入境古巴的手續

拿美國護照入境古巴

有多種以前沒經歷過的限制和手續

2015 年7 月美國和古巴恢復邦交

恢復政經關係

期望逐漸化解半世紀來的恩怨情仇

美國人終於可以藉旅遊一解對古巴的好奇

我原本想再觀望一陣子再去一探究竟

但川普上任後喜歡變更歐巴馬的政策

於是想在還沒完全翻轉前先去看一看

Holland America 2017 年 12 月才開始古巴航遊

船公司盡量提供訊息給旅客

不但有網路資料可查詢

還可電話詢問親切的職員

特別摘要記錄之

以供須要的人參考

川普更改的新規定從2017 年 11 月 9 日生效

How will recent announcements on U.S. Cuba policy changes impact cruises to Cuba? 

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) issued new regulations regarding travel to Cuba, effective November 9, 2017. The new regulations modify travel authorization and restrict some transactions in Cuba, among other things. The following changes may impact you:

 1. Guests who made their booking on or after June 16, 2017 will no longer be permitted to engage in “self-guided” people-to-people travel. Instead, guests disembarking in Cuba must participate in group people-to-people programs sponsored either by Holland America Line or a third-party U.S. sponsoring organization, and do not qualify for the other authorized categories of travel to Cuba. Guests who booked their cruise prior to June 16, 2017, may continue to travel under the self-guided people-to-people program.

 2. As part of the revised regulations, guests are now prohibited from engaging in direct financial transactions with businesses controlled or acting on behalf of the Cuban military, intelligence or security services or personnel. A Cuba Restricted List naming these business establishments has been released by the U.S. State Department.

新規定對美國旅客的影響

主要就是不准全程自由行

一定要參加旅行團規劃的行程後

才可以自由行動

不能只吃喝玩樂

要寓教於樂

稱之為 People to people programs

Can guests go as tourists to Cuba? 

Travel to Cuba for tourist activities is not allowed. Examples of activities that are not permitted in Cuba include purely recreational activities, tourist activities, travel in pursuit of a hobby, self-directed educational activities only for personal enrichment, or research for personal satisfaction only.

 How do the people-to-people programs work? 

People-to-people programs are a permitted category for U.S. guests to visit Cuba. These programs must include a full-time schedule of activities that will create educational interactions between guests and the Cuban people. Activities can include shore excursions offered by Holland America Line. As of November 9, 2017, guests may not opt to participate in a “self-guided” program, unless that guest booked their cruise sailing to Cuba before June 16, 2017. Such self-guided guests must still have a full-time schedule of authorized activities and must maintain their own records demonstrating such a full-time schedule.

我們選擇參加船公司符合寓教於樂的團體遊

Does Holland America offer shore excursions that comply with one of the 12 general licenses? Holland America Line offers shore excursion programs that fully comply with all the requirements for people-to-people programs. In planning activities ashore, guests should keep in mind that people-to-people activities must be fulfilled before guests can engage in free time. Evening shore excursions offered by Holland America Line do not currently comply with the people-to-people guidelines and cannot be considered to be part of the required full schedule of activities. Popular tours do sell out so guests wanting to ensure they book their preferred shore excursions should book early at HollandAmerica.com.

How much free time is there?

 After completion of a full-time schedule of people-to-people activities, guests are free to explore as they wish.

What are the 12 categories of authorized travel? 

1. Family visits; 

2. Official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations; 

3. Journalistic activity; 

4. Professional research and professional meetings; 

5. Educational activities (also called People to People/P2P); 我們屬於這類

6. Religious activities; 

7. Public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions; 

8. Support for the Cuban people; 

9. Humanitarian projects;

10. Activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes; 

11. Exportation, importation, or transmission of information or information materials;

12. Certain authorized export transactions.

行前船公司先提供 checklist 以便準備

In preparation for your amazing adventure to historic Havana, we have prepared a checklist with items relevant to Cuba to review before the big day arrives:

• 1.Passport – All guests require a passport to travel to Cuba, valid for at least six months from your scheduled return date. Birth certificates and passport cards are not acceptable. If you are a U.S. citizen/ resident traveling with a valid Cuban passport, you will need to bring your American passport or Resident Alien Card to re-enter the U.S.
• 2.Travel Affidavit – According to U.S. travel requirements, all guests traveling to Cuba must complete a travel affidavit that identifies one of twelve categories approved to enter Cuba. Please print your affidavit when completing your Online Check-in and present a completed copy at embarkation. Guests will be responsible for retaining a copy of their affidavit for their records for five years.
• 3.Cuba Issued Visa – For most guests a tourist visa will be required which Holland America will facilitate at a cost of $75 (this will be added to your onboard account). You will receive your visa at embarkation. Cuban-born guests and guests traveling to Cuba for any reason other than standard people-to-people activities (e.g. press, business) must present a Cuban passport and/or special visa at embarkation.
• 4.Currency Exchange – The Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC) is the currency used by tourists. Guests can exchange money at the terminal in Havana, as well as hotels, banks and exchange offices for a fee. To expedite the currency exchange process, it is recommended you be prepared to exchange in multiples of $50. Guests are highly encouraged to carry enough cash for your day in Havana since U.S. credit cards and debit cards are not accepted in Cuba.
• 5. Packing – We suggest for Cuba you pack light weight clothing and plenty of sunscreen. Additionally, please limit gifts for the Cuban people to a handful of items (e.g. toiletries, pencils, candies, toys) that will fit within the personal items you plan on bringing off the ship. Donations are generally discouraged by Cuban officials and may delay your debarkation process.

與其他航遊不同的是2.3.4.項

 Travel Affidavit 

副本要保留5年

雖然一共有9頁

很容易依解說填寫

只須填三張

Cuba Issued Visa 

船公司代辦簽證( $75)

報到時給一張表格自己填

下船出海關時要夾在護照內

驚豔於大多是穿迷你裙的辣妹海關人員

Currency Exchange

兌換貨幣

根據船公司的訊息

理論上是可以使用美國信用卡

但美國的信用卡公司絕大部份都還沒準備好

而且古巴的攤販也不接受信用卡

所以準備現金最方便

What about using credit & debit cards in Cuba? 

While U.S. guests are now technically allowed to use U.S. credit and debit cards in Cuba where they are accepted, most U.S. banks have not yet finalized arrangements for credit card transactions in Cuba and most places do not accept credit cards. Please check with your card provider to determine if they have established access in Cuba. It is recommended that guests bring cash and do not rely on credit cards.

下船過海關後先排隊兌換貨幣

觀光客使用的貨幣不同古巴人

古巴人使用的貨幣是 CUP ( Cuban Peso)

外國人使用的貨幣是 CUC (Cuban Convertible Peso)

1 CUC = 25CUPs

1 USD = 0.87CUCs

1 Euro = 1.24 CUCS

兌換時要加 3% 手續費

唯獨美金兌換時要多加10% 成為 13%

我們因有歐元

所以拿 歐元換 CUC

離開古巴時想要換回歐元

卻因拿的是美國護照

只肯讓我們換成美元

所以收了 13% 手續費

 其實對購買紀念品意願不強的我們

兌換 300 歐元是有點太多

原就只計劃買咖啡雪茄和付小費

在哈瓦那港口

因選擇有限只買一包咖啡豆和五根雪茄

在 Cienfuegos 和 Trinidad 遍尋不著咖啡

真的是民生物資有限的國家

古巴還施行物資配給制度

曾看到居民排長隊

導遊說是排隊領衛生紙

我們在哈瓦那午餐的餐廳洗手間就沒有衛生紙

What currencies are accepted in Cuba? 

There are two types of currencies in Cuba – CUC (Cuban Convertible Peso) and CUP (Cuban Peso). The CUC is the currency used by tourists while the CUP is used by locals. Guests can exchange money to convertible pesos (CUCs) at the terminal in Havana, as well as in hotels, banks and exchange offices. Guests are highly encouraged to carry enough cash for the day when disembarking the ship. Please note that transaction fees of approximately 10% will apply to USD to CUC exchanges. It is advisable to change U.S. dollars into another accepted foreign currency (British pounds, Canadian dollars, Danish krone, euros, Japanese yen, Mexican pesos, Norwegian Krone, Swedish Krona, Swiss francs) as a 10% fee is charged if you use U.S. dollars to change into Cuban pesos (none of the other foreign currencies face this charge). Guests cannot exchange CUC back to USD once in the US so all remaining currency should be changed back to USD prior to leaving the last Cuban port.

船公司建議如此付小費

平均收入不高的古巴人在旅遊業可以說是高收入者

所以很多專業人士轉行到觀光旅遊領域

TIPPING 

Are gratuities included for Cuban tour guides and restaurants? 

Holland America Line does not include gratuities or tips for our ground tour guides, drivers, or waiters. Guest should expect to tip their guides, drivers, and waiters. However, as always, gratuities are an expression of thanks and should be based on the level of service provided. We suggest the following as a guide for tipping:

 • National guide: 4-6 CUCs per person

 • Local (site specific) guide: 1 CUC per person 

• Driver: 2 CUCs per person

 • Wait staff: 3 CUCs per person or 10% of the bill (if you are eating out on your own) 

• Street Performers / Characters: 1-2 CUCs per person 

• Bathroom Attendants: .50 CUC per person

時日已久已忘了導遊曾提過的人民平均收入

在網上查到一個大概的參考數字

政府官員的平均薪資每個月29美元

26.6%的人在50美元以上

33.9%的古巴人月收入在51到100美元之間

1.5%的人月收入在1000美元以上

....................................................................................

如導遊所推測

2018 年4月領導人由副元首 Miguel Mario Díaz-Canel Bermúdez 接任

政權順利轉移