No delay on Carnival Cuba cruises

Adonia will start inaugural cruise to Cuba May 1 -as planned

APRIL 22, 2016 — Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), reports that its Fathom brand it will sail as planned from the U.S. to Cuba May 1 with all travelers, including Cuban-born passengers

Last week, Carnival Corporation announced that Fathom brand was accepting bookings to Cuba from all travelers, including individuals born in Cuba. That meant that it had to get confirmation from Cuban authorities that cruise ships would be allowed to operate in the same manner as current air charter operations, which transport Cuban-born individuals to and from Cuba. Failure to get that confirmation on time would have meant postponing the May 1 inaugural trip by Fathom’s 704-passenger Adonia (see earlier story).

Now Adonia will begin sailing to Cuba every other week, marking the first time in over 50 years that a cruise ship has been able to sail from the U.S. to Cuba, as well as the first time in decades that Cuban-born individuals will be able to sail to and from Cuba.

“We made history in March, and we are a part of making history again today,” said Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation. “More importantly, we are contributing to a positive future. This is a positive outcome and we are extremely pleased. We want to extend our sincere appreciation to Cuba and to our team who worked so hard to help make this happen.”

“We have already seen tremendous interest in the incredible Cuba journey we have put together, and we are ecstatic that this historic opportunity is open to everyone who wants to travel to Cuba,” said Tara Russell, president of Fathom and global impact lead for Carnival Corporation.

Ms. Russell added: “Our guests will visit three beautiful and unique destinations on the island all in one week, with the convenience of only having to unpack once while we sail on the Fathom Adonia, our premium small ship with its excellent and diverse dining, service and accommodations. We are looking forward to treating Fathom travelers to an unforgettable experience.”