Empress confirmed to Cuba from January 2017

[CRUISEBOY305]

we're talking January 2017 here, a lot can change and happen (and probably will).

[roseshayit]

This would be amazing!! Now I know where to put our Visa points...:D

[Sandy Sails]

Hmmm, something to think about. It might be the perfect way to spend our 10th wedding anniversary, since we actually met on the Empress on 4/12/06 and got married on 4/12/07. So April 2017 to Cuba...Hmmm.

[worldspan]

I was there in December just as a tourist. One of the official 12 reasons entitling you to go is "I am going to support the Cuban people". That is the reason that opens the door for everyone to go. That said it is an incredible destination and my memories from my brief visit are the very best.

 

Keep in mind going there including Empress of the Seas could all go away very quickly if there is a change of party in the White House next January. Time will tell.

[LMaxwell]

Hope that this comes to fruition, I would very much like to go

[Paulette3028]

January 2017 is months away....and I just wish they would put out the August 2016 sail dates for booking. I realize they are delaying as late as possible for the opportunity to put Cuba on the itinerary list but it is already March 2016 and only half of the summer is available for booking on Empress.

[CRUISEBOY305]

January 2017 is months away....and I just wish they would put out the August 2016 sail dates for booking. I realize they are delaying as late as possible for the opportunity to put Cuba on the itinerary list but it is already March 2016 and only half of the summer is available for booking on Empress.

 

odd they haven't deployed at least through the summer.

[TexCruise371]

We will book as soon and if it becomes available!:D

[Kcjarvis]

Great News - Can you post the Havana port schedule????

[undercat]

January 2017 is months away....and I just wish they would put out the August 2016 sail dates for booking. I realize they are delaying as late as possible for the opportunity to put Cuba on the itinerary list but it is already March 2016 and only half of the summer is available for booking on Empress.

 

Agreed! I'd like to see the Labor Day itinerary, which appears to be a 5-day GC-KW based on the port schedules.

 

Thanks OP for the intel!

Edited March 12, 2016 by undercat

[Hoopster95]

Port schedules now confirm that the Empress of the Seas will offer sailings to Havana, Cuba from the 7th of January of 2017.

 

Wowza!!!... my source was right!!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=48085601#post48085601

 

Posted Oct 22, 2015: "I have recently met and have spoken directly to someone (so this is heresay, not 1st hand knowledge from me directly!) who is presumably in direct dealings with Cuba on various business and investment activity. I asked him specifically about travel and even more specifically about cruising... he said no doubt within 12 months there'll be USA cruise ships there. Take that for what it's worth... maybe I can look back on this post in a year and say "You heard it here first from me" Note... new RCL deployment will be next spring for 2017/18."

 

Ok... here it goes...

You heard it from me first! :p:D:D

 

What do you figure MadFlyer... 5/5/4 rotation?

[MADflyer]

Wowza!!!... my source was right!!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=48085601#post48085601

 

Ok... here it goes...

You heard it from me first! :p:D:D

 

What do you figure MadFlyer... 5/5/4 rotation?

 

Yes, it seems to be some sort of schedule that allows 5 day Saturday sailings that include Key West followed by a Thursday 4 day Miami sailing without Key West and then a Monday 5 day sailing that includes Key West.

[LovesCruising]

This cruise has not be released yet - correct? Was trying to see pricing and I can't find any sailings for Jan 2017 let alone on Empress for Cub

[Paulette3028]

It will be discussed for a long time here before that happens.

 

Cruisers have been speculating on this for awhile....but until a formal announcement from Royal with cruises that actually can be booked that stop in ports in Cuba, it is just food for discussion.

 

You can't even book a cruise on Empress for August 2016, since the schedule isn't out yet. A few weeks ago they put out July 2016. We are talking about 'this summer'...this is nuts.

 

This slow drip of possible cruise options is annoying.

[Paulette3028]

Wowza!!!... my source was right!!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=48085601#post48085601

 

Posted Oct 22, 2015: "I have recently met and have spoken directly to someone (so this is heresay, not 1st hand knowledge from me directly!) who is presumably in direct dealings with Cuba on various business and investment activity. I asked him specifically about travel and even more specifically about cruising... he said no doubt within 12 months there'll be USA cruise ships there. Take that for what it's worth... maybe I can look back on this post in a year and say "You heard it here first from me" Note... new RCL deployment will be next spring for 2017/18."

 

Ok... here it goes...

You heard it from me first! :p:D:D

 

What do you figure MadFlyer... 5/5/4 rotation?

 

I am sure I know how to read, and there is nothing that can be labelled as 'official' in this statement....it is all hearsay.

 

Everyone I know in Royal corporate (and I have a long and substantial rolodex), has been telling me when they are officially granted the ability to offer port stops in Cuba they will.....and so will every other cruise line.

[CruisesOnMyMind]

I am sure I know how to read, and there is nothing that can be labelled as 'official' in this statement....it is all hearsay.

 

Everyone I know in Royal corporate (and I have a long and substantial rolodex), has been telling me when they are officially granted the ability to offer port stops in Cuba they will.....and so will every other cruise line.

 

 

If you are reading from a rolodex you are soooo far behind! You do not have any up to date information.

[yogimax]

I know my point will be ridiculed, mocked and flamed but I am concerned that my $$$ will go to prop up a regime that suppresses the freedoms of speech and the press, jails people for speaking out against the government and shelters a cop killer not to mention fostering an economic system that has led to poverty for its people.

Edited March 13, 2016 by yogimax

[LMaxwell]

I know my point will be ridiculed, mocked and flamed but I am concerned that my $$$ will go to prop up a regime that suppresses the freedoms of speech and the press, jails people for speaking out against the government and shelters a cop killer not to mention fostering an economic system that has led to poverty for its people.

You talking Labadee or Cuba?

[Nigeldelarue]

Hope you all booking Cuba aren't to disappointed !!!! If I rated all my travelling I have done Cuba would be my least favourite. Just came back again in Jan ( sons wedding ) and find they have nothing at all to offer. Food is horrible and very very expensive ! They sure have learnt how to charge, CUC which is there type of currency is pretty close to the US dollar . Lunch cost us $75 CUC's in downtown Veradero. Bugs are pretty bad , service is non existing . Most days your fighting to get a towel in your room.

[Coralc]

Hope you all booking Cuba aren't to disappointed !!!! If I rated all my travelling I have done Cuba would be my least favourite. Just came back again in Jan ( sons wedding ) and find they have nothing at all to offer. Food is horrible and very very expensive ! They sure have learnt how to charge, CUC which is there type of currency is pretty close to the US dollar . Lunch cost us $75 CUC's in downtown Veradero. Bugs are pretty bad , service is non existing . Most days your fighting to get a towel in your room.

 

I think it is more the attraction of seeing and visiting somewhere that we have'nt been allowed to before.

 

It may very well be an unpleasant experience, but Americans aren't used to travel restrictions. And Cuba has always been off limits.

 

Other countries already know what we don't. And it will work itself out as travel becomes more common. :D And I don't like bugs either. So we won't be rushing to visit.

Edited March 13, 2016 by Coralc

[TravelerThom]

I know my point will be ridiculed, mocked and flamed but I am concerned that my $$$ will go to prop up a regime that suppresses the freedoms of speech and the press...

:confused:Yet according to your posts your past travels have included a number of places that are quite poor in those freedoms, such as China, Viet Nam, Singapore, etc.

[ahecht]

As soon as Elvis Pinto was appointed as Empress' cruise director, it was pretty obvious that Royal Caribbean was planning to use the ship to go to Cuba.

[Paulette3028]

As soon as Elvis Pinto was appointed as Empress' cruise director, it was pretty obvious that Royal Caribbean was planning to use the ship to go to Cuba.

 

Elvis is from Chile and there are plenty of CD's that speak Spanish, so his assignment to Empress and its' sailing to Cuba would not be a contingent on each other.

Edited March 13, 2016 by Paulette3028

[yogimax]

:confused:Yet according to your posts your past travels have included a number of places that are quite poor in those freedoms, such as China, Viet Nam, Singapore, etc.

 

I hear your point and it has some merit but it is a matter of degree. One difference is the U.S. government has had long standing relationships with all the governments you mentioned. Remember also that the actions of Fidel Castro in the early 60s could have led to a nuclear holocaust.

 

I simply raise the point because no one else has.

[TravelerThom]

...One difference is the U.S. government has had long standing relationships with all the governments you mentioned...

Actually the US always maintained diplomatic channels with Cuba. From 1961 to 1977 the US was represented by Swiss diplomats in Havana (and the Cubans by Czechs in DC). Since 1977 there have been many US diplomats in Havana (until 2015 officially part of the United States Interests Section of the Embassy of Switzerland in Havana, Cuba) operating in what was (prior to 1961) and is (since 2015) the US Embassy. For many years when we officially had no Embassy in Havana (mostly a charade to mollify an important segment of voters in Florida) the US had what was probably the largest head count of diplomats in Havana. The US has only had diplomatic representation with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam since 1995.

 

For the record I have been quite a number of places with despicable human rights records - not because I supported their policies, but because I think that it is important to attempt to see things as they are.

 

Thom