I received this recently:
Dear registrants,

You are receiving this email because you are registered with the Government of Canada's Registration of Canadians Abroad service. The Government of Canada has recently updated the sections on Risk level and Safety and security in its Travel Advice and Advisories for Cuba.
Exercise a high degree of caution


Exercise a high degree of caution in Cuba due to shortages of basic necessities including food, water, medicine, electricity and fuel, which can also affect resorts.


Safety and security



Power outages


To reduce pressure on the electrical network, Cuba schedules long daily power cuts. Sometimes, unexpected nationwide power outages occur and can last more than 24 hours.
Most large hotels and resorts use generators during power outages. However, fuel shortages may impact generator use and the availability of various services, activities and utilities such as food service, light, running water and hot water.

• Monitor local media for the latest information
• Try to keep your phone charged
• Plan accordingly

Shortages

Cuba faces chronic and severe shortages of ‎basic necessities, including:

• food
• bottled water
• public water supply
• medication
• fuel
• hard currency

Resorts can be affected by shortages. The timing, location, and type of impacts on resorts vary and are difficult to predict.
Fuel shortages affect a wide range of services. Travelling across the island is extremely challenging. Public transportation services, including taxis, are often disrupted, leaving tourists with few options to travel. Some travellers have been temporarily stranded with a rental car. There are often long line-ups at gas stations that have led to altercations.
Food shortages or food spoilage, as a result of power outages and fuel shortages, can occur even in restaurants and hotels.
Intermittent shortages of tap water provided by municipalities occur, including in Havana. Water shortages may also affect resorts.

• Plan accordingly
• Bring some supplies with you, including toiletries and medication
• Keep a supply of water, food and fuel on hand
• Make sure you always have access to a complete emergency kit

If you need help


Canadians in need of emergency consular assistance should contact the Embassy of Canada to Cuba, in Havana, at + (53-7) 204-2516/7 or by email at [email protected], during business hours. The Emergency Watch and Response Centre (EWRC) in Ottawa is available 24/7 and can be contacted: 

• by calling: +1 613-996-8885 (collect calls are accepted where available).
• by text message at: +1 613-686-3658
• via WhatsApp at: +1 613-909-8881 
• via Signal at: +1-613-909-8087
• by e-mail at: [email protected]         

Of course the government feels obligated to put out these warnings and they should. This does seem to be a slight upgrade from what was already on the Government of Canada website Pretty much a strong reminder warning now country-wide.

https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/cuba

I realize that these travel warnings are very important and necessary but as of last week, from what I had experienced, a few of the shortages listed seem to be somewhat exaggerated. Then again, this may be a warning of what they are also anticipating to come.

Yes! I believe the upgrading of the travel warnings are more so to hedge against what is perceived to be coming for Cuba very soon - if it's not happening already.

My other 2 cents worth comes from my wife there who has told me that it's now becoming increasingly difficult to find more gasoline for our generator. She has an agreement with the guy at the gas station that he will contact her immediately whenever they have more gasoline available, and she'll go immediately too to buy as much of that gasoline as is possible. That guy told Yudith that very soon there will be no more gasoline available for perhaps up to 21 days. Yesterday she bought double what she normally buys with her credit card. Terry

I wonder at what point a travel advisory becomes orange (avoid all non-essential travel).!I also wonder if any countries now or ever have had an orange travel advisory regarding Cuba.

Hey there, CW! I did a search on "the Google" and ironically, this is what it reported to me.....

"As of January 2026, the Canadian government has updated its travel advisory for Cuba to Level 2 - Exercise a high degree of caution (equivalent to an "orange" warning in many frameworks), urging travelers to be cautious due to critical shortages of food, medication, fuel, and water, alongside frequent power outages."

It goes on to indicate this.....

"While Canada specifically highlights the "high degree of caution" for resorts and travelers, other countries (such as in the EU, indicated by TravelPulse Canada in Dec 2025) have noted health-related concerns regarding diseases like dengue fever and Oropouche virus."

Interestingly, no mention of the Chikungunya virus in Cuba. Terry

The Canadian government’s current advisory level for Cuba is 2 (Yellow)


The 4 Levels of Travel Advisories for Canadians
-

• Level 1: Exercise normal security precautions (Green): The safety and security situation is similar to that of Canada. Risk is low.
• Level 2: Exercise a high degree of caution (Yellow): Identifiable safety and security concerns exist, or the situation could change quickly. Be very cautious and monitor local media.
• Level 3: Avoid non-essential travel(Orange): Specific risks exist that could put you in danger. Reconsider the need to travel.
• Level 4: Avoid all travel (Red):Extreme risk to personal safety and security. Do not travel to this country, territory, or region.

Cuba 🇨🇺 is currently listed as yellow. Other countries surprisingly with the same yellow level 2 advisory include; France, Italy, Spain, Dominion Republic, Mexico…

Canadian Gov’t travel advisories for other countries

Because of the power situation and shortages of certain items, I decided to visit Havana instead of anywhere else in Cuba. Other than a resort, I would not venture outside of Havana right now. The shortages are indeed a reality in much of Cuba and some areas are going more than 24 hours straight without electricity.

AC, Transat and Westjet have all cancelled their Cuba flights. I wonder if the CDN government will now change their travel advisory to orange or red or not even bother.

Cuba is now upgraded to level 3 - orange by the Canadian government. Meaning - avoid all unnecessary travel.

This really sucks. We planned to go back to Cuba this year like we have almost every year in the last dozen years. We are not sure what to now but definitely boycott the usa

Likewise. I am happy that we did not book anything in Cuba for next month but we are sad at the fact that we will very unlikely be able to take a trip to Cuba this winter/spring. We hope that countries around the world assist Cuba at whatever cost.

I'm going to remain optimistic that flights back and forth from Canada to Cuba will indeed be either reinstated and/or confirmed viable again for May of this year - as announced by the 3 airlines typically always flying to Cuba out of Canada. Right now, in fact, Air Transat is still showing their flights for May and the months beyond on their website - they're my preferred airline. Of course, I'm not interested in booking a flight or hotel package for myself - I'm interested in booking a flight for my Cuban wife to be able to travel from Cayo Coco to Montreal first with a 14 hour layover there before she can fly onward to Toronto. That scenario with them won't change until the end of October when the flights back and forth with Transat will again be direct - likely when my wife will return to Cuba this year, God willing.

Stay positive, chicos! Once the Russian oil shipments begin to show up in Cuba soon, all should be put right with the universe in Cuba again too - helping to firm things up for those flights out of Canada for May. Terry

I never thought about people who have family to visit in Cuba and lack of way to get there. A few years back I thought a girl in Cuba was going to be my #1 but it was difficult and did not work out. Cuba forever!!!!

Dale, at the risk of getting too far off topic, I had 6 other Cuban girlfriends in Camaguey city before Yudith and I hooked up romantically, and later, legally marrying each other in Cuba. She was actually my best friend in Camaguey first during all of my time spent with those other Cuban girls - each relationship lasting approx. 1 1/2 years on average. I had visited Cuba with my second Canadian wife a couple of times 23 years ago before that relationship crashed and burned ending in divorce. But I loved Cuba so much after originally visiting the country that I went back there as a free man again sometimes up to 6 times per year, and with the expressed reason of wanting to find my 3rd new wife - in Cuba, of all places. I know! Talk about upping the degree of difficulty! But I was bound and determined that I was going to eventually find a good one. I believe I've succeeded in spades for far too many reasons to count. What a wild ride that was over that 21 year span though! It all worked out in the end, thanks to Yudith. But you're right! When it comes to MOST Cuban women on the island, using the word "difficult" is just being far too kind. I have other words that I use that are much more fitting and deserving! Terry

Is this of any interest??

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/20/w...smid=url-share

It is a confirmation of the extortion tactics used by the U.S. to get their greasy hands on Cuba.

Terry, all things being equal, I can understand Air Transat being your preference. But a 14 hour lay over in Montreal? Go with Air Canada instead. Assuming flights do indeed resume in May, A/C flies direct to Cayo Coco. You have to look at their prices constantly though. I use them frequently, and one day a r/t flight to Cuba is $1300. And then a few days later it"s half price and then doubling again the next day.

Aaaaa! Interesting, Simon! Thanks for that heads-up. I'll check out Air Canada when the time is right. Don't know yet exactly when Yudith and Delenys will need to go to the Canadian Embassy in Havana to complete their biometrics as part of the PR application process. Still waiting on our lawyers to get that PR app submitted. But once the biometrics are done and out of the way, Yudith at least will then be free to come up here for another 3 or 4 months visit. She might actually be able to see the leaves change colour this year. I suggested that she stay through to just before Christmas when we'd be able to fly back to Cayo Coco together as part of my traditional "I'll be home for Christmas" trip (he sings in his best Bing Crosby impersonation), but she said, gracias, pero no! She's still scared of the snow here in November / December. What on earth is she ever going to do when she's finally LIVING here full time?!!

Btw, welcome back to the Great White North too, Simon! I'm sure your family is very relieved to have you back in Toronto shivering along with the rest of them now. jiji Terry