A video published this Tuesday by the TikTok account "Las Calles de Cuba" shows what the interior of the Lanchita de Regla looks like today, the historic ferry that crosses the Havana Bay between Muelle de Luz in Old Havana and the municipalities of Regla and Casablanca.
The images capture the interior of the vessel in full operation: passengers both standing and sitting, clutching onto rusty metal poles, in a warm and cramped environment that encapsulates the reality of public transport in Havana.
In the foreground, a man with a tanned complexion and striking blue eyes appears, wearing a brown cap and a yellow t-shirt, holding onto one of those ceiling posts with both hands as the boat moves through the bay.
The entire journey lasts only seven minutes and the fare is 1 Cuban peso per person, or three pesos if the traveler brings a bicycle. The vessel can accommodate about 100 passengers.
What the video does not show is the precariousness that supports this service. Out of an official fleet of six vessels, since at least February 2024 only one has been operating daily, completing around 30 trips a day, while the other five remained out of service due to technical problems.
At the end of February 2026, the "Giraldilla" —the only active vessel at that time— suffered a break in its shaft line, and service was completely suspended, with an expected return around March 10.
Just days after resuming operations, a small boat stranded in the bay around noon on March 11 and had to be towed to the Luz Dock, with no immediate official explanation from the authorities.
The pattern of interruptions is recurrent. The service was suspended throughout July 2023; in September 2024, it was halted due to Hurricane Helene; in February and March 2025, it faced interruptions again due to breakdowns in the only operational boat, and that same month, heavy rains also contributed to the disruptions.
Whenever the service goes down, the Provincial Transport Company of Havana reinforces the route with land buses as an alternative for the residents of Regla and Casablanca.
This deterioration reflects the overall crisis of public transport in Cuba: fuel shortages, lack of spare parts, and an infrastructure that has not received necessary investment for decades, a direct consequence of the economic model imposed by 67 years of dictatorship.
Despite everything, the little boat retains its place as a living symbol of Havana. Its origins date back to the 17th century, when the bay was crossed in rowboats and sails, and the service was formally established in the 19th century. From the deck, passengers enjoy panoramic views of El Morro, La Cabaña, and the Christ of Havana.
This duality — a deteriorated service yet still operational, filled with Cubans who use it as their only means of mobility — is precisely what the video "Las Calles de Cuba" captures in just eleven seconds.
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