As my wife and I are preparing to go to Cuba next year with a group of friends, family and customers, the most common question I get asked is “Why go to Cuba?”. The answer is not short because there are so many reasons to go. Many of the reasons are actually answers to follow up questions that I get and will explore in this post.
First: Why go?
Despite its relationship with the United States over the last 50 years, there is an incredible culture 90 miles away from us. Before Castro and his band of rebels took over, Havana was one of the hottest destinations on the planet. Celebrities such as Frank Sinatra, Ernest Hemingway, Ava Gardner to mention a few, flocked to Cuba. Many tourists today still flock there including modern day celebs JayZ, Beyonce, Jon Bon Jovi, Madonna, Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, and Robert De Niro and more. What many people don’t know is that Cuban tourism has been open to most of the rest of the world for some time. Canadians, Europeans and others can and do go to Cuba with no problems.
Due to embargoes, much of the country is very much in a time capsule from the 1950’s. This has actually helped shape some of the culture. Vintage cars are restored and in service. El Tropicana is still putting on shows and of course you have to sample coffee, rum and world famous cigars. With the travel restrictions loosening up, we anticipate that Cuba will inevitably change over the next decade. We want to get there before McDonalds and Starbucks begin to change the culture.
Second: Is it safe?
Um, i’m taking my kids, so yeah, it’s safe. In 2017 over 600,000 Americans traveled to Cuba. I have done a lot of reading on this and there has been nearly zero violent crime against tourists. There have been reported incidents of pickpockets and some thefts, but less than if you were to visit New York or London. In order to go to Cuba legally you have to meet certain criteria. Without going into a lot of legal stuff I will keep it simple and say when travelling to Cuba on a cruise, you are required to go on an excursion. The excursion will be booked through a cruise company. The cruise companies have been doing this for years now and WILL NOT use any tour providers that are even remotely unsafe. They can’t afford it. So as long as you are not engaging in illicit activities and use the same common sense you would at any other destination in the Caribbean, you will be perfectly safe.
Third: How can you go support a Communist government?
Our visit has NOTHING to do with politics. We may not agree with the type of government, or how the government has handled their business, but that doesn’t mean there are not great people waiting to meet us. One of the great by products of travel is that you get to meet and learn about people who think and live differently than you. You get to share ideas, which ultimately leads to better understanding. Better understanding and appreciating people, NOT governments, goes a lot further towards promoting a better world. I LOVE the United States and would not want to live or raise a family anywhere else in the world, but let’s face it, our politicians are not always a shining example of the best of what our form of government has to offer. We the People are what makes the United States special, and we can do a lot to make a difference in the world simply by interacting and sharing our story.
Fourth: How can I go?
I’m glad you asked. We are putting a group together for August 2019. Email me at jfrazier@cruiseshipcenters.com. If you are not interested in cruising there or would like to arrange your own travel hit me up anyway. I’m always happy to share ideas and tips.