The Elian stalemate in Miami’s Little Havana may be over. But pending the resolution of the boy’s legal situation, you might wind up getting to Havana before he does.
Starting Nov. 16, U.S. citizens for the first time in four decades will be able to cruise from the Bahamas to Cuba, thanks to a venture of the Cuba Cruise Corp. in Toronto. The company will operate cruises from Nassau to Havana year-round aboard a 400-passenger ship. Three- and four-night sailings will depart Thursdays and Sundays.
Visiting Cuba has been restricted since 1963, when a U.S. law went into effect that prohibited most U.S. citizens from traveling from the United States to Cuba and from buying Cuban products, including food and drink. However, some U.S. citizens, such as journalists and teachers, have been allowed to visit Cuba.
A U.S. Treasury Department spokeswoman said she was aware of the Canadian company’s plan but would not comment on it. However, she said that any violation of the law is considered serious. Those considering visiting Cuba can find specifics about the law on-line at www.treas.gov/ofac
The Toronto company takes advantage of loopholes in the law by “hosting” Americans, thus allowing them to visit the island. It works like this: You book the cruise through Blyth & Co. Travel Ltd., a Canadian travel agency that has been conducting land tours to Cuba since 1978.
Cuba Cruise Corp. will provide the ship. And all passenger expenses in Cuba — including shore excursions, guides, port charges and taxes — will be paid for by a Canadian philanthropic organization, which, for security reasons, prefers to be anonymous, said Sam Blythe, owner of the travel agency.
The ship that Cuba Cruise Corp. is leasing for the new venture was built in 1962.
The ship, which will be refurbished for these cruises, is described as casually relaxed. Through its decor, cuisine and entertainment, it will hark to the Havana of the 1940s and ’50s. It even will have a Cuban cigar-making operation.
La Habana also features a fitness center, beauty salon, swimming pool, casino and duty-free shopping in on-board boutiques.
On-board programs will include educational briefings on topics such as Cuban history, economics, politics, religion, natural history, art and magic. A film festival during each sailing will feature a retrospective of more than 12 hours of the best of Cuban films.
The ship will serve as your base during its one- or two-night stay in Havana harbor, depending on the length of your cruise. The land portion of the three-night/four-day cruises is billed as “educational” and offers opportunities to meet with Cuban students, professors, professional groups and artists. Excursions include a nighttime walking tour of Old Havana — much of which is being restored as a UNESCO World Heritage Site — and a reception in one of Ernest Hemingway’s favorite bars. The four-night/five-day departures add an excursion to the Bay of Pigs.
Rates start at $535 per person, double occupancy, for a three-night cruise, and range up to $1,895 for a suite on the four-night sailings. Discounts of 10 percent will apply if you book 120 days in advance of departure. Air fare to Nassau is additional.
A Cuban visa is not required for American citizens, but your U.S. passport must be valid for at least six months after the scheduled return date. The company will issue you a tourist card that Cuban immigration officials will stamp in lieu of stamping your passport. However, participating in the hosted program does not allow the purchase of Cuban goods and services. Those who do will be in violation of U.S. law.
The Cuba cruises can be booked only through Blyth & Co. For more information, call 800-387-1387.
