Carnival’s proposed cruises to Cuba will include two colonial cities outside Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba, in addition to the Cuban capital, the cruise company said Wednesday.
Carnival is working to finalize approval from the Cuban government for the planned seven-day trips from Miami on a ship from the new Carnival brand, Fathom.
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The cruises have already been approved by the United States. Americans cannot travel as ordinary tourists to Cuba under current U.S. regulations, but they may participate in certain types of trips, including people-to-people trips that foster cultural exchanges.
Carnival said the trips will “focus on supporting cultural exchange and economic development for the Cuban people and include a variety of artistic, educational and humanitarian activities.”
The preliminary itinerary includes meetings with artists, entrepreneurs, schoolchildren and others in settings ranging from the Afro-Cuban community in Havana’s Muraleando neighborhood to an organic farm to colonial heritage sites.
Carnival says the Cuba cruises will begin in May.
All trips offered by the Fathom brand will have a focus on volunteering in a destination. The brand is also selling service trips to the Dominican Republic.
Source: Skift
Carnival gets U.S. approval to begin operating cruises to Cuba.
A Carnival Cruise Lines ship will be are
setting sail for Cuba on a regular basis, but under some conditions.
The United States has reportedly given the cruise line permission to operate trips into Cuba starting in 2016. The news comes after the U.S. gave Carnival permission to travel to the country, citing laws which allow Americans to travel to Cuba for humanitarian and cultural reasons.
Carnival will use the MV Adonia for its newly-announced Cuba cruises, which will start at $2,990 per passenger, according to NBC News.
Now, Carnival Corp. is reportedly just waiting on the OK from the Cuban government.
“Most trade with Cuba remains illegal, and Congress will have to approve legislation to change that,” The Wall Street Journal reports.
NBC News further details, “Americans are still banned from visiting Cuba as tourists but are allowed to go there for one of 12 reasons, such as visiting family or participating in academic, professional, religious or educational programs». Citizens USA may not sail on these cruises at this time without a special Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) license to travel, or meet other criteria.
Carnival’s initiative will revolve around education, the environment and economic development, while it will also feature workshops on the country’s heritage, as well as Spanish lessons.
MSC’s Opera to homeport in Havana this winter
In more cruise news from Cuba, Italian-owned MSC Cruises will homeport in Havana beginning this winter.
MSC Cruises has announced that its 2,120-guest MSC Opera will begin to homeport in Havana, Cuba, for the winter 2015-16 season. The ship will sail a series of 16 Caribbean cruises from December through April 2016, calling on Montego Bay, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel with two nights spent in the Cuban capital. MSC Cruises will partner with Cuba-based Cubanacan to offer ground services and shore excursions.
Source: scrippsmedia.com and TMI