First US-Cuba cruises in 50+ years

An agreement made between Carnival Corporation and the Cuban government on March 23 will allow a ship run by the Carnival subsidiary Fathom (Valencia, CA; 855/932-8466, www.fathom.org) to operate the first cruises from the US to Cuba since the 1960s. Fathom’s weeklong cruises aboard the MV Adonia, Miami-Havana-Cienfuegos-Santiago de Cuba-Miami, were scheduled to begin on May 1.

Initially, Cuban-born Americans were not going to be able to join the Fathom cruises. Cuban-born individuals, regardless of citizenship status, have been barred from entering Cuba from seagoing vessels, including cruise ships and ferries, according to Cuban law. 

On April 18, following protests in Miami and a lawsuit against the line, Carnival announced that it would cancel the cruises to Cuba unless Cuban nationals were allowed. On April 22, Cuban officials announced that it had lifted its ban on Cuban-born individuals arriving by sea.

Depending on dates of sailing, fares on Fathom’s Cuba cruises range from $1,800 to $2,981, interior cabin, and $7,350-$9,075, suite, per person, double occupancy, plus $208 in taxes/fees.