Carnival gets go-ahead for Cuba cruises
Carnival’s new Fathom ‘social impact’ cruise brand has added Cuba to its schedule which it plans to serve shortly after the brand launch next year.
The line says it has received approval from the US Treasury and Commerce department to launch Cuba cruises as it falls under the social, cultural and humanitarian exemption.
Cuba cruises sailing out of Miami will begin in May 2016, a month after the Fathom brand launches with sailings to the Dominican Republic.
“We are excited about receiving US approval as the very important first step to ultimately take travellers to Cuba under the existing 12 criteria for authorized travel,” said Carnival Corp. CEO Arnold Donald.
“We look forward to working with the Cuban authorities for their approval to help make the social, cultural and humanitarian exchanges between US citizens and the people of Cuba a reality.”
Carnival is no doubt expecting high demand for the first Cuba cruises to depart the US for more than half a century.
It has priced the sailings at $2,990 per person, nearly double the cost of fathom’s Dominican Republic cruises.
The price includes pre-arrival social impact immersion experiences and cultural activities in Cuba.
“We are looking forward to building what we intend to be a beautiful and lasting friendship with the Cuban people,” said Fathom president Tara Russell.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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