New flights are making it much easier for Americans to visit Cuba
- 8 years ago
HAVANA — Formerly frosty relations between the United States and Cuba continued to thaw this week as Havana began accepting scheduled flights from U.S. airliners for the first time in five decades.
A JetBlue flight from Fort Lauderdale to Santa Clara on Wednesday was the first scheduled passenger flight between the U.S. and Cuba since the Cuban Revolution, the New York Times reported.
U.S. airlines are now allowed to fly to Havana and nine other Cuban airports, adding 300 new flights per week to the formerly hardline communist island state.
Traveling by sea to Cuba is also an option. Cruise company Carnival goes from Miami every other week, stopping in Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba.
Uncle Sam still technically forbids U.S. citizens from traveling to Cuba solely for tourism. But in reality no one’s checking once you tick that box, travel experts on the island told the New York Times.
American trips to Cuba must fall within one of 12 categories, which include visiting relatives, professional research, journalism or religious activities.
Organized or independent “people to people” tours are also permitted, so long as they include a full-time schedule of activities and “meaningful interaction between the traveler and individuals in Cuba.”
A JetBlue flight from Fort Lauderdale to Santa Clara on Wednesday was the first scheduled passenger flight between the U.S. and Cuba since the Cuban Revolution, the New York Times reported.
U.S. airlines are now allowed to fly to Havana and nine other Cuban airports, adding 300 new flights per week to the formerly hardline communist island state.
Traveling by sea to Cuba is also an option. Cruise company Carnival goes from Miami every other week, stopping in Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba.
Uncle Sam still technically forbids U.S. citizens from traveling to Cuba solely for tourism. But in reality no one’s checking once you tick that box, travel experts on the island told the New York Times.
American trips to Cuba must fall within one of 12 categories, which include visiting relatives, professional research, journalism or religious activities.
Organized or independent “people to people” tours are also permitted, so long as they include a full-time schedule of activities and “meaningful interaction between the traveler and individuals in Cuba.”