Going Down to Havana

Yesterday, I received a call about traveling to Havana, Cuba. The telephone poll asked how I felt about traveling to Cuba and if I had any feelings about Carnival Cruise Line and their stated position about taking folks to Cuba, while excluding native born Cubans which were prohibited from returning to the island.  It made no difference whether they were U.S. citizens, native born Cubans were excluded from travel by ship to Cuba by Cuban Law.  This seemed very discriminatory for a certain class of American Citizens.  I don't really understand the Cuban government policy.  It might have to do with money and entry fees, but I'm not sure.  It would seem that any kind of fee would have the effect of restricting travel.

Carnival Cruise Line initially said it would honor the law that restricted Cuban cruise travel to Havana.  This ignited a bunch of street demonstrations with the biggest being outside Carnival's Miami Headquarters.

The cruise line would like to go to Cuba, enforcing a rather strange Cuban policy put them in an unenviable position.  The local protests might put a damper on the entire Carnival Cruise brand.  Carnival said it would sell tickets to all comers but the actual trips to Cuba would be delayed until the Cuban governments restrictions are resolved.  One step forward, another step back.  The Castro's need to get their act together or the tourist bonanza might not be. 


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