Carnival May Delay Cruises To Cuba

MIAMI, FL — As Carnival prepares for its May 1 inaugural voyage to Cuba, the company has announced it might delay plans should the Cuban government fail to allow those born in the country to set sail.

“While optimistic that Cuba will treat travelers with Fathom the same as air charters today, should that decision by Cuba be delayed past May 1, Carnival Corporation will delay the start of its voyages to Cuba accordingly,” the company said in a media release issued Monday.

Carnival has been in talks with the Cuban government to allow its cruise ships to operate under the same regulations applied to air charter operations. Those regulations allow planes to transport Cuban-born individuals to and from Cuba.

As it stands currently, “Cuba has for decades not allowed Cuba-born individuals to enter or leave the island by sea,” Arnold Donald, Carnival’s CEO, wrote in a Monday letter to his employees. “This applies to all those born in Cuba whether they reside in Cuba or anywhere in the world – not just Cuban-Americans who were born in Cuba.”

Donald told Carnival employees that dialogue between the company and government officials is ongoing.

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“We remain confident that our discussions will lead to a positive outcome and that we will be able to sail with Cuba-born travelers, starting with our historic inaugural voyage on May 1.

That voyage is set to take place under the umbrella of Carnival’s new Fathom brand. The 704-passenger Adonia cruise ship is poised to begin making every other week trips from Miami to Cuba starting May 1. In anticipation of a successful outcome of discussions, Carnival said Monday that it had updated its reservations process and is moving full steam ahead to prepare for the inaugural voyage. Should Adonia make that May 1 journey, Carnival would be the first cruise line in 50 years to be allowed to sail from America to Cuba.

Carnival announced it had received approval for the Cuban voyages in March. The decision to allow sailing between the two countries came as President Barack Obama’s administration had begun relaxing restrictions on travel to Cuba.

"We have already seen tremendous consumer interest in the incredible Cuba journey we have put together," said Tara Russell, president of Fathom, said in a media release. “Our guests will visit three beautiful and unique destinations on the island all in one week, with the convenience of only having to unpack once while we sail on the Fathom Adonia, our premium small ship with its excellent and diverse dining, service and accommodations.”

Passengers accustomed to sailing on Carnival ships will find the Cuban cruises are a little different than others. In keeping with the new people-to-people travel guidelines announced by the U.S. government recently, travelers aboard the Adonia will embark on educational and cultural journeys. That means standard Carnival casinos and off-Broadway musical shows won’t be a part of the planned entertainment.

Instead, passengers will “have the opportunity to interact with the artists, musicians, business owners, and families who make up the fabric of Cuban society,” Fathom explains on its website. “As you engage with the Cuban people, you’ll also experience the sights and sounds of their beautiful country.” Guests onboard the Adonia will also be able to take conversational Spanish lessons, learn about Cuba’s history, customs and culture. and partake in Cuban-inspired menu options and entertainment selections.

The seven-day trips to Cuba will start at $1,800 a person, excluding Cuban visas, taxes, fees and port expenses. The cost does include onboard experiences, on-ground activities and meals.

While Donald is excited to make history with a May 1 voyage, he indicated to employees a delay in the start of sailings may be in order if Carnival cannot carry Cuba-born passengers.

Citing the diversity of the Carnival team, which totals more than 120,000 employees from 60 countries around the world, Donald said, “We have an obligation to all our employees, and to the communities in which they work and live, to be the best corporate citizen we can be. We believe this approach best supports that objective.”

It is unclear how soon Carnival will make a final determination about the May 1 launch.

For more information about sailing to Cuba, visit Fathom online.

Photo courtesy of Carnival