Travel Brands React to New U.S. Travel Warning for Cuba
Photo Credit: Pictured is Royal Caribbean's Empress of the Seas. The cruise line feels its passengers are safe in Cuba — despite a U.S. government travel warning for the Caribbean island. Royal Caribbean
Skift Take
It's hard to see how other airlines, hotels and cruise lines don't follow JetBlue's lead in issuing waivers on change fees and cancellations for itineraries to Cuba given the U.S. government's ill-conceived warning for travel to the Caribbean island. The warning looks like it will help reverse the Obama administration's loosening of restrictions on U.S. citizen travel to Cuba.
Reactions from the U.S. travel industry to the U.S. State Department's warning that U.S. citizens should not travel to Cuba ranged from immediate to wait-and see.
Among them, JetBlue immediately offered to waive change and cancellation fees on its flights to Cuba while Royal Caribbean Cruises insisted that the reported sonic attacks on U.S. embassy personnel in Havana do not pose a risk to the cruise line's passengers in Cuba.
American Airlines stated that there would be no changes in its Cuba policies for now, and that even includes its pending application with the U.S. Department of Transportation for more flights to the Caribbean island.
JETBLUE
JetBlue immediately changed its approach to Cuba — at least temporarily.
“Due to the travel warning issued by the U.S. Department of State for travel to Cuba, JetBlue will waive change/c
