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Carnival from Miami to Cuba

SSBrickNJ

By SSBrickNJ,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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SSBrickNJ

SSBrickNJ

Posted
Posted

I heard a report that Carnival has the green light to go forward with a cruise from Miami to Cuba. The first cruise from the USA to Cuba in 50 years will take place in May.

1)Please confirm. 2)Please add anything you know that is beyond what I've shared. 3)Please have fun!

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loubetti

loubetti

Posted
Posted

Look up "Carnival fathom". You still cannot freely cruise or travel from the USA to Cuba unless certain criteria are met as to the purpose of your visit.

 

The embargo has not been lifted, and Obama cannot do it; that will take an act of congress.

 

Sorry, but you are unlikely to be cruising from Miami to Havana as you might from Miami to St. Thomas anytime soon.

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KoalaWala

KoalaWala

Posted
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"Taxes, fees and port expenses are estimated to be from $208 per person for Cuba."

 

It is not the Cuban government making this trip expensive. It is the cruise company. They very may well just find another use for the ship.

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MCFTJCH2V

MCFTJCH2V

Posted
Posted
I heard a report that Carnival has the green light to go forward with a cruise from Miami to Cuba. The first cruise from the USA to Cuba in 50 years will take place in May.

1)Please confirm. 2)Please add anything you know that is beyond what I've shared. 3)Please have fun!

 

Head on over to the Cruise Critic board for fathom. All the posts are there.

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RWolver672

RWolver672

Posted
Posted (edited)
Im sure they are not planning to fill it up at any cost, which is why they need high rates, to pay for it to sail with only a few cabins sold.

 

They normally make their money from things like the casino and bars. With the intent of this cruise being go to Cuba to work, there won't be many people spending time drinking and gambling so they jack up the price of the cruise to make it profitable.

Edited by RWolver672
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MCFTJCH2V

MCFTJCH2V

Posted
Posted
I heard a report that Carnival has the green light to go forward with a cruise from Miami to Cuba. The first cruise from the USA to Cuba in 50 years will take place in May.

1)Please confirm. 2)Please add anything you know that is beyond what I've shared. 3)Please have fun!

 

The corp under the banner fathom. There's a board dedicated to it under that name.

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chengkp75

chengkp75

Posted
Posted

I believe the $1800/person is for an inside. The humanitarian cruises are to the Dominican Republic, while the Cuba cruises are "cultural exchange". There is no volunteer work, but the excursions are all planned and mandatory, and there is little free time allowed ashore, and no self-touring. On sea days there will be cultural presentations. No casino. No shows. I believe the higher prices have to do with the cost of the Cuban government sanctioned tours.

 

I believe the DR cruises will alternate with the Cuba cruises. Carnival has done demographic studies, or this wouldn't be happening, though I've always felt the DR cruises were just a pre-cursor to setting the stage for Cuba.

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Tapi Great Review Rare

Tapi

Posted
Posted (edited)

I personally don't think it's far fetched to get 700 passengers a week to pay $1,800+ to go on a cruise to a destination that has been awaited by many for decades. For the average super budget conscious Carnival cruiser who frowns at paying more than $599 for a balcony stateroom $1,800 may sound steep, but I'm pretty sure that Fathom is not targeting the budget cruiser looking for a cheap cookie cutter Caribbean getaway and who gets excited about going to Senor Frog's in Nassau, but cruisers who do have the disposable income and would normally flock to one of the luxury cruise lines to off the beaten path destinations and truly unique experiences. Just do a quick search and see how much a weeklong cruise on a luxury cruise line costs. $1,800 actually seems like a bargain in comparison.

 

There's indeed a market for Cuba cruises. It was recently revealed that Royal Caribbean has secured berth space for the Empress of the Seas in Cuban ports as well.

Edited by Tapi
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Micahs Grandad

Micahs Grandad

Posted
Posted
I believe the $1800/person is for an inside. The humanitarian cruises are to the Dominican Republic, while the Cuba cruises are "cultural exchange". There is no volunteer work, but the excursions are all planned and mandatory, and there is little free time allowed ashore, and no self-touring. On sea days there will be cultural presentations. No casino. No shows. I believe the higher prices have to do with the cost of the Cuban government sanctioned tours.

 

I believe the DR cruises will alternate with the Cuba cruises. Carnival has done demographic studies, or this wouldn't be happening, though I've always felt the DR cruises were just a pre-cursor to setting the stage for Cuba.

 

We want to see Cuba but think we will wait for others to do this and read their reviews before taking action.

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tiggerman101

tiggerman101

Posted
Posted

I leave for Cuba next week on the Celestrial Crystal. I am leaving out of Montego Bay for 7 days around Cuba including two days in Havana. Yes, this falls under the "People to People" program for Americans. The program is outlined before you even step on the ship. They even tell you what each lecture is about. There are Cuban cultural troops on board for performances and you spend time with all the Cuban workers to get a sense of their life. The tours are pre-arranged if you choose. They do offer free time as well.

 

The program is technically "mandatory" but it really isn't at all. Believe me I completely researched this before I decided to do it. You can skip lectures and tours, etc. They do not police you. They will even tell you that.

 

I expect it to be different. heck, the ship is only 25,000 tons. I look forward to meeting all the passengers as well. It should be a good group of people.

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Je Souhaite

Je Souhaite

Posted
Posted
I leave for Cuba next week on the Celestrial Crystal. I am leaving out of Montego Bay for 7 days around Cuba including two days in Havana. Yes, this falls under the "People to People" program for Americans. The program is outlined before you even step on the ship. They even tell you what each lecture is about. There are Cuban cultural troops on board for performances and you spend time with all the Cuban workers to get a sense of their life. The tours are pre-arranged if you choose. They do offer free time as well.

 

The program is technically "mandatory" but it really isn't at all. Believe me I completely researched this before I decided to do it. You can skip lectures and tours, etc. They do not police you. They will even tell you that.

 

I expect it to be different. heck, the ship is only 25,000 tons. I look forward to meeting all the passengers as well. It should be a good group of people.

 

I look forward to read your experience. Do you know where you will write it?

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bigdog1958

bigdog1958

Posted
Posted
I believe the $1800/person is for an inside. The humanitarian cruises are to the Dominican Republic, while the Cuba cruises are "cultural exchange". There is no volunteer work, but the excursions are all planned and mandatory, and there is little free time allowed ashore, and no self-touring. On sea days there will be cultural presentations. No casino. No shows. I believe the higher prices have to do with the cost of the Cuban government sanctioned tours.

 

I believe the DR cruises will alternate with the Cuba cruises. Carnival has done demographic studies, or this wouldn't be happening, though I've always felt the DR cruises were just a pre-cursor to setting the stage for Cuba.

 

I could see why they want everything pre planned. If people were left to explore on their own, they could do something minor but against the cuba govt rules, and wind up in prison for 5 years with all the other political prisoners that cuba says they don't have in jail.

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jimbo5544 "Live from...." Rare

jimbo5544

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Posted
I leave for Cuba next week on the Celestrial Crystal. I am leaving out of Montego Bay for 7 days around Cuba including two days in Havana. Yes, this falls under the "People to People" program for Americans. The program is outlined before you even step on the ship. They even tell you what each lecture is about. There are Cuban cultural troops on board for performances and you spend time with all the Cuban workers to get a sense of their life. The tours are pre-arranged if you choose. They do offer free time as well.

 

The program is technically "mandatory" but it really isn't at all. Believe me I completely researched this before I decided to do it. You can skip lectures and tours, etc. They do not police you. They will even tell you that.

 

I expect it to be different. heck, the ship is only 25,000 tons. I look forward to meeting all the passengers as well. It should be a good group of people.

Love to hear about it when you return, please post a link here so we can see how it went.

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jimbo5544 "Live from...." Rare

jimbo5544

Posted
Posted (edited)
where???

 

 

There is a cruise line called fathom (started by Carnival Corp the parent of CCL). You can find them under cruise lines A-O in the same section as Carnival (alphabetically).

Edited by jimbo5544
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