U.S. Cruise Lines Waiting for Approval to Sail to Cuba
HAVANA, Jan. 14th One of the cruise lines, , is hoping to get the approval before its planned trip in May. The itinerary of the cruise is for seven days that will visit several places in Havana including different cultural centers and schools, private restaurants and an organic farm that is part of Cuba’s gardening revolution.
“We’re selling, planning and we’re just waiting for Cuba’s final approval. We’re very optimistic,” Roger Frizzell, a spokesman for Carnival Corp. said. The tour will cost from $2,710 to $8,250 per person depending on the season.
On the other hand, Haimark Line teams up with United Caribbean Lines for their so-called “10-Day People-to-People” program that starts in Miami before visiting the cities of Havana, María La Gorda, Cienfuegos, Trinidad, Santiago de Cuba, Alejandro de Humboldt National Park and Holguín. The trip ends back in Miami and will cost you from $4,599 to $8,999 depending on the chosen category, per the official website.
The dates for Haimark Line’s cruise start from Feb. 11 to April 23 and will resume on Nov. 15 to Jan. 8, 2017. The March 18 to March 27 cruise dates have already been sold out even though there’s no approval from Cuba, yet.
Connecticut-based Pearl Sea Cruises also has 11 days and 10 nights Miami round trip aboard their Pearl Mist cruise ship called “Cuba Cultural Voyage.” On their official website, their itinerary is almost the same as Haimark Line’s, but their rate ranges from $7,810 to $10,540.
A cruise line will need to have a berthing spot at the Port of Miami, which Fathom already has. However, Haimark Line and Pearl Sea Cruises have not secured theirs according to PortMiami officials. “We haven’t received any recent berthing requests from them. It doesn’t just happen overnight,” Andria Muniz-Amador of the port said.
Switzerland’s MSC Cruises and Cyprus’ Celestyal Cruises are also offering tours in association with different non-profit U.S. organizations like Road Scholar and Fund for Reconciliation and Development. The increase in people visiting Cuba is mainly due to the restored diplomatic relations with the U.S., with a little help from celebrities and social media.
In a previous Latin Post report, Carmelo Anthony, Ozzy and Jack Osbourne, Mick Jagger, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Usher, Ludacris, Paris Hilton, Conan O’Brien, Kevin Spacey, and Jack Nicholson were the few celebrities who have visited the island in the past year and posted their experiences online.
http://www.latinpost.com/articles/108578/20160114/several-u-s-cruise-lines-waiting-for-approval-to-sail-to-cuba.htm
