Within weeks of Fidel Castro’s death, brother Raul opened the gates for a wave of thousands more Americans to visit Cuba via cruise ship. Three cruise companies — Pearl, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean — are among several that were rushing to conclude deals with Cuba before the start of President-elect Donald Trump’s administration. On the … Read more
The Havana Jazz Festival, sponsored by famed Cuban jazz artist Chucho Valdes and ICM, or the Cuban Institute of Music, just concluded its 32nd year. Cuba has a long jazz tradition. And its annual Havana Jazz Festival attracts musicians from all over the world. At this year’s festival, though, one of the biggest attractions was a … Read more
Intrepid travelers can now include Cuba as a destination with Delta Vacations, the airline’s new offering now that regular air service to Cuba is in full swing. Trips include hotel and flight packages to Havana, Varadero, and Cayo Santa Maria. In Havana, travel agents can book clients into rooms at the iconic Hotel Nacional de … Read more
Since 2011, when President Obama allowed the resumption of travel to Cuba for U.S. citizens, Americans began flocking to the once-forbidden island under the banner of “people to people” travel, the most popular of 12 categories of authorized travel. When the U.S. and Cuba restored diplomatic relations in December 2014, the flow of American travel … Read more
If you are among the affluent who travel in search of adventure, seclusion or authenticity, Cuba is the most interesting place in the world today. Most people don’t realize that Cuba’s coastline is 40% longer than Florida’s. And even fewer people understand that Cuba’s coastline is virtually untouched by tower condo buildings, asphalt parking lots … Read more
Cuban relations with the U.S. and western nations is evolving towards a restoration of diplomatic relations and the initiation of a process of normalization of relations between the two countries. With the easing of political tensions and the possible lifting of the trade embargo, potentially strong economic ties could re-emerge providing a significant impact to … Read more
Today marks two years from when President Obama announced the normalizing of relations with Cuba. Hear from Julia de la Rosa, a Cuban entrepreneur, on how her life was changed by the President’s actions. Here is a profile the White House shared: My name is Julia de la Rosa, and I am a Cuban cuentapropista — or … Read more
When Kelsy Dominick was approached by Cuban Trade representatives after a showing at New York Fashion Week, she had no idea that she would become the first American designer since the 1960 to showcase her work in Cuba. The event that marked Kelsy’s debut in Cuba was this year’s Arte y Moda, the largest fashion … Read more
by Simons Chase The first sensation of the significance of my map coordinates (20°24”12.2’N 78°55”26.5’E) occurred while visiting the Gardens of the Queen (Jardines de la Reina), a palm-fringed national park situated along Cuba’s Caribbean coast. There sits a remote fishing and diving center, operated by Avalon, like a floating village tethered to a point … Read more
Cuba’s Cimavax gained media attention last month when Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had approved clinical trials there as part of a collaboration with Cuba’s Center for Molecular Immunology. But there are actually two parallel medical initiatives pursuing commercialization of the human cancer … Read more
