Carnival could launch Miami to Cuba cruises in May | Belleville News-Democrat

The company said Tuesday that USA officials had granted approval for the Miami-based firm to send ships to the island, which the USA placed under economic embargo more than half a century ago.

Carnival will conduct the trips to Cuba under a new brand called Fathom – a new social impact travel brand providing purpose-oriented, social impact experiences. Americans can’t just vacation in Cuba but must go there as part of an approved cultural or humanitarian trip, unless they have family on the island.

Carnival is expecting high demand for the voyages and has priced them accordingly.

Prices for seven-day itineraries to Cuba start at $2,990 per person, excluding taxes, port and other government fees.

“I think it’s going to be a tremendous experience for the Fathom travelers, a great way to build what looks like an extremely promising future for cruise travel to Cuba and beyond for Americans”, said Arnold Donald, president and CEO of Carnival Corp.in an interview Monday. Check out this list of 16 secrets cruise lines won’t tell you compiled by the website destinationtips.com before your next cruise.

It will mark the first cruises from the USA to Cuba since the two countries severed ties in 1961.

Carnival said it was still in talks for Cuban approvals.

The United States and Cuba have been working to thaw relations after more than five decades of animosity that had led to trade embargos against the communist-led country.

Prices for the seven-day trip to the Dominican Republic start at $1,540 per person, which includes an exterior cabin with a view, all meals on the ship, onboard social impact immersion experiences, three on-shore social impact activities and related supplies, taxes, fees, and port expenses. “We are looking forward to building what we intend to be a attractive and lasting friendship with the Cuban people”. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Princess Alaska Tours, the leading tour companies in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Of those six, four of them are authorized to allow passengers and crew to spend the night aboard, even when docked in a Cuban port. Other major cruise lines did not immediately respond to inquiries about their efforts to sail to Cuba. Trips start at about $850. Last year, the country welcomed a record 3 million visitors.

There are many challenges ahead for the country as it opens up to US visitors. But major travel companies including Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines, Hilton Worldwide and Marriott global have been closely eyeing developments there.