Cuba

[GxK]

Now that winter has come to the Great Lakes, I've been thinking that Cuba might make a great destination for a cruise next winter. Of course, that kind of thinking might be easier for me, a Canadian resident and citizen, than it could be for many of you.

Do any C-Brats have experience cruising in Cuban waters?

--Georgs

 

[Pat Anderson]

Yeah, rub it in, eh! Like the Olga Symphony says,

:note See you in C-U-B-A! :note

 

[Captains Cat]

I almost had some experience cruising in Cuban waters back in the 60's around Bay of Pigs time and the Cuban Missile Crisis. :shock: :roll: ... Probably would be a lot more fun now...

Charlie

 

[flrockytop]

Not to worry. I'm sure Obama will drop all restrictions on Cuba.

Roger

 

[eNORMous]

I think Cuba sounds like a fantastic trip! Keep us posted as to when you're planning on heading out. I've cruised the Greater and Lesser Antilles but never Cuba and I would very much like to cruise Cuba. Stay in touch if you do plan to go.

 

[starcrafttom]

I for one would love to cruise and dive cuba, when castro dies and the cuban people are free!

 

[eNORMous]

Thomas,

You might consider changing your current URL to a URL which resolves:

This URL resolves: http://veteransrealtyservices.com

This URL does not resolve: http://veteransrealtyservices.com/home.asp

You or someone simply changed the home page to default.asp rather than home.asp.

If you try http://veteransrealtyservices.com/default.asp you'll notice it resolves to your current home page.

 

[Spike38]

Yes, sailed down to Cuba a few years ago, stayed all too briefly at Marina Hemingway. Wonderful and eye-opening experience! Can't wait to return but trying it again under even tougher current regulations (soon to change, hopefully) really seems like tempting fate. I surely hope to get down there in the new C-Dory as soon as some relaxation of the infamous embargo occurs. Based on my limited experience I cannot recommend a visit to Cuba highly enough!

I'd like to add my wishes for a wonderful New Year to all in this great group as well as thanks for many past considerations!

 

[GxK]

I surely hope to get down there in the new C-Dory as soon as some relaxation of the infamous embargo occurs. Based on my limited experience I cannot recommend a visit to Cuba highly enough!

I think Cuba sounds like a fantastic trip! Keep us posted as to when you're planning on heading out. I've cruised the Greater and Lesser Antilles but never Cuba and I would very much like to cruise Cuba. Stay in touch if you do plan to go.

Thanks, Spike, thanks, Norm, for the encouragement.

This all is still very much in the daydream stage. I need to work out logistics related to time and money, as I'm still a working man and so is the Admiral. I'm looking at the October-December time frame but all else is still vague.

I'll be back to you in this thread as plans develop. In the meantime, I'll start a new discussion related to the ICW. I don't own a truck and I've never cruised the ICW, thus, the logical idea would be to run the TomCat on its own bottom from Lake Ontario to the Keys before heading across the Straits of Florida.

--Georgs

 

[starcrafttom]

eNORMous,Thank you for pointing that out to me. I made the changes to my web page a few days ago and did not think about having to change this link. Thank you.

 

[thataway]

Georgs,
I have not personally cruised the North Coast of Cuba, but have close friends who have. The Trip to Marina Hemingway is straight forward and well documented. The North Coast of Cuba is subject to the Northers which come down the Gulf of Mexico in the winter, and can make the Norther Coast rough during those times.

Get Nigel Calder's book on Cuba cruising. It is excellent.
My friends had some minor problems getting clearance out of ports in a timely manor in the early morning, and they were not alowed to clear out the evening before and anchor out. All have had positive experience in Cuba.

The South Coast of Cuba is a cruiser's paradise--but not much in the way of supplies available, and a bit more difficult to get there.

I agree that hopefully Cuba will open as a destination and free trade will resume. This will be good for all!

 

[eNORMous]

I watched Raul's 50th anniversary celebration of the Cuban Revolution in Santiago de Cuba last night. Basically stating he expectations of Obama are too high, but none-the-less, he believes there might be some easing up of restrictions to travel - one can only hope.

Georgs,

Definitely keep me posted - you can nearly count me as "in" for the trip - definitely keep me posted on the date.

Thomas,

You are welcome mate!

 

[Spike38]

FWIW (and this may be old news): I'd thought that easing of US restrictions on travel to Cuba would be of little consequence to Canadians but was informed by a Canadian friend that since our trip the Bush administration had managed to make departures for Cuba from US territorial waters illegal for Canadians as well. What a grand bunch!