US Ban on Group Travel to Cuba | Go Travel's Bob Cook

Watch Bob Cook from Go Travel discuss with Orlando's WESH 2 News the latest status and future outlook of group travel to Cuba in light of new government regulations. Below WESH 2 News' full report. WESH 2 News (Orlando, FL): It's the most common way Americans get to Cuba, and now it's banned. Cruise lines won't be able to sail between U.S. ports, like Cape Canaveral, and Havana, under new travel restrictions set by the Trump administration. Citing its position Cuba plays a "destabilizing role in the Western Hemisphere," the treasury department is putting a halt to all group travel to the island. The modes of travel mentioned in the ban include private planes and yachts and cruise ships. Thousands of Americans have visited Cuba during cruise stops. “We are closely monitoring these recent developments and any resulting impact to cruise travel to Cuba. We will communicate to our guests and travel partners as additional information becomes available,” said a Norweigian Cruise Line spokesperson in a statement. Travel agents tell WESH 2 News they've seen a rise in popularity for travel to Cuba over the past few years, especially for cruises departing from Central Florida. "It was something different," said Bob Cook, the sales manager of GO TRAVEL. Cook said a trip he booked for a group of 250 people just recently returned from Havana. "That's what they wanted, that was something they'd been dreaming of for literally years, and they were able to fulfill it," he said. Cook said while he expects travelers' itineraries will be honored in the short-term, the long-term impact is unclear. "A lot of the cruise lines just finalized their itinerary for 2020, Carnival recently came out with their plans to go to Cuba," he said. "I'm sure everyone is going to be scrambling." While the new regulations put a stop to cruise stops, they do not affect commercial flights. #GoTravel #TravelNews #CubaBan