Cruises to Cuba may be on way
Carnival said the service is to begin in May. Passengers would have cultural duties.
The world's largest cruise company could be heading to Cuba.
Starting in May, Carnival Corp. plans to offer trips from Miami to the Caribbean island nation, the company announced Tuesday. Carnival says it would become the first American cruise company to visit Cuba since the 1960 trade embargo. The trips will be through its new brand, fathom, which focuses on trips where passengers sail to a destination in order to volunteer there.
CEO Arnold Donald called the Cuba plans "an important first step" for his company and for the cruise industry.
"We're certain this is the tip of the iceberg in what's going to come in the years to come," Donald said.
The weeklong cruises will be aboard the Adonia, which carries 710 passengers. The ship is relatively small for the industry; ships sailing under the company's namesake line carry nearly 3,000 passengers. Adonia won't have a casino or Broadway shows. And guests shouldn't expect to spend their time in Cuba snorkeling or riding Jet Skis. Each day, under U.S. regulations governing Cuba visits, they will have to spend at least eight hours involved in some type of cultural experience.
Donald notes that the Adonia's small size allows the ship into Cuban ports that aren't ready to accommodate larger vessels.
Carnival is expecting high demand for the voyages and has priced them accordingly. Prices start at $2,990 per person plus taxes and port fees. A similar service-oriented trip on the same ship to the Dominican Republic starts at $1,540 per person.
The itinerary is still being finalized as Carnival waits for approval from the Cuban government. The ship is expected to visit several ports, and passengers will sleep onboard each night.
Cuba is still closed for general tourism for Americans, although as relations thaw between the two countries visitors have fewer hurdles to overcome.