Photo via Twitter/Fathom
It's official: Carnival Corporation's newest Fathom brand has arrived in Cuba. The line's Adonia has docked in a historic first for a cruise to legally sail from the U.S. to the Caribbean country in decades.
The line recently celebrated its inaugural cruise to the Dominican Republic (with TravelPulse managing editor Barry Kaufman along for the ride), and now Cuban cruises have joined itineraries to the DR with sailings alternating weekly between the two destinations. The cruises to Cuba fall under recent U.S. government approvals to allow Americans to visit the foreign island under people-to-people cultural exchange programs and even more recent approval from Cuba itself to allow U.S. citizens of Cuban birth to arrive by ship.
READ MORE: Social Media Reacts: Scenes From Fathom's First Visit to Cuba
Initially, Cuban-born passengers were not going to be allowed by Cuba to return to the country via ship, despite such restrictions not applying to air travel, and protests prompted Carnival to delay its Fathom cruises there until all passengers were allowed. Cuban approval came just in time, and the Adonia set sail yesterday from Miami, Florida and arrived in Havana, Cuba today.
The weeklong roundtrip itineraries feature stops at Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba in addition to Havana, and cultural opportunities include interactions with locals from all walks of life: artists, musicians, health workers and entrepreneurs. Onboard activities will also highlight the Cuban culture, ranging from learning the local language to trying regional cuisine.
READ MORE: Cuba Relents In Carnival Corp. Negotiations, Allows Cuban-Born Americans to Cruise to Cuba
Fathom's Cuban cruises begin at $1,800 per person, and ones to the Dominican Republic start at $974 per person. For those who wish, the alteration affords guests the opportunity to book cruises back-to-back and visit both destinations, where in the DR the program shifts to a voluntourism program as well as cultural exchange.
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