During the Obama administration, the USA relaxed travel restrictions for Americans wishing to visit Cuba. This small trickle of people served an important purpose - it helped our two countries to learn how to trust each other again, and see that cultural exchange benefits both nations. When Trump came into office, the limited number of cruises to Cuba stopped, and many passengers who booked these trips cancelled their mini vacations.
I'm one of those people who would like to take the "Axis of Evil World Tour" documented in Scott Fisher's book of the same name. (I'd skip Iraq, as it is not a "Stable" country.) It would be interesting to see North Korea before the regime has its next generational transition. And, more than that, I'd love to see Iran and hear their point of view about the troubles in the Middle East. (The DPRK is one extreme model for a country and Iran is the other extreme model for a country.) Given that this kind of travel would require me to travel as Mario AND have US State Department approval, this will likely never happen.
One travel itinerary which may open up again in my lifetime is Cuba. We slammed the doors shut on that country during JFK's administration, and it has only opened up a little for a lucky few over time. (I've known a school counselor who legally went to Cuba when I was young, and a friend who went there during the 2010's. I am envious of both.) I want to see the Hershey Electric Railway there, as well as the 1950's American cars that they keep running with Scotch Tape, Chewing Gum, WD-40, and Duct Tape.
Sadly, there are still way too many Cuban Exiles in Florida who want to keep my wish a dream. There is no hope that the current regime will fail. Yet, they still have their dream of the Communist Regime falling and having all of their properties restored to their former owners. Sounds like the calls of "The South Will Rise Again!" heard in the former Confederacy. To me, both groups can screw themselves. We live in the present, and not the past. (And this coming from a person who wants Major League Baseball to return to Brooklyn....)
What do you think?
PS: I decided to contact a friend in Canada for more information. Even she can't find any cruises. But her situation may be more realistic in information gathering, as Canada has not embargoed Cuba. Instead, none of the top 3 cruise lines serve this market, as their management (not their ships) is based in the United States. And it doesn't make much sense for anyone else to serve this market without access to the United States market.
