Company to Tour Cuba via Yacht

Group IST, a new entrant in the people-to-people programs from the U.S. to Cuba, is offering a twist on an eight-day island tour. Travelers, joined by Cuban specialists and an interpreter, explore the western part of Cuba aboard the megayacht S/C Panorama.

U.S. regulations do not permit people-to-people travel to Cuba by sea, but once in Cuba, travelers may travel between destinations by boat and may use the vessel while engaged in approved activities.

The program includes excursions to museums, art galleries, nature preserves, a sea turtle breeding center, schools and community and religious centers in Havana, Cayo Largo, Trinidad and Cienfuegos. The yacht accommodates up to 46 passengers, but maximum tour size for Group IST is 25.

The Havana-Cienfuegos tour is priced from $4,490 to $5,799, depending upon the sailing date and cabin category. The price includes seven nights on the yacht, all meals and excursions. Saturday departures run from Nov. 29 through April 18, 2015.

Both Abercrombie & Kent and Friendly Planet Travel recently received two-year license renewals from the Office of Foreign Assets Control. A&K will offer its nine-night Cuba: People to People program with departures from Oct. 28 through Dec. 15, 2015, priced from $5,695.

Friendly Planet offers three programs to Cuba with departures through April 2015. Tours are priced from $2,399 for the five-night Discover Havana tour, from $3,499 for the eight-night Colors of Cuba program and from $2,759 for the six-night Highlights of Havana & Varadero itinerary.

Source: Travel Weekly