Carnival’s Fathom Gets The Green Light From Cuba

by Daniel McCarthy March 21, 2016

Monday was “an extraordinary day” for Carnival Corp. CEO Arnold Donald and his company, as the Cuban government approved plans to launch the first voyages from the United States to Cuba.

On May 1, Carnival’s “social-impact” brand Fathom will sail the first U.S. cruise into Cuba in more than 50 years, under a “people-to-people” exception to the embargo.

Carnival began selling Fathom cruises to Cuba to the general public and travel agents in July, after it was approved by the United States for Cuban travel, though it did not yet have the approval of the Cuban government.

Travel agents have reportedly been nervous about selling Fathom before the approval, and there is still space aboard the historic first sailing, just 40 days away.

Last week at Seatrade, Fathom president Tara Russell and Donald both expressed optimism that a deal would get done in time.

The official okay came yesterday, the same day President Obama and Cuban president Raul Castro spoke in Havana at the start of Obama’s historic visit to Cuba. Since opening diplomatic relations with Cuba in 2014, the administration has slowly been easing up on sanctions with the Communist nation.

Pack your bags, we’re headed to #Cuba! Book before the ink dries: https://t.co/CJ4z0KWvu8 (photo via @TWtravelnews) pic.twitter.com/2ws7vXqYzD

— fathom (@fathomtravel) March 21, 2016

Cruise executives at Seatrade were confident that once travel companies finally got approval to go to Cuba, cruise lines would be the first ones to take advantage. It will take time to build enough infrastructure—hotels, extensions to Havana’s airport—to support other types of tourists.

“I know that most people will probably think the easiest and best way to see Cuba will be on a cruise ship. I think we’re going to open up cruising to a lot of people who have never decided to take one,” said MSC Cruises USA president Rick Sasso.

No other cruise line has been approved for United States to Cuba sailings as of yet.

Donald told reporters that “it’s probably going to be many months (before)?one of the other brands begins to sail here” but that “there will be?other brands over time” as Cuba begins to build ports and infrastructure to support larger ships.

Fathom is giving agents a chance to see Cuba for themselves with a fam trip scheduled for May 29.

The sailing is priced at $700 for an interior cabin, $1,000 for an ocean view, and $1,300 for a balcony, including cruise fare, impact activities, a cocktail party, and two seminars.

Meanwhile, Priceline Group has agreed with Cuba to make Cuban hotel rooms available to U.S. customers via subsidiary Booking.com, becoming the first U.S. online travel agency to strike a deal with the island state, a Booking.com executive said.