contents BEFORE YOU GO ON THE GROUND

Transcription

1 cuba

2 KNOW BEFORE YOU GO 2 contents BEFORE YOU GO Passport & Visa Information... 3 US Travel Affidavit (for US Citizens)... 4 Cuban Visa... 5 Health And Wellness... 5 Insurance... 5 Donations... 5 Weather & Attire... 6 Suggested Packing List... 6 Luggage... 6 ON THE GROUND Water...7 Personal Items...7 Photography...7 Money... 8 Tipping... 8 Shore Excursions... 9 What You Can Bring Back... 9

3 KNOW BEFORE YOU GO PASSPORT & VISA INFORMATION 3 before you go Passport & Visa Information The following documentation is required for Americans traveling to Cuba: A valid US passport expiring no less than six (6) months from your scheduled departure date. A completed US Travel Affidavit. If completed electronically, we recommend that you print a copy and bring it with you. You can complete this online by logging into your account in Journey Planner. Please be sure to complete your affidavit which you can find on Fathom.org under Already Booked prior to embarkation in Miami. If you have not yet received this form via , please contact our customer service team at or you can complete an affidavit upon check-in. For details, see the US Travel Affidavit section. A Cuban-issued Tourist Visa. This will be provided to you by Fathom the on day of sailing at a cost of $75. Cuban Medical Insurance. This has been coordinated for you through Fathom and is included in the cost of your cruise. For non-cuban-born travelers participating in Fathomguided or self-guided people-to-people cultural exchange activities, the only document you must bring is your passport. Fathom will coordinate the rest. Cuban-Born Travelers The following is required for people who are Cuban-born or pursuing other authorized activities: If you are a Cuban-born or if you intend to travel under a separately authorized activity (eg media, business meetings or family visit), you will need additional passport/visa documentation. cuba.html FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM AT Requirements for Non- Americans Traveling to Cuba: For travelers holding non-us passports, please check with your respective consulate for up-to-date visa requirements. en/country/cuba.html

4 KNOW BEFORE YOU GO US TRAVEL AFFIDAVIT 4 before you go US Travel Affidavit In order to comply with US regulations regarding travel to Cuba, each traveler on the booking reservation must complete and submit a travel affidavit setting out the category of permitted travel under which he/she is traveling to Cuba prior to embarkation. You can access and complete your affidavit through your Journey Planner account. Please note that all travelers even minors (whose guardians may complete it on their behalf ) must complete an affidavit prior to disembarkation in Cuba. Travelers who do not have complete affidavits will not be permitted to disembark in Cuba. Most Fathom travelers are traveling pursuant to the exemption allowing for educational activities, otherwise known as People-to-People Exchange programs. US regulations require that all persons who travel to Cuba under the educational exemption for people-to-people (P2P) programs participate in a full-time schedule of such activities. At present, Fathom offers the flexibility for travelers to decide on the type of people-to-people experiences they wish to enjoy. It s up to the individual traveler to decide how adventurous they want to be and how deep into the local culture they want to immerse themselves. The options are: 1. A sponsored People-to-People group program arranged and sponsored by Fathom. With this option, you participate in People-to-People programs arranged and sponsored by Fathom that have been designed to meet current Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regulations. Fathom will retain a record of that participation in the event of an OFAC enquiry. 2. A self-guided People-to-People program arranged individually by the passenger. With this option, you are on your own to schedule and arrange all of your People-to-People exchanges and are responsible for collecting and retaining sufficient supporting documentation/evidence to validate your People-to-People exchanges in the event of OFAC enquiry. You must retain all documentation for five (5) years. 3. A combination of sponsored and self-guided People-to-People programs. With this option, you can choose to join a Fathom full- or half-day program one day and spend another full- of half-day creating meaningful People-to-People exchanges on your own. If you leave during a Fathom program, you ll need to notify your Cuban Guide or Fathom Escort in order for them to document your departure. As with any self-guided option, it is your responsibility to ensure you collect and retain sufficient supporting documentation/evidence to validate your People-to-People exchanges in the event of OFAC enquiry. You must retain all documentation for five (5) years. Upon completion of your affidavit through Journey Planner, you need to retain a copy for your personal records for at least five (5) years. With completion of the affidavit through Journey Planner, Fathom will retain a copy in order to satisfy our record-keeping requirements, too. You ll find your affidavit and more detailed instructions in Journey Planner. We encourage you to complete the affidavit in Journey Planner, but if you have not completed the affidavit prior to travel, you will be able to complete it at check-in.

5 KNOW BEFORE YOU GO CUBAN VISA 5 before you go Cuban Visa If you re traveling under a Tourist Visa, you will be provided with the document when you check in at the terminal. Tourist Visa cards must be completed accurately and prior to your arrival in Cuba. It is important that all information provided on the Tourist Visa card matches the information in your passport. If you lose or incorrectly complete your Tourist Visa, you will be charged $75 for a replacement. If you are traveling under any other form of non-tourist Visa (eg HE-11, Press, Business), you will need to present this documentation to the check-in agent in order to board the ship. It is imperative that you store this visa somewhere safe, as you will be required to present it several times throughout your trip. Upon arrival in the first port in Cuba, an immigration officer will retain the first half of your visa. Upon arrival in the last port, an immigration officer will retain the second half of the visa in exchange for a transit card. Please note that it is your responsibility to keep this document safe. Fathom Travel will not be held liable for lost, stolen or damaged visas, and you will have to pay for your own replacement visa. Health And Wellness When traveling to any destination, it s recommended that you re up to date on routine vaccines (measles, mumps, tetanus (DPT) vaccine, poliovirus vaccine). Check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website and your healthcare provider for any other recommendations and advice. In addition to any prescription medications, you may want to bring a basic kit containing analgesics, tablets for diarrhea, antacids, antihistamines, calamine lotion, sterile gauze, adhesive bandages, insect repellent and sunscreen. The Adonia is equipped with an onboard clinic staffed by a doctor. Insurance In order to make your experience with us as easy and convenient as possible, Fathom Travel will provide the mandatory Cuban medical insurance as part of your travel package. It is your decision as to whether or not to purchase an additional outside policy that covers such items as trip cancellation, major injuries and evacuations. Donations While we appreciate and share your spirit of generosity, we are unable to accept material items for donation at this time. We kindly ask that you do not bring items to donate in Cuba. There are two important reasons for this: 1. We encourage our travelers to devote their time in Cuba to people-to-people connection, meaningful interaction, seeking learning opportunities, and enjoying immersion experiences. 2. There are many regulations that make it difficult or impossible to take items off the ship and into Cuba. Even if you or Fathom staff were able to get items off of the ship, there are logistical complications that would impede their delivery within Cuba. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( World Health Organization

6 KNOW BEFORE YOU GO WEATHER & ATTIRE 6 before you go Weather & Attire Cuba s climate is subtropical with a mean annual temperature of 77 F and average humidity around 78%. Please check the weather forecast before you depart to ensure that you are adequately prepared. There are two distinct seasons: the dry season (November April) and the rainy season (May October). Hurricanes can occur between June and November. Weather conditions closely resemble those found in Southern Florida. We re not big on formality at Fathom, but we do ask that our travelers refrain from wearing swimwear or robes in the ship s interior restaurants, bars and lounge areas. When dining at the Ocean Grill, we encourage you to dress up a bit; smart-casual attire is perfect. You ll find that cotton and other lightweight clothing is best suited to Cuba s climate. We recommend that you pack jeans, cargo shorts, t-shirts, sneakers, flip-flops or walking sandals, a hat and sunglasses. You won t need high heels. (In fact, you may find such shoes to be a hazard on this trip.) Remember that comfort and convenience should dictate your wardrobe choices, and casual clothes are in order for just about every occasion you ll encounter. That said, please note that if you plan on going to one of the tropical Cabarets in Havana, shorts and flip-flops are not permitted. You can purchase entrance to these locations as a separate evening excursion. Please remember to bring appropriate attire. Suggested Packing List Sunscreen Insect repellent Travel umbrella (for sun and rain protection); poncho or lightweight raincoat Toiletries Comfortable walking shoes or sandals Tissues Prescription and over-the-counter drugs for personal use Sunglasses Comfortable lightweight clothing Hat Travel-size first-aid kit Refillable water bottle Hand sanitizer Small battery-powered flashlight Luggage Travelers may bring a maximum of two (2) suitcases. Each case must weigh no more than 50 lbs. These guidelines will enable you to conveniently store your luggage in your cabin. If traveling by air to the ship, please consult your airline s luggage requirements.

7 KNOW BEFORE YOU GO WATER 7 on the ground Water We recommend that you drink only bottled water during your travels throughout Cuba. One bottle of water per person will be available during your excursions on the ground. Additional bottles of water can be purchased both on the ship and on the ground. Personal Items Please note that Fathom Travel is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged items such as jewelry, cameras, laptops, mobile phones, etc. We recommend that you store expensive items and valuables in your cabin s safe when not in use. If you have purchased insurance, please review your policy for information regarding lost, damaged or stolen items, as they may be covered through your insurance provider. Photography Cameras and video recorders are permitted on the island, but please be mindful of your surroundings. Pictures of airports, military installations and government officials/officers should not be photographed. Please respect locations where No Cameras signs are posted. Some locations may impose an additional charge for photography or videography, while others may not allow cameras at all. When cameras are not permitted, your local guide will be sure to let you know prior to exiting the bus. When taking pictures of people, please be mindful to ask for permission in advance and expect to provide a small tip, as this is how many local Cubans earn extra income. Be sure to bring batteries, memory cards, chargers and replacement lenses, as these items may not be readily available.

8 KNOW BEFORE YOU GO MONEY 8 on the ground Money Cuba functions as a dual economy. Its hard currency is the Cuban convertible peso (CUC), which you will exchange and use in Cuba. CUCs come in paper denominations of 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100, and coin denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 cents. Please note that 1 CUC comes in both a coin and paper-money configuration. The monetary unit that is used solely by Cubans is the Cuban peso (CUP), also known as mondea nacional. The easiest way to distinguish between the two is by noting that the CUC features pictures of monuments and memorials, while the CUP features the faces of Cuban national heroes. Be sure to ensure that you receive change in the proper currency when making purchases. You can exchange your money for convertible pesos at airports, hotels, banks, exchange offices (which are subject to daily fluctuations) and each port terminal. $1 US is equivalent to.96 CUC (as of November 2016). There is a 10% surcharge when exchanging US dollars to CUC. Canadian dollars, Euros, UK pounds and Swiss francs do not incur the exchange surcharge. Tipping About Gratuities Fathom does not include gratuities or tips for our on-ground tour guides, drivers, or waiters. Guests should expect to tip their Havanatur guide, location guides, driver, and waiters. Tipping Amounts As always, gratuities are an individual expression of thanks and should be based on the level of service provided. We suggest the following tipping guidelines: National Guide: 5 CUC per person per day Driver: 2 CUC per person per day Lunch Waitstaff: 3 CUC 10% Local (site-specific) Guide: 1 CUC per person Street Performers/Characters: 1 2 CUC per day, per person Bathroom Attendants: 0.50 CUC per person While US travelers are now technically allowed to use US credit and debit cards where they are accepted in Cuba, most US banks have not yet finalized arrangements for credit and debit card transactions in Cuba. Please be sure to check with your card providers to determine if they have established access in Cuba. Remember: in Cuba, cash is king!

9 KNOW BEFORE YOU GO SHORE EXCURSIONS 9 on the ground Shore Excursions Regulations regarding travel to Cuba are changing quickly. Fathom is taking advantage of this by adding new on-the-ground options to support our travelers unique needs and tastes while continuing to provide culturally rich experiences. You can purchase a variety of half-day, full-day and evening shore excursions geared towards your specific interests. These activities are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Space for each is limited. What You Can Bring Back Travelers may purchase and bring back Cuban-origin goods as accompanied baggage for personal use (not for resale or other commercial purposes), including alcohol or tobacco products. There is no limit on the value of the goods that may be brought back from Cuba for personal use. Buen Viaje! We hope you ll enjoy immersing yourself into Cuba s culture respectfully! You can sign up for shore excursions in one of two ways: 1. Sign up through Journey Planner. Book your excursions in advance and guarantee your spot. While it is possible at times to sign up on the ship, excursions fill up quickly so make sure to book yours early to ensure you enjoy your activities of choice. Please ensure that you meet the minimum participation requirements. 2. Visit the Explorers Desk. Check availability and book excursions upon embarkation. The Explorers Desk is located on Deck 4, across from reception. NOTE: When booking a daytime shore excursion that does not meet the full-time schedule requirements of OFAC, it is your responsibility to either: 1. Purchase a second half-day shore excursion (if available). 2. Complete the day as self-guided P2P, taking into account that, with this option, it is your responsibility to collect and retain sufficient supporting documentation/evidence to validate your People-to-People exchanges in the event of OFAC enquiry. You must retain all documentation for five (5) years.