Cuba Cultural Adventure. Pre-Departure Information

Transcription

1 Cuba Cultural Adventure Pre-Departure Information

2 TRAVEL INFORMATION People To People Exchanges Traveling By Sea Cuba Accommodations Internal Flights Passport Visas Money Tipping Special Diets Communications Electricity MEDICAL INFORMATION Inoculations Fitness Medical Services And Evacuation HELPFUL INFORMATION Shopping Photography Being a Considerate Traveler Weather Reading List PACKING LIST The Essentials WT Gear Store Luggage Laundry Clothing Equipment Personal First Aid Supplies Optional Items Welcome! We re delighted to welcome you on this adventure! This booklet is designed to guide you in the practical details for preparing for your trip. As you read, if any questions come to mind, feel free to give us a call or send us an we re here to help. PLEASE SEND US Trip Application: Complete, sign, and return your Trip Application form as soon as possible if you have not already done so. Medical Form: Complete, sign, and return your Medical Form as soon as possible if you have not already done so. Air Schedule: Send us a copy of your Air Schedule once you've made your flight arrangements. Refer to the Arrival & Departure section of the Detailed Trip Itinerary for instructions. Please feel free to review your proposed schedule with Wilderness Travel before purchasing your tickets if you have any questions about the timing of your arrival and departure flights or would like to confirm we have the required minimum number of participants to operate the trip. People to People Application : Complete, sign, and return your People to People form as soon as possible. Cuba Certificate of Travel Form : Complete, sign, and return your Certificate of Travel form as soon as possible. Passport Photocopy: Scan* a COLOR copy of your passport photo page and it to us as a JPG or PDF attachment, or send us a high quality photocopy by mail (immediately upon reserving your trip). *If you are scanning documents to , we suggest a maximum resolution of 300 dpi. PLEASE CAREFULLY REVIEW Travel Documents & Medical Information: Carefully review the Travel Documents and Medical Information sections of this booklet to familiarize yourself with Passport and Visa entry requirements for your destination, as well as any recommended inoculations. Optional Travel Insurance: Review the Trip Cancellation & Transfer Fee Schedule included in the Detailed Itinerary. We recommend that all trip members purchase Travel Insurance. Final Documents: Approximately three weeks before your trip, we will send you final departure documents, including hotel and local contact information and rendezvous instructions. QUESTIONS?

3 Call: , go to our website: or us at:

4 Travel Information PEOPLE TO PEOPLE EXCHANGES As of the time of writing, independent solo travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens remains illegal unless specific permission is granted by the U.S. government. Currently, the easiest route for Americans to legally visit Cuba is to join a group tour run under a People-to-People license issued to the tour operator. This trip is organized and run by Group IST, who owns this People-to-People license, and is operated in conjunction with Variety Voyages, who owns and operates the vessels. Thus, this is not a Wilderness Travel operated trip, nor are the departures exclusive to Wilderness Travel clients. Traveling on a People-to-People exchange has many advantages. It allows you to travel legally and directly from Miami on a scheduled flight, which Group IST will book for you. The exchanges are interesting and several are routinely cited by past participants as trip highlights. The themes explored on this trip are the arts, due to Cuba s vibrant artistic and musical scene, and Cuba s emerging entrepreneurs. Exchanges occur in a variety of locations, from restaurants to artist studios, and usually involve a performance or talk followed by a question-and-answer period. As with many things in life, you tend to get out of these exchanges what you put in, so groups with many interesting questions are rewarded with interesting answers and more lively discussions. You should expect each exchange to last about 15 minutes. TRAVELING BY SEA Traveling by yacht is romantic to many, but certainly not all. The cabins aboard the boats are small in comparison to modern hotel rooms or even to cabins on a larger cruise ship. All cabins have en suite bathrooms and individually controlled air conditioning (a luxury few hotels in Cuba currently offer). Passengers sensitive to motion sickness should consider bringing medication for the day that has a longer stretch at sea. The longest sail can range from 22 hours to 28 hours, depending on weather conditions. The ships dock directly in port or at anchor where we may need to transfer via tenders. The itinerary is subject to change as a result of weather conditions. Swim stops also depend on weather. The ship is not allowed to sail when winds exceed six beaufort. Please note that unusual weather can affect a boat-based trip and, for safety reasons, the captain has final say on whether landings are possible at out-of-the-way stops where tenders are necessary to ferry passengers ashore. Visitors to Cuba (whether on boat-based or hotel-based tours) will enjoy their trip most when they come with a flexible attitude since all tour arrangements within the country are controlled by a central Cuban government agency and last minute itinerary changes as well as assorted bureaucratic delays are commonplace.

5 CUBA ACCOMMODATIONS We have chosen to offer a boat-based adventure aboard the Callisto or Harmony V rather than a hotelbased trip for many reasons. At present in Cuba, there are very few good hotels that offer more than 2- or 3-star service. Traveling on a yacht provides a comfortable home away from home where you'll unpack just once during your trip, but explore several destinations throughout Cuba. In Havana, the boat is docked right downtown next to the Malecon within easy walking distance to the best parts of the city. Considering that privately owned restaurants are just recently making an appearance, the food remains fairly basic. Cubans themselves do not have the disposable income to be able to eat in restaurants so there is not much of a cultural aspect to the restaurant experience. By taking the rest of your meals aboard the ship, where the food is more akin to home, you'll enjoy the best of both worlds (be forewarned, however, that even aboard the ship they may run out of certain fresh items as they're constrained by ingredients available to them in the Cuban markets). INTERNAL FLIGHTS Your flights will be operated by a licensed charter company from Miami International Airport to Havana's Jose Marti International Airport or Santa Clara Airport and return. Flight times are issued only around 2-3 weeks prior to departure. From past experience, most flights depart Miami early morning and check-in to Miami International Airport may be at 4:00 am or earlier. Most flights return to Miami International Airport around mid-afternoon or evening. For this reason, we recommend that you spend the night in Miami the night before your trip begins and the night you return to Miami at the end of the trip. The weight limit on all baggage (checked and carry-on) is 44 lbs for Miami/Cuba flights. There is a fee of $20 for checked bags when flying from the US to Cuba. Flight Check-In There is a long check-in process of 3 to 4 hours in advance of flight departures both in Miami and Havana. It takes a bit less time in Santa Clara. This tends to be a tedious process with unexplained delays and little forthcoming information. In fact, more often than not flights are not on time. Anything operating within a 4 hour window of the scheduled time is considered normal. Longer delays are not uncommon. This is unfortunately the reality at this time. At Cuban airports, be prepared for stark waiting room conditions in a transit lounge that tends to run out of food by the early afternoon. There are no vending machines. And as of this time, Group IST is not allowed to have a representative accompany your group into this lounge. For 15 CUC you can gain access to the VIP Lounge which offers you an air conditioned room, more comfortable chairs, and limited access to free drinks and snacks. Depending on how many people are using this lounge, food and drink may not be available. PASSPORT Each traveler must be in possession of a valid, signed passport that will remain current for at least six months beyond completion of the trip.

6 VISAS At this time visas are required for US citizens traveling to Cuba and Group IST will obtain the necessary Cuban visa on your behalf. As these are official documents, please do not type or copy (scan) anything on the reverse side. Upon receipt of your deposit you will be sent an application with instructions. Each person must complete his/her own application and send it back to us with a copy of your passport. This is MANDATORY for all travelers to Cuba. The visa will be given to you upon your check in at the Miami International airport with the Group IST airport representative. Upon arrival in Cuba you will pass through Cuban immigration and be asked to present your Cuban Visa which will be stamped by an immigration official. Half of your visa will be collected and the remaining half given back to you. This half of your Cuba Visa MUST be kept in your passport and be with you at all times. The second half will be collected at the airport upon departure. MONEY The currency in Cuba is Cuban Pesos, however, you cannot convert dollars to pesos. There is a special currency for tourists called Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUCs). One CUC is worth about.87 cents and money may be exchanged at the airport or on the boat. Upon arrival you will be taken to the Money Exchange counter, if time allows. Be patient as this can be a long and slow process. Please make sure to ask for small denominations for shopping and tipping. The exchange places tend to give you large bills which you rarely need and are difficult to break along the way. There are places to convert money besides on the boat and the Tour Director and Guide can help you find them. Availability of currency to exchange at hotels cannot be guaranteed. Credit cards are not accepted at this time in Cuba. However, the following credit cards are accepted on board the ship (American Express, Visa & MasterCard) which cover any shipboard charges i.e. drinks and even gratuities to the crew, but not the Program Director or your local guides. The official currency onboard is Euro and your card will be debited in Euro and then the Dollar equivalent. You may pay with cash onboard in dollars or euros. CUC s are not accepted onboard. It is not recommended to bring Traveler s Checks as they can only be cashed in a very few specific hotels in Havana. Traveler s checks are also not insured in Cuba. Please note new credit cards with flat numbers are not accepted on board Variety Cruises vessels.

7 TIPPING Tipping is completely discretionary, however guests have asked for a suggested guideline, which is as follows, per trip member: Crew members and ship staff (to be distributed by the Hotel/Ship Manager): $90-$120. Tipping for boat crew can be done in US dollars, Euros, or by credit card. Program Manager/Cruise Director (the Group IST team handling logistics and programming): a total of $60-$70. Please tip in CUCs. Local Guide: $40-$50, can be in US dollars, Euros, or CUCs. Bus drivers and restaurant staff: Approximately $35-$40 can be in US dollars. The cruise director will collect money during the orientation meetig at the beginning of the cruise. SPECIAL DIETS We will do our best to accommodate special dietary needs, however, please keep in mind that certain cultural differences or limitations due to logistics can make it extremely difficult and at times impossible to accommodate dietary restrictions. Please inform us at least eight weeks before your trip if you have a restricted diet. It is important to bring a flexible attitude and supplemental snacks. COMMUNICATIONS Cuba is in the US Eastern Standard Time and 3 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time. Please be aware that there is no internet or cell phone service on board while the boat is in Cuban waters. There are some internet cafes on land and your cruise manager can let you know where you can access the internet if needed. The boat is equipped with radio which will be used in the case of emergencies only. An unlocked quad band GSM cell phone will work in Cuba on land. You will need to buy a SIM card at 30 CUC and time cards are sold in 10 CUC amounts. Cell phones can be rented in Cuba but are in very short supply. CUBACEL has offices at Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 at the Jose Marti Airport. Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T have reported cell phone agreements in Cuba. We advise that you call your carrier for up-to-date information. There is direct dialing between the US and Cuba. Cuba's country-code is 53; Havana's city-code is 7. Postal service between the US and Cuba takes 6 weeks or more. ELECTRICITY The boat is on a 220 volt electrical system. You will need a converter for your electronics. However, digital devices typically can adjust to either voltage (220 as in Europe vs 110 as in US), so you will only need an appropriate plug adapter for those items. There is one US-style plug in each cabin.

8 Medical Information The following recommendations should be used as a guideline only; consult your physician for medical advice. It is vital that you let Wilderness Travel know of any medical problems, allergies, or physical limitations you may have. Please fill out and return the personal medical questionnaire, and feel free to consult us if you have any questions about your ability to undertake this particular trip. Wilderness Travel is not a medical facility and has no expertise or responsibility regarding what medications or inoculations you and your physician decide are necessary for your safe participation in the trip. Traveler's health information is available from the Centers for Disease Control. Medical travel products are available from Travel Health Medicine and from Magellan's Travel Supplies. INOCULATIONS No vaccinations are required for entry into Cuba or return to the USA, however we suggest you check with your local physician or the Center for Disease Control at FITNESS For safety reasons, passengers with mobility issues of any kind must advise of their condition before travel. Although getting on and off the ship is not difficult, there are stairs and when visiting beach areas, tenders are used and involve climbing down and up a small ladder. MEDICAL SERVICES AND EVACUATION The Cuban government requires all travelers to Cuba to have medical insurance under an approved plan. This is included with your air package.

9 Helpful Information SHOPPING Most of the shops you will find in Cuba are state run where prices are fixed. You may stumble across an open-air or craft market. What you will find is local art whether on the streets of Havana or in a local gallery. You must receive a receipt or export permit to show Cuban customs, provided the artwork was purchased at an official sales outlet. You will need to have Cuban CUCs for these purchases. Small bills are suggested. It is suggested that you bring about $50-$100 a day for spending. If you plan to purchase a lot of art, for example, the amount will be different. If not, you will most likely not spend that amount as all meals are included. Currently, licensed US travelers are allowed to bring back from Cuba $400 of merchandise of which $100 can be tobacco/alcohol. This amount is subject to change.

10 PHOTOGRAPHY For most people, a compact digital camera or even a cell phone with a fixed zoom lens works well, and newer point-and-shoots and phones can produce excellent quality pictures. For higher quality images, especially for printing, and the ability to use longer telephoto lenses for closer wildlife pictures, a digital SLR is well worthwhile, though heavier. Lenses of 200mm or 300mm, with image stabilization, allow you to hand-hold the camera with minimal camera shake. A polarizing filter is useful, especially to reduce reflection on water surfaces and to deepen the blue of the sky. Pack your equipment well and use plastic bags to protect it from dust or moisture. Bring wipes and a dust blower to keep your lenses clean. Most digital cameras and phones now have video options, and you may even want to consider bringing a GoPro. Always practice ahead of time with new equipment and bring your manual with you. You may want to consider insuring your equipment. Camera equipment is available for rent from Borrow Lenses with a 10% discount offered to Wilderness Travel clients. We recommend bringing at least two large capacity memory cards. If you take a lot of pictures and save them at a high resolution, it can be helpful to bring a digital storage unit or laptop so you can download your pictures and free up your memory cards for reuse on a regular basis. Bring a backup battery or set of batteries so one is always charged and ready to use, and bring your battery charger (and appropriate plug adapter). If your camera uses replaceable batteries, bring spares with you. Note: for trips where you may be away from power sources for multiple days, consider looking into a solar-powered battery charger. When taking pictures of local people, be aware of cultural considerations. Heed your Trip Leader s guidelines for what is appropriate, and always use gestures or simple phrases to ask permission. If people do not wish to be photographed, please honor their requests. We urge travelers to avoid giving money in exchange for photo opportunities, which only makes it harder for other travelers to take pictures and to have a meaningful personal interaction with local people. We find that our clients create wonderful images that really define the unique aspects of our adventures. We would love to make use of your images in our marketing materials and our photoblog, and request that you send us a small sample of your best images and a simple giving us permission to use the photos. Please your photos to wtphotoblog@gmail.com. We look forward to receiving them! BEING A CONSIDERATE TRAVELER Please show respect for the cultures we are visiting by observing local customs concerning appropriate dress, particularly in sacred places. Your cruise director is always available to answer any questions that you may have regarding this. If it is necessary to use a cell phone during the trip, please do so privately. Smoking is rarely an issue these days, but if you do smoke, please do so only away from the group.

11 WEATHER The Cuban climate is mild and subtropical similar to Florida. Average Fahrenheit temperatures are as follows: December January February March April Air Temperature (high) Air Temperature (low) Sea Temperature Average # of rainy days Depending on the time of year if can be hot with strong sunshine so a hat and good sunscreen are highly recommended as well as an umbrella for sudden rain showers typical to the Caribbean climate. READING LIST A recommended reading list can be found at Longitude Books.

12 Packing List We suggest you travel light as space is limited in your cabin. There is a closet and dresser for your personal items and most bags will fit under the bed for storage. Soft bags are more practical than hard suitcases. A good pair of walking shoes or sneakers are essential since there is walking when sightseeing and often on cobblestone streets. Many items are not as available as we are used to, and as a result we recommend that you bring what you need and not assume you will find it locally. Recommended packing items: Walking shoes Sun hat Sunglasses Extra pair prescription glasses and/or contacts and contact solution Sunblock Swimsuit, cover up, water shoes Razor, shaving cream Insect repellent Toothpaste Light rain jacket and/or umbrella Small first aid kit with bandages, creams and ointments Tissues or toilet paper for public restrooms Hand sanitizer or Handi wipes Over-the-counter medicine, such as pain relievers, cold medicines and stomach remedies Always carry your travel document, medication, jewelry, cach, traveler's checks, keys and other valuables in your hand luggage. Items such as these should NEVER be packed in luggage that you plan to check in. Be sure not to pack sharp items in your hand luggage. Pack things such as scissors, tweezers, nail clippers, pocketknives or knitting needles in your checked luggage. Jewelry, money, documents etc, should be deposited in the mini-safe in your cabin. The ship and its personnel bear no responsibility for valuables kept by passengers. THE ESSENTIALS Air tickets (or E-tickets) Passport Visa Certificate of Travel One other picture ID, such as a driver's license Expense money

13 WT GEAR STORE To help you prepare for your next WT adventure, we've put together a great collection of top brands including Patagonia, Outdoor Research, Eagle Creek, and more at our WT Gear Store. LUGGAGE There is no weight limit on items brought into Cuba for your personal use during your visit. Likewise, there is no weight limit for the boat. However, the airlines will collect overweight charges, typically $1- $2 per pound from Miami if your luggage weighs over 44 lb total. This per-person limit is the combined weight of your checked luggage and your carry-on luggage. LAUNDRY There is laundry service available on board the vessel however it is very limited. A price list is available onboard. Dry cleaning is not available. CLOTHING Dress onboard is casual, however it is customary for men to wear long pants for dinner. Ladies may want to dress up a bit for the Captain's Dinner, and men may want to bring a sports jacket for this evening (but not required). A bathing suit and cover up for swimming and a sun hat are also recommended. EQUIPMENT Snorkeling equipment masks, snorkel, and fins are available on the boat. If you have your own equipment you would prefer to use, you are welcome to bring it along. Good quality equipment is essential to enjoyable snorkeling. Tip: Make sure your mask doesn t leak when you have a huge grin on your face (it can be a real problem for happy swimmers!). And we recommend full-foot, closed-heel snorkel fins. They are more comfortable, lighter, and smaller, which makes them easier to pack. Snorkel bag to help keep your snorkel gear organized aboard the tenders. A large mesh bag is simple, inexpensive and highly effective. Small dry bag for use on the tenders to hold any personal gear, cameras, spare clothes, windbreaker, etc. Darlexx or lycra suite for sun protection Mask defog drops. A small bottle of drops will help keep your mask from fogging up. Synthetic chamois type of towel. Great to carry on the tenders, they are compact, durable, and will allow you to dry yourself off quickly after you get out of the water, which will help you to stay warm. They are also useful to wipe your hands before handling your camera. Beach towels will be provided by the boat. Good quality sunglasses with strap. A spare pair is invaluable if your first pair gets lost. Polarized sunglasses are highly recommended. Waterproof biodegradable sunscreen SPF #30 or higher. The sun can be very intense. Be sure to bring enough. Zinc oxide and/or lip balm with sunscreen protect lips and nostrils is also recommended. Toiletries kit and soap. Each cabin s bathroom comes complete with soap, shampoo, and conditioner dispensers, and there are basics available aboard the vessel. You can also leave your hair drier at home, as those are provided as well.

14 PERSONAL FIRST AID SUPPLIES Every trip member should bring a small kit for personal use. Your own experience will influence your choices. Aspirin, ibuprofen, or Tylenol for muscle pain or headache, Tylenol PM for sleeping Topical antibiotic (such as Neosporin) for cuts, bites, or sores Anti-seasickness medication; some travelers find medication such as Dramamine or a scopolamine patch helpful. Please contact your doctor to discuss which option is right for you. Insect repellent. Repellents with DEET are recommended. DEET content of about percent is ideal (higher DEET content is not recommended). Wipe DEET off your hands before touching plastic surfaces (such as binoculars) because it can damage plastic. Aerosol repellents are useful for spraying on clothes. Blister kit. Look for the long-lasting gel-type bandages that you can apply directly on blisters, such as Band-Aid Advanced Healing Bandages or Curad Gel Multi-Day Bandages. Liquid band-aids, such as New-Skin, are useful because they dry rapidly to form a tough protective cover over a blister. Anti-bacterial gel for hand washing Post-insect bite cream (antihistamine), cortisone cream, antihistamine such as Benadryl for jellyfish stings Imodium for diarrhea. If you wish to bring an antibiotic for diarrhea prophylaxis, please consult your physician. Prescription medications properly labeled Spare contact lenses or spare pair of prescription glasses Eardrops to prevent swimmer s ear or ear infections from snorkeling OPTIONAL ITEMS Water bottle to take on the tenders Reading and writing material, sewing and repair kit, clothes pins Binoculars. If you are planning to purchase binoculars, visit eagleoptics.com for comparison of all major brands, from Nikon to Swarovski. Camera, still or video, spare batteries, spare flash cards Waterproof camera Travel clock Money belt or neck pouch. While in the city, always carry your passport, credit cards, and cash with you in a money belt or neck pouch tucked down inside your shirt or blouse. Revised: December 12, 2017