Cuban cigars?

[tvguy]

US Customs changed the rules regarding import of cubans last year;you may now bring back $450 worth of Cubans with you from a cruise legally.

No, this is incorrect. The embargo on EVERYTHING from Cuba remains in place. Even traveling to Cuba, technically, is illegal, although many Americans travel to Mexico and Central America, then fly into Cuba.

 

[woody73]

For those who will be in Europe on a Med cruise, you can buy Cuban cigars in Europe. I bought some at a department store in London.

Woody

 

[EAP'sDAD]

You can buy and enjoy Cuban cigars legally in almost any other country excluding the US.

 

[tvguy]

For those who will be in Europe on a Med cruise, you can buy Cuban cigars in Europe. I bought some at a department store in London.

Woody

However, you still can not legally bring them into the U.S.

 

[Frankiesmom]

You are right. We were told it was ok on our last cruise;we bought some maybe $100 worth-4 or 5 I can't remember-and we claimed them on the customs form. We had no problem;we didn't specify they were cubans though. Thanks for the link.

 

[awoltoday]

I just found this document on the US Treasury web site. Apparently, as US Citizens we are not allowed to buy the Cigars at all...

from http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/cuba/ccigar2.pdf (emphasis is mine)

The question is often asked whether United States citizens or permanent resident aliens of the United States may legally purchase Cuban origin goods, including tobacco and alcohol products, in a third country for personal use outside the United States. The answer is no. The Regulations prohibit persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United States from purchasing, transporting, importing, or otherwise dealing in or engaging in any transactions with respect to any merchandise outside the United States if such merchandise (1) is of Cuban origin; or (2) is or 2 has been located in or transported from or through Cuba; or (3) is made or derived in whole or in part of any article which is the growth, produce or manufacture of Cuba. Thus, in the case of cigars, the prohibition extends to cigars manufactured in Cuba and sold in a third country and to cigars manufactured in a third country from tobacco grown in Cuba.

Hopefully these sanctions will be retracted soon.

 

[tvguy]

Hopefully these sanctions will be retracted soon.

Well, since they have been in effect since 1962, and because of all the turmoil because of Castro's illness, I wouldn't hold my breath on them being retracted anytime soon.

 

[dursin]

I just found this document on the US Treasury web site. Apparently, as US Citizens we are not allowed to buy the Cigars at all...

from http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/cuba/ccigar2.pdf (emphasis is mine)


Hopefully these sanctions will be retracted soon.

That's ridiculous...like they have any say so or authority which would prevent you from buying a Cuban cigar and enjoying it on the beach in St. Martin, Grand Caymen or even on your Verandah. I don't even smoke cigars and after reading that 'rule', I may buy one anyway!

 

[Stein]

It is true that you are breaking federal law by even buying one, but I have never heard of it being enforced.

I have had several co-workers busted at the border trying to bring some home.

For the first offense, they typically just take them away, but they mark your passport so that every time you reenter the US from then on, you automatically go to secondary.

After smoking more than one Cuban, I can safely say that Cuban cigars are very similar to cigars from any other country in that some are excellent and some are below average. The top cigars from Cuba can compete or beat the top cigars of the DR or anywhere else, but to say that all Cuban cigars are great is just not true.

Overall, the embargo makes them much, much more popular to Americans than they would be otherwise.

 

[snelsonbrown]

I would like to add something about buying cigars anywhere - since I grew up in a family that were cuban cigar rollers - I was taught at an early age that the one thing you had to watch for was the aging of a cigar regardless if it was cuban etc - my son Michael brought Norm back a "cuban" cigar back from the Bahamas and not only was it a ''cast off'' but also very wormy - you have to take the time to inspect the cigars for pin size holes and if you see any, put it back ASAP - unfortunalty a lot of times, if these holes are noted by the seller, they will put more leaves on the area that suffer these holes to disguise the fact, they are not worth the monies - anyhow just a little tidbit to share.
always
Shirley

 

[off to neverland]

Well, I may just have to buy a Cuban and smoke it, even though I never smoke. This ban on Cuba and Castro is just ridiculous, and haven't we outgrown it yet? And isn't it a violation of our rights to be told what we may or may not buy?

It just irks me...................... I'm an American living in canada, and watch all my Canadian friends fly off to these fabulous resorts in Cuba, where I'm "NOT ALLOWED" to go.

Grrrr............

 

[woody73]

. . . And isn't it a violation of our rights to be told what we may or may not buy?

You go girl!

Woody

 

[seashells]

You may not be allowed to go as per U.S. regulations, but I believe you can book a ticket and fly there from Canada. Cuba does not stamp passports.

 

[Amlee]

I was on a flight with an American man who was flying to Jamaica and then on to Cuba. I was under the impression that we Americans couldn't enter Cuba. He said he would fly to Jamaica and then catch a flight to Cuba. Being the person I am, I was like why? He said he was going in and buying land. : He said that it wouldn't always be that way and one of these days he would have the best ocean front property in the Gulf.

 

[seashells]

I was under the impression that we Americans couldn't enter Cuba.

I believe its U.S. policies that has decided you cant go there. not Cuba.

 

[tvguy]

Well, I may just have to buy a Cuban and smoke it, even though I never smoke. This ban on Cuba and Castro is just ridiculous, and haven't we outgrown it yet? And isn't it a violation of our rights to be told what we may or may not buy?

It just irks me...................... I'm an American living in canada, and watch all my Canadian friends fly off to these fabulous resorts in Cuba, where I'm "NOT ALLOWED" to go.

Grrrr............

It is interesting over the last 44 years that the ban has been in place that about the only thing our elected officials of various political parties can agree on is the embargo.

I'm not sure why anyone would want to to to Cuba, pick your closest slum and you'll get the idea.
I had a chance to travel in Russia in 1976 while I was in college, It was interesting, EVERYONE had a job, including the 60 year old women we saw cutting the grass in a city park with sissors. Nobody had lawnmowers then.

 

[dursin]

It is interesting...we can't buy a cigar from cuba, but we buy the majority of our oil from countries that were involved in 9/11 or at the very least hate America and in some instances encourage terrorism. We also buy our VCR's, DVD players, Camcorders, Playstations, etc... from the country that bombed Pearl Harbor.

 

[Par8hed]

I'm not sure why anyone would want to to to Cuba, pick your closest slum and you'll get the idea. .

I don't know...some of these "slums" look bearable for a few days.

www.1click2cuba.com

 

[off to neverland]

I believe the Magic sails right by Cuba on its Costa Maya cruises, and that is a sea day. I think it would be great if it could stop there for a port call.

Oh well. I am not willing (or maybe I'm just too scared ) to "break the law" (as stupid as I think it is) and go to Cuba as an American. I'd love to go, though, and mostly because I'm not "supposed" to -- because of a ridiculous tradition that has NO bearing on today's foreign policy.