Carnival Gets U.S. Government Approval for Cuba Cruises
Posted on July 9, 2015
Carnival Corporation has announced its plans to begin Cuba cruises. The company has obtained approval from the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Commerce. The cruise company has launched a brand called Fathom for its Cuba and Dominican Republic trips.
The U.S. and Cuba have been working to improve diplomatic relations. Plans for embassy openings in U.S. and Cuba were recently announced. The embassies would be located in Washington D.C. and Havana.
Beginning in April 2016, Fathom will embark on weekly seven-day voyages from Port Miami aboard the MV Adonia, a 710-passenger vessel. Fathom's first destination will be the northern region of the Dominican Republic, where Amber Cove will serve as home base. Carnival also plans to the use the MV Adonia for its Cuba trips.
Arnold Donald, President and CEO of Carnival Corporation, said in a statement, "We know there is strong demand from travelers who want to immerse themselves in Cuban culture, so this is a historic opportunity for us to enable more people to experience Cuban society. It is also an important opportunity for our new fathom brand to expand its positive influence in the world with this potential to add full-week immersion sailings to Cuba to its already planned full-week social-impact itineraries to the Dominican Republic beginning in the spring of 2016."
Carnival has U.S. approval but will still need to get approval from Cuba. Carnival CEO Arnold Donald talked on CBS This Morning about the plans to add Cuba cruises. Take a look: