More cruise lines get approval from Cuba

In early December two more cruise lines announced that they had received permission from the Cuban authorities to include cruises to Cuba in their programmes for 2017. There are now six lines that have received approval: Norwegian and her sister companies Oceania and Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, Azamara and Pearl Seas. This development followed the announcement earlier this year that the Cuban authorities would be lifting their ban on Cuban-born people entering and leaving the island on commercial vessels.

norwegian-skyNorwegian Cruise Line initially stated that its first cruise would be from Miami to Havana, sailing on 7th March 2017. This has since been modified: Norwegian Sky will operate this 4-day cruise, calling at Havana and then the Bahamas. Five dates are planned, through May 2017, and the first bookings are already being taken.

Royal Caribbean has announced that its inaugural sailing to include Cuba will be on the Empress of the Seas, sailing from Miami in April 2017 on a 5-night cruise.

U.S. Carnival cruise ship Adonia, the first cruise liner to sail between the United States and Cuba since Cuba's 1959 revolution, arrives at the Havana bay Cuba, May 2, 2016. REUTERS/Enrique de la Osa

Currently the only  vessel  sailing to Cuba is Adonia, operated by  Fathom, a subsidiary of Carnival Corp. Adonia was running bi-weekly voyages but has struggled to find enough passengers. Carnival recently announced the trips would stop in Spring 2017.

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO OVERVIEW PAGE