Travel giant makes play for Cuba

As if enough people weren’t sprinting into Cuba, Carnival Corporation has announced that it has scored approval to begin sailing in there as well.

Securing approval from the US Department of the Treasury and the US Department of Commerce, the travel and leisure company intends to take travellers into the time capsule country from May 2016.

The entry into Cuba comes via its newly launched brand, fathom, a new social impact travel brand providing purpose-oriented, social impact experiences, initially in the Dominican Republic.

Carnival Corporation intends to operate fathom travel itineraries directly to Cuba in order to up its cultural, artistic, faith-based and humanitarian offerings, and highlight the relationship between American and Cuban citizens.

Authorised under current US-to-Cuba travel guidelines, the new Cuban itineraries on fathom will strictly comply with US Department of Treasury rules that allow licensed travel companies to transport approved travellers to Cuba to engage in activities that support the Cuban people.

Carnival Corporation is in active discussions and plans to work with the appropriate authorities in Cuba so that Cuban approval is granted.

Launched on June 4 as Carnival Corporation’s 10th global brand, fathom is designed to enrich the lives of its travellers and in the case of the Dominican Republic, drive sustainable social impact on a significant scale. T

he brand expects to attract 37,000 annual travellers who collectively spend a total of more than 100,000 days a year either volunteering or immersing in educational and cultural exchanges in local communities.

Beginning in April 2016, fathom will embark on weekly seven-day voyages from Port Miami aboard the MV Adonia, a 710-passenger vessel redeployed from Carnival Corporation’s P&O Cruises (UK) brand.

Fathom’s first impact destination will be the northern region of the Dominican Republic, where Carnival Corporation’s new port of call, Amber Cove, will serve as home base.

“We are excited about receiving US approval as the very important first step to ultimately take travellers to Cuba under the existing 12 criteria for authorised travel,” Carnival Corporation’s president and ceo Arnold Donald said.

“We know there is strong demand from travellers who want to immerse themselves in Cuban culture, so this is a historic opportunity for us to enable more people to experience Cuban society.

Fathom’s president Tara Russell added that the approval will ensure travellers are given the chance to engage in the beauty and culture of Cuba.

“After establishing the Dominican Republic as our first partner destination, Cuba represents an important step for us to expand our ability to offer meaningful and enriching experiences to purpose-driven travellers,” she said.

“Our goal remains the same for both destinations – to enable travellers to immerse, learn, serve and flourish while making enduring, sustainable contributions on a scalable and systematic basis.”

Prices for the seven-day trip to the Dominican Republic start at US$1540 per person, which includes an exterior cabin with a view, all meals on the ship, onboard social impact immersion experiences, three on-shore social impact activities and related supplies, taxes, fees, and port expenses.

Prices for seven-day itineraries to Cuba start at US$2990 per person, excluding taxes, port and other government and related fees, and including all meals on the ship, onboard social impact immersion experiences and certain on-the-ground cultural immersion activities.

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