From the Boathouse: This could be the right time to cruise to Cuba
Ahoy and how about a cruise to Cuba?
Carnival Cruise Lines made a big announcement this week that the company will begin operating cruises between U.S. ports and Cuba. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Commerce has approved the voyages and now Carnival is waiting for the government of Cuba’s approval.
The first cruise is expected to be out of Miami aboard the 710-passenger Adonia cruise ship in May 2016. The ship, which was launched in 2001, is only 592 feet in length and she flies the Bermuda flag for registry. Carrying just over 300 crew members, this ship can venture into smaller ports, unlike the larger cruise ships.
It appears that Carnival is creating a new “fathom” brand where passengers volunteer their time in Cuba. Leisure travel to Cuba is still banned, but U.S. travelers who fall under one of 12 approved categories can now legally visit the country without needing a license in advance.
Approved categories include humanitarian projects or family visits on the island. The volunteering of time will meet the requirements for the passengers to visit the island.
Carnival is thinking outside the box with this concept, and it will be interesting to see who will be signing up for these working cruises. The Adonia will be the first ship operating as a fathom and I am certain other ships will not be far behind Carnival’s plan.
Carnival Corporation actually owns numerous cruise lines that include Carnival Cruise Line, Cunard, Holland America, P&O, Costa and Princess. You might remember the fatal voyage of the Costa Concordia that hit a rock and partially sunk off of the Isola del Giglio in January 2012 that gave Carnival a black eye.
However, when you consider the number of cruise ships on the sea daily and the millions of passengers annually, cruising is reasonably safe. I love relaxing on a cruise ship and sipping a martini while others are keeping the boat on course.
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Keep an eye on recreational boaters
Tip of the week: Keep in mind that July 19 is the 80th annual Flight of the Lasers race in Newport Harbor. The harbor will be filled with the racers and other recreational boaters that day. Every boater, whether under sail or power, needs to follow the inland rules of the road and avoid a collision or an allision.
During the summer months, hundreds of sailboats participate in races and classes, and some inexperienced sailors are still learning how to sail. So, everyone should try to give a little extra sea room.
Remember that the harbor is open to everyone and technically no one can block any portion of navigable waters unless granted a special event permit by the United States Coast Guard.
With that said, I have noticed that sailing programs are making an effort to leave room between their buoys and the shore for “sea room” passage. However, in a few instances I have been blocked, not by the racers, but by the committee or spectator boats drifting into the passage lanes.
Boaters cruising through the harbor need to plan ahead and try to avoid a sailing course by cruising outside of the markers. Please watch for the beginner sailor who may lose control and drift in front of your vessel.
If boaters find themselves in the middle of a fleet, then everyone needs to be courteous.
Harsh words do not need to be exchanged, and everybody should stay calm and try to get the vessel through the fleet without tempers flaring. Seamanship and good sportsmanship are what we need to be instilling as boaters, and there will always be another day — I hope.
As always, just keep an eye to the weather for any changes. Please be boat smart and boat safe. Lastly, please boat responsibly and look behind you before you turn the wheel at the helm.
The original boating program, “Boathouse TV & Radio Shows,” has stretched from coast to coast for more than two decades. See the details at https://www.boathousetv.com, https://www.facebook.com/boathouseradio and https://www.twitter.com/boathouseradio.
Safe Voyages!
MIKE WHITEHEAD is a boating columnist for the Daily Pilot. Send marine-related thoughts and story suggestions to mike@boathouse.com or go to https://www.boathousetv.com.