Restrictions On Cuba Travel

Above, our ship, Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas in Havana Port. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

About the time I went on a Royal Caribbean cruise to Havana, Cuba, the Trump Administration issued new restrictions on Americans traveling to the island. Much of this has to do with the growing crisis in Venezuela.

According to an April 22 article in the New York Times:

The Trump administration said it would crack down on ‘veiled tourism’ to Cuba. Here’s what that could mean for U.S. travelers.

For Americans who want to visit Cuba, things got even murkier as the Trump administration last week said that it would further restrict nonfamily travel to the island. 

The new restrictions are part of a tougher policy toward Nicaragua, Venezuela and Cuba, said John Bolton, the president’s national security adviser, who called the three countries “the troika of tyranny” in a speech to veterans of the Bay of Pigs invasion, the failed 1961 attempt to overthrow the government of Fidel Castro. 

“The Department of the Treasury will implement further regulatory changes to restrict nonfamily travel to Cuba,” he said. “These new measures will help steer Americans’ dollars away from the Cuban regime.” 

The statement suggests that the government will increasingly restrict travel to the island, but it was vague enough to leave travelers wondering if their trips to Cuba would suddenly be canceled.

According to the article, permitted travel to Cuba consists of 12 categories:

The 12 categories are: family visits; support for the Cuban people; educational, religious or journalistic activities; humanitarian projects; professional research and professional meetings; activities of private foundations, research or educational institutes; public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions; official business of the United States government, foreign governments and certain intergovernmental organizations; exportation, importation or transmission of information or informational materials; and certain authorized export transactions. 

Mr. Bolton said that at least some of the travel to Cuba was “veiled tourism,” and that the government would be cracking down on it.

Above, a vintage 1950s Chevrolet in Havana. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I found the trip to Cuba to be very interesting and would recommend a trip. Obviously, my trip was 100% tourism. But anyone contemplating a trip to Cuba should keep track on current and upcoming changes on Cuban travel.

To read more, go here.

Trump Threatens Cuba With 'Full and Complete' Embargo

Above, El Capitolio, or the National Capitol Building, of Cuba last week. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A little while ago, my "honorary sister" sent me an email saying, "Good thing you are back from that trip!" Meaning, rising tensions between the U.S. and Cuba over Venezuela may possibly cause problems with American nationals touring Cuba.

I just returned from Cuba last weekend.

Along with her email, she sent this:

According to Fox News:

As Venezuela plunged into a dramatic televised scene of chaos and violence on Tuesday, President Trump warned he would impose a "full and complete embargo" and sanctions on Cuba if its troops do not cease operations in the ravaged South American nation. 

National Security Adviser John Bolton alleged earlier Tuesday that Cuban troops were keeping Maduro in power in Caracas. 

“It’s a very delicate moment,” Bolton said, adding that "all options" remained on the table -- including, potentially, a U.S. military intervention. “The president wants to see a peaceful transfer of power." 

Trump's dramatic threat came hours after his administration resoundingly endorsed an ongoing Venezuelan opposition effort, headed by Juan Guaido and Leopoldo Lopez, to spark a military uprising against embattled President Nicolas Maduro. The Trump administration also has worked to roll back Obama-era easing of Cold War sanctions on Cuba. 

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters Tuesday that Maduro had been on his way out of the country bound for Cuba, but that Russia told him to remain. Bolton, meanwhile, warned Russia against interfering. 

The U.S. government said about 20,000 Cuban troops and agents have been working in Venezuela to prop up Maduro's government, a figure disputed by Cuba.

The next 48 hours are sure to be very interesting!

To read more, go here. 

Baroness Margaret Thatcher, R.I.P.

Baroness Margaret Thatcher, the former Prime Minister of Great Britain, has died at age 87 following a stroke.

The family will issue a statement later.

Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton said, "My thoughts and prayers are with Margaret Thatcher and family. A courageous leader and staunch defender of freedom, she will be greatly missed."

Thatcher stood by her convictions and reformed the British economy.  She, along with President Reagan and Pope John Paul II, ended the Cold War by facilitating the collapse of the Soviet Union and its satellites.

Her place in history is secure.