Cuba Travel Ban Enforced by Trump Administration

The Trump administration on Tuesday June 4, 2019 ended the most popular forms of U.S. travel to Cuba, banning cruise ships and a heavily used category of educational travel in an attempt to cut off cash to the island’s communist government.

Cruise travel from the U.S. to Cuba began in May 2016 during President Barack Obama’s opening with the island. It has become the most popular form of U.S. leisure travel to the island, bringing 142,721 people in the first four months of the year, a more than 300% increase over the same period last year. For travelers confused about the thicket of federal regulations governing travel to Cuba, cruises offered a simple, one-stop, guaranteed-legal way to travel.

That now appears to be over. Cruise ships as well as recreational and pleasure vessels are prohibited from departing the U.S. on temporary sojourn to Cuba effective tomorrow, June 5, 2019.

The new restrictions are part of a broader effort by the administration of President Donald Trump to roll back the Obama-era efforts to restore normal relations between the United States and Cuba, which drew sharp criticism from the more hard-line elements of the Cuban American community and their allies in Congress.

Beginning on Wednesday, the United States will not permit group educational and cultural trips known as “people to people” trips to the island unless they were booked before June 5, the Treasury Department said in a statement. Nor will it allow cruises, private yachts or fishing vessels to stop in Cuba. Group people-to-people trips have been used by thousands of American visitors.

The move left tour companies and cruise lines assessing the impact and how they might have to modify their operations in Cuba. The federal government has long restricted travel to Cuba, with the rules changing from one presidential administration to the next. Under the changes introduced by the Obama administration, Americans in 2016 were able visit either in groups or individually, as long as they fell into one of 12 categories, including “people-to-people” visits and “support for the Cuban people” trips, the two most popular.

Under “support for the Cuban people” category, individuals can travel to Cuba, but they must have an itinerary filled with meetings and visits with local business owners, artists or others. They must plan on participating in local activities and staying in a private home, instead of a hotel.

Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort to remain open

Back in February I wrote that Sandals Resort International was closing its Beaches Turks & Caicos resort during certain dates through 2021, and beyond. In a letter sent out by Sandals in January to travel agents, indicated that the popular Turks and Caicos hotel resort would close from September 7, 2020 to October 22, 2020, and for an indefinite period starting in January 2021.

Well now I am happy to report good news, that those plans have officially been scrapped. In a recent email sent to agents informing them that the impending closure being considered has been rescinded and will no longer take effect. According to the email, however, the resort will be closed from Sept. 3 to Oct. 14, 2019 but that closure is for normal, seasonal upgrades.

The 758 room resort, is the largest in Turks & Caicos’ chain of luxury resorts. Sandals Resort International has assured that Beaches Turks & Caicos will always be entirely operational with its complete range of services, full staff and the comprehensive resort amenities that has become their trademark.

The Turks and Caicos is rapidly gaining global recognition as having some of the finest beaches in the world, and there’s little wonder why as incredible coasts are found on all of our islands. Out of all the islands in the Turks and Caicos, Providenciales takes the lead in both the selection of luxury resorts, and in top beaches.

If you’re unfamiliar with Turks and Caicos, these two island groups are located in the North Atlantic Ocean, just southeast of the Bahamas. Turks and Caicos are made up of eight main islands and a multitude of smaller islands. Because of their location, Turks and Caicos stays warm and tropical all year round, making them a perfect destination spot if you’re looking to escape the cold winter months.

What could possibly be more picture perfect than an island getaway, filled to the brim with exquisite, white sand beaches and beautiful turquoise waters? There’s plenty of places to go when you’re seeking a tropical island vacation, but if you’re looking for something unique and one of a kind, turn your signs onto the tropical Turks and Caicos Islands.

Now that you’re hooked on the idea of these islands, you’re probably wondering where to start the search or the perfect place to stay. Turks and Caicos is a tourist hot spot, and there’s plenty of hotels and resorts that are ready to cater to whatever you’re looking for in terms of your perfect vacation. Immerse yourself in the culture, or find a quiet private island to spend your time recuperating from a hard year. Take a romantic getaway or plan something for the whole family to enjoy! Whatever you’re looking for, the Turks and Caicos Islands will be able to deliver.

Welcome to a new age of cruising-Celebrity Edge

On April 28, 2019, TeamTullyTravel set sail on a 15-day transatlantic cruise (the very first one for this ship with passengers) on the newest concept of sailing vessels that just may revolutionize the way new cruise ships are designed and built. Celebrity’s newest endeavor with the Edge, hopes it will transform the way you see the world.

The Iconic Edge

With a name that reflects its ambitious design, Celebrity Edge is the ship designed to leave the future behind. Every facet of this new vessel is dramatically different from any other ship at sea. And, I guess, is boldly intentional. As soon as you step foot on board, it’s an instant - WOW! You can see that this ship is nothing like anything you have sailed in the past. You truly get the feeling the Edge was built with a desire to connect more deeply with the world we live in; with the destinations the ship would visit; the oceans it would sail and the nature that would surround the ship. To these points all I can say is, well done Celebrity, you nailed it.

There are so many new concepts and aspects on this ship, it would be hard to cover all of them in a single article. Celebrity Edge is not for the first time cruiser. It is an upscale ship on an above average price structure for people who have sailed before and want to experience a difference.

The Staterooms

Most of the staterooms on the ship are verandas, suites, and large scale suites Celebrity calls Iconic Suites. If you like to cruise in an interior room, this is not your ship. The rooms are very well appointed, with a color scheme that makes you feel right at home, ample storage and drawer space, walk in shower in a bathroom two people can actually function, and a 55” TV mounted on the wall opposite the bed. But the newest feature on the Edge is the infinity veranda. If you are expecting your typical veranda balcony, you will be surprised with this feature.

The balcony merges seamlessly with the room. A simple press of a button turns the veranda into a self-contained space, as the top window opens the balcony directly onto the ocean. The nice thing about this concept is that the furniture stays clean, you have more privacy as your neighbors can’t eavesdrop and you are not blown away with the wind. Sitting there gives a relaxing view on the world as the ship cruises to your next port.

The Grand Plaza

The hub of the ships activity is the Grand Plaza a multidimensional, transformational space at the center of the ship. A magnificent three-story chandelier and an undulating bar are the centerpieces of this vast area. As you stand there and look around, you are hit with a cacophony of sound. You look around and wonder where all of this sound is all coming from and you quickly realize it is your fellow passengers giving their “oohs and ahhs.

The cavernous plaza space is inspired by Italian piazzas and connects to the six specialty dining venues on board ship. It’s a great place to enjoy cocktails, listen to live music, have a specialty coffee and pastry at the Grand Plaza Cafe or just relax and “people watch.”

The Magic Carpet

The Magic Carpet, the world’s first ship-climbing platform and the showpiece of Celebrity Edge’s outward facing vision. The orange platform, the size of a tennis court, is located mid-ship on the starboard side, repositions vertically and stops at four different decks, transforming it into a unique venue at each stop. It is used for cocktails at sunset, outdoor dining, private parties or just sitting on comfortable chairs looking at the world as the ship cruises.

Are You Hungry?

So if you hungry, and who isn’t on a cruise, you always have someplace you can feed your appetite. Along with the six specialty restaurants there are four main dining rooms that allow you to have a wonderful dining experience. Cyprus is a nod to Greek heritage with a Mediterranean menu; Tuscan is a take on the Italian favorite, Tuscan Grille. Normandie features French cuisine in an upscale space with a Parisian-inspired vibe, and Cosmopolitan is a new American theme straight out of New York. If those ten places aren’t enough for you, then there is always the buffet in the Oceanview Cafe on the fourteenth deck. A large area where there is so much to choose from, you eventually have to stop grazing and select something, otherwise you will go hungry.

In addition to that you have Mast Grill a hamburger bar and the pizza bar at the rear of the ship, the Juice Bar for the light eaters or the Eden Bar for a nice lunch or quick snack. If you still haven’t had enough, you better make room for desserts. Whoo Nelly, are there desserts. If you are a procrastinator, you will be in trouble. So many great items to choose from and they change each day. Oh, did I forget to mention the ice cream and gelato bar too? I guarantee you will not go hungry on your cruise.

The Art

The one feature that really struck me the most on this fabulous ship was the art. It is abundant and varied in its ever-changing abstracts, 20th-century Modernists, and a curation of contemporaries that adorn the decks. In short, everywhere your eyes gaze, you are introduced to new concepts, abstracts, textures, format and bountiful color from all over the world. It is truly magnificent.

So if you are looking for a change, a new era in the way you cruise and see the world, welcome to Celebrity Edge. If you want to be more connected to the sea, more open to the world, this is your ship. Celebrity Edge has set a new standard in ship design that presents first-at-sea features that transform the status quo of cruise ship silhouettes. With predictability stripped away, unconventional exterior lines and a distinct daring design that sparks intrigue about the experience waiting for you on board.

So until we sail again....