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A tourist stands on the beach next to empty sun loungers in Varadero, Cuba, Feb. 14. The federal government this month elevated its travel advisory for the Caribbean island, advising against non-essential travel to the region amid fuel shortages brought on by intensifying U.S. sanctions against the country.Norlys Perez/Reuters
Barbara Stewart still can’t bring herself to unpack the suitcase. The 75-year-old was ready to leave for her 12-day cross-country tour of Cuba this week when it was abruptly cancelled.
The trip, which included visits to the ballet school in Havana and tobacco farms, may get rescheduled, said Toronto-based Ms. Stewart, but “the situation for the foreseeable future looks very grim.”
While major Canadian airlines and tour operators have suspended service to Cuba until May, the Travel Industry Council of Ontario says disruptions to Cuban travel will likely last well into 2026. With winter travel effectively “done,” uncertainty now surrounds spring break trips, summer weddings and bookings later in the year, TICO chief executive Richard Smart said.
“I really don’t expect things to get better in Cuba after May 1,” he said. “And the tragic situation is, it’ll probably get worse.”
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The federal government this month elevated its travel advisory for the Caribbean island, advising against non-essential travel to the region amid fuel shortages brought on by intensifying U.S. sanctions against the country.
Air Canada announced last week it was stopping service to Cuba until April 30 and would focus on picking up about 3,000 travellers still in the country at the time to return them home. WestJet and Air Transat later paused their flights to the region too until April 25 and April 30, respectively.
Canadian tourists still on the Caribbean island – about 6,000 by Mr. Smart’s last count – may face worsening shortages of everything from food to electricity, as many hotels consolidate guests into bigger resorts to save on resources.
While most airlines and tour operators have offered customers the choice of a refund or vouchers, the affordable getaways Cuba presented to Canadians can’t easily be replaced.
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With alternatives to nearby destinations already more expensive and seeing prices spike amid growing demand, many are left waiting indefinitely to reschedule their long-awaited holidays or shell out more cash.
“Pricing is shifting quickly,” said Amra Durakovic, a spokesperson for Flight Centre Travel Group Canada. Comparable alternatives are currently starting around $1,800 a person, instead of roughly $1,200 a person for Cuba.
Allen Zuk from Ottawa, who stopped working following a significant health issue, said Cuba offered high-quality and budget-friendly vacations.
A week in Cuba would set him back around $1,300, including flights, food and accommodation, he said. “It’s very affordable.”
Looking at trips to the Dominican Republic, the next cheapest option, he was only able to find comparable packages at about $2,100.
Ms. Stewart paid $759 for her flight to Cuba. While she’s rebooked another arts tour during the period with the same Britain-based operator, she’s paying roughly double for airfare to Europe.
Despite recent cancellations, data provided to Flight Centre Canada showed that year-over-year Canada–Cuba scheduled flight capacity is up roughly 12 per cent to 13 per cent for July and August.
Martin Firestone, a travel insurance specialist, said some travellers might even be looking to roll the dice and seize cheaper bookings later in the year. But, he warned, with a government Level 3 travel advisory in place, there is now a known risk. Cancellation and interruption insurance is “off the table,” he said.
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A man walks past an empty gas station in Havana.YAMIL LAGE/AFP/Getty Images
For those with existing bookings to Cuba that haven’t been nixed yet, Mr. Smart doesn’t advise cancelling anything first.
Under rules in Ontario, when a TICO-registered supplier cancels a package vacation, consumers are entitled to the choice between a full refund, alternative travel arrangements or a voucher. Travellers with bookings from early February through to the end of April should generally be receiving automatic full refunds without having to call or wait in queues, Mr. Smart said.
Ontario is one of three provinces with strict consumer protections for customers of organized tours, alongside Quebec and British Columbia, he said. Elsewhere, “you’re really at the mercy of the business selling the package.”
While Mr. Zuk said he’ll be refunded for his lost trip, he also spent “a fortune” on a suitcase full of supplies for locals that are difficult to obtain in Cuba, including razor blades, bandages, deodorant, batteries and snacks. The moment they restart flights to Cuba, “I’ll be on the first plane,” he said.
