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avb3 · 22-10-2013, 07:50

For the non USA cruisers, this is great news. For those USA cruisers who somehow are able to go to Cuba, it is also great news.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-24627620

**atoll** · 22-10-2013, 08:42

nothing like a good healthy black market for the local currency! if you have dollars!
but untill they use only the greenback,this could back fire badly,even if slightly fairer for the populace using the covertable peso.

goboatingnow · 22-10-2013, 09:06

it may be good news for cruisers, though I dont see how it is, it may be good news for the locals, but it could years to introduce and potentially lead to inflation for ordinary cubans.

dave

**atoll** · 22-10-2013, 09:13

hopefully the cubans will discover oil soon!
then it will really be a cruisers paradise,cheap fuel,cheap booze,cheap cigars and a rampant black market for dollars,making every thing else cheap as well..............

goboatingnow · 22-10-2013, 09:48

Quote:

then it will really be a cruisers paradise,cheap fuel,cheap booze,cheap cigars and a rampant black market for dollars,making every thing else cheap as well..............

yeah and then the westerners arrive, result , cruiser hell hole, dear booze, dear marinas, etc etc. but hey the marinas get "nicer" and medallion man appears.....

dave

**atoll** · 22-10-2013, 10:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

yeah and then the westerners arrive, result , cruiser hell hole, dear booze, dear marinas, etc etc. but hey the marinas get "nicer" and medallion man appears.....

dave

madagasgar suddenly sounds a lot more appealing.........perhaps we can use cuba as a decoy instead

goboatingnow · 22-10-2013, 10:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by atoll

madagasgar suddenly sounds a lot more appealing.........perhaps we can use cuba as a decoy instead

not a bad idea

HEY EVERYONE, go visit Cuba, leave the others places alone ( for me, an Atoll)

dave

SabreKai · 22-10-2013, 11:34

I'll never forget my first trip to Cuba. Got in late because of problems with the baggage carousel, and got to the hotel after the dining room closed. We talked them into feeding us, and after the meal I put out a tip. Gave the waiter the smallest note I had, a 10CUC tip.

The entire dining staff was on us like white on rice for the rest of the trip. Super fabulous service, all we had to do was glance at the waiters and they were there. They put a reserved sign on our table. As soon as they saw us walking towards the dining room, the drinks were there by the time we got there. Ask the chef for something a bit out of the ordinary, and they made it up on the spot.

Turned out I'd tipped the fellow a months pay.

When I flew out, I handed out all my remaining CUCs and all the stuff I'd brought with me. I'll be going back there for certain.

Lake-Effect · 22-10-2013, 12:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by SabreKai

I'll never forget my first trip to Cuba. Got in late because of problems with the baggage carousel, and got to the hotel after the dining room closed. We talked them into feeding us, and after the meal I put out a tip. Gave the waiter the smallest note I had, a 10CUC tip.

The entire dining staff was on us like white on rice for the rest of the trip. Super fabulous service, all we had to do was glance at the waiters and they were there. They put a reserved sign on our table. As soon as they saw us walking towards the dining room, the drinks were there by the time we got there. Ask the chef for something a bit out of the ordinary, and they made it up on the spot.

Turned out I'd tipped the fellow a months pay.

When I flew out, I handed out all my remaining CUCs and all the stuff I'd brought with me. I'll be going back there for certain.

I have friends with a similar experience.

It's not like the Cubans will do anything for money... they're fairly well educated as a rule and have pride in their country, but take the typical Caribbean economic considerations, add to that a command-economy, and a 50+ year-old embargo from a close neighbour... and it makes for tough times. A decent tip or other consideration is a pittance for us, but a big deal for them.

Elimination of the two-currency system will help spread the tourist income a bit. When Uncle Fidel finally kicks, watch for big changes.

Blue Stocking · 22-10-2013, 13:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

yeah and then the westerners arrive, result , cruiser hell hole, dear booze, dear marinas, etc etc. but hey the marinas get "nicer" and medallion man appears.....

dave

--the way it was before Castro. (substitute marinas for anything buyable)

hellosailor · 22-10-2013, 14:06

Well, they could just ditch the local scrip and start honoring Polynesian Francs. That would teach the US a good lesson in economic interests, too. (WEG)

rognvald · 24-10-2013, 14:38

I think Raul is preparing for the onslaught of American tourism and dollars as they prepare to re-establish relations with the US. There's no softening of the heart with the brutal Castros'. They're broke. Communism is broke. They need the money. And the thousands of decent Cubans who were forced to leave their homeland, their families, their homes, their businesses and their lives and emigrate to the US . . . what do they get?

goboatingnow · 24-10-2013, 14:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by rognvald

And the thousands of decent Cubans who were forced to leave their homeland, their families, their homes, their businesses and their lives and emigrate to the US . . . what do they get?

Well.. Supersized fast food meals And the chance to vote for rand Paul in 2016?