stopover in Montreal. Service began yesterday, using a 777-300ER. For Air China, it's an expansion that gives the state-owned carrier routes to all six inhabited continents, and opens a new destination for Chinese tourists and trade, and adds to the airline's direct Canada service as well. The first flight took off after ceremonies and speeches by Chinese and Cuban...
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Santiago de Cuba's cathedral of hard knocks
Santiago de Cuba's Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption is a well-polished gem with a long history of disaster and plunder behind it.
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Jan. 29: Hillside Living, Santiago de Cuba
Like many port cities, Santiago spills down its hills (or up, if you prefer), leading to creative adaptations.
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Feb. 5, 2016: Fishing boats, Santiago de Cuba
On Santiago de Cuba's waterfront, a fleet of colorful small fishing boats, owned by a fishermen's cooperative, finds its home.
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Museum of the Revolution, Havana (Where Gumbo Was #152)
Once the Presidential Palace (and scene of an attempted coup d'etat) this impressive building is now a museum of Cuba's revolutions. In front, a piece of the 17th-century city wall.
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U.S, Cuba agree: Scheduled flights to resume
After over 50 years, scheduled air service between the U.S. and Cuba will resume, as early as this fall, under an agreement signed yesterday.
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Havana in Transition...to what?
Havana, off-limits to most Americans for half a century, is a city in the midst of big changes, whose ultimate direction is not yet all that clear.
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Feb. 26, 2016: Tomb of Jose Marti, Santiago de Cuba
In Cuba, 19th century nationalist Jose Marti outranks all the other national icons, including Fidel and Che; his tomb in Santiago draws many visitors.
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Those famous Cuban cars, behind the scenes...
Cuba's fleet of classic American cars is legendary, and as with most legends, the truth is actually more interesting than the shiny story.
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U.S. Airlines put in their bids for Cuba flights
Today was the deadline for U.S. airlines to put in their bids for rights to fly regular air service to Cuba, and they're jumping in with both feet.
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Cuba's Cars: Varied, surviving, fascinating
More of Cuba's unusual cars, and some further notes on them...
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U.S. picks airlines for Cuba flights; no Havana yet
U.S. parcels out the first commercial route approvals for flying to Cuba, but the big plum, Havana, won't come until later.
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February 3, 2019 - Castillo de Jaguás, Cuba
Jonathan L provides a view of the Castillo de Jaguás from a perch on the cruise ship Viking Star
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March 3, 2019: Palacio de Valle, Cienfuegos, Cuba
Jonathan L gives us some photos of the Palacio de Valle, a Moorish-styled structure in Cienfuegos Cuba
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Re: Visiting Cuba pt 2. + more cars !
Great practical advice...even for those of us happy to avoid cigars anywhere! And, of course, I'm looking forward to those cars when I go next year.
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Re: Visiting Cuba pt 2. + more cars !
Great advice Garry! What great photos too! Really like your photo of the men fixing the car on the street
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Re: Visiting Cuba pt 2. + more cars !
Thanks for the insight into Cuba, Garry. One place that's always fascinated me but I have never been game enough to visit.
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Re: Visiting Cuba pt 2. + more cars !
Excellent advice and some truly amazing photos here, Garry! Thanks for these beauties.
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Re: Trinidad, Cuba: a Beautiful Colonial Gem
Jonathan - Did you get a chance to taste the sugar cane ? There are some wonderful old railway lines serving the plantations with ancient rolling stock to be admired. I'll be back soon to take more pix.
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Re: Trinidad, Cuba: a Beautiful Colonial Gem
I did not taste the cane on this trip, although I grew up with fresh cane for sale.at.corner bodega in NYC. I knew about the trains from a episode of "globetrekkers" on PBS, and would love to take it the next time I get here.
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Re: Playa Girón, Cuba: Site of the Bay of Pigs Invasion
Excellent coverage Jonathan. I served in West Germany during the Cold War and tensions were always high (but a better deployment than Vietnam). We (US Citizens) should sometimes take a look in the mirror when we we talk about Russians trying to influence our elections via the internet. We used to influence elections by just overthrowing governments we didn't like by force or by possible clandestine means.
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Re: Cuba's Cars: Varied, surviving, fascinating
American cars with Russian Lada engines ! No wonder the Cuban's call them Frankencars.
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Re: Cuba's Cars: Varied, surviving, fascinating
The cars of Cuba are as fascinating as its people, having endured very hard times and still moving forward. An interesting perspective, PHeymont! Thanks. Hope there's car photos coming!
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Re: Museum of the Revolution, Havana (Where Gumbo Was #152)
We never managed to get in here Paul!! Why oh why do the museums in Cuba (including this one) close on Mondays?? Thanks for taking us round though, now I feel complete ;-)
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Re: Museum of the Revolution, Havana (Where Gumbo Was #152)
Did you know the top drawer of Castro's desk contains every cheque paid to Cuba, by the US, for the rental of Guantanamo Bay. All uncashed.
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Re: Museum of the Revolution, Havana (Where Gumbo Was #152)
I forget about that! The government refuses to cash the checks, stating that the U.S. lease on Guantanamo is illegal. And, one of the people we chatted with also suggested that Castro might not be so sure the check wouldn't bounce...
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Re: Havana in Transition...to what?
Excellent observations and interesting suppositions. Most refreshing is that at the same time you refrained from the refrain of 'Cuba before it changes' and wondered about the positive and negative 'half empty : half full' changes that will result. Here's line of questions I like to ask when I'm on the ground with travelers there... 'Would you like to go have a drink in the bars that Hemmingway drank at? Or would you rather go find a bar he would drink at if he were alive today?' That always...
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Re: Havana in Transition...to what?
Thank you...and I love your question! I'm definitely on the where would he be today side...
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Re: Non-U.S. tourists see big change in Cuba already
One reason for the surge in European visitors is they believe that Cuba will not be the same after the US visitors arrive in numbers. Cuba is the most religious country I've ever been to. Just the sight of the Pope on TV brings the Cubans to a standstill. And the use of over-tipping by Americans will create a division like it has in the Dominican Republic. Where only the high tippers get a service at peak times. Remember - one US Dollar is equal to a days pay in Cuba - 24 Cuban Peso. Nice photo!
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Re: Non-U.S. tourists see big change in Cuba already
The whole question of "not the same" is an interesting one. That's certainly the impression of friends of mine who broke the travel ban in the 1960s and saw a vision of what Cuba might have hoped for, had it not become a pawn between the Cold War interests of the U.S. and Soviet Union. I'm sure the transition ahead is as worrying to many Cubans who believe they have built something unique that is threatened with change, as it is to the tourism industry. I'll certainly have my eyes wide open...
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Re: Non-U.S. tourists see big change in Cuba already
One thing that unites the Cuban people is that they are mostly poor. The past few years have seen an elitist group of affluent hotel workers becoming very rich - by local standards. Their income far exceeds the Doctors and University Graduates of Cuba. I've seen the Maids who clean the room getting $1 Dollar from each room they clean. Since then I've also seen the Maids Supervisor come into my room and take the tip off the bed before the maid gets there. I've seen the stores where the Hotel...
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Re: Non-U.S. tourists see big change in Cuba already
Incidentally, Claire Boobbyer, the author of the Skift report, is also the author of the just-published and quite excellent Frommer's EasyGuide to Cuba. I'm reading it, and I'm impressed...
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Re: Non-U.S. tourists see big change in Cuba already
We're off to Cuba in 3 weeks "to see it before it changes"... Please Gurus - what is the best currency to take, especially for tips? Any advice is welcome.
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Re: Non-U.S. tourists see big change in Cuba already
Hi Mac. You need to take clean, unmarked £20 notes. You will exchange them within your Hotel where the currency is at a fixed rate. You will receive Tourist Pesos in return. You wont use the local currency. The Peso you will use is a CUC. Cuban Convertible Peso. Its equal to $1 US. Ask for small denominations'. No one has change of a 20 CUC note. Ask for 20 CUC in 1 CUC coins. For tips. She'll understand why. Tourists call the currency C - U - Cs or KUKS. A tip of 1CUC is about 60p UK or a...
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Re: Non-U.S. tourists see big change in Cuba already
Just to add to GarryRF's note on currency: U.S. dollars are subject to a 10% surcharge in the exchange, so Euros or pounds is definitely the choice for Americans traveling.
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Re: Non-U.S. tourists see big change in Cuba already
Canadian Dollars are welcome too. There was a ban on using US Bank Cards when I was there in June. Maybe someone has the latest on the situation. It was still illegal for Cubans to have US$ currency. They will take US$ as a tip - but they risk jail - a day per dollar !
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Re: Non-U.S. tourists see big change in Cuba already
U.S. government restrictions on U.S. credit and debit cards have been removed, and the MasterCard and Visa people have set up arrangements, but as of 12 Dec. 2015, the U.S. Embassy in Havana is noting that ATM and credit cards do not work yet. One Florida bank has just announced agreement on a MasterCard branded debit card that will work when issued.