Carnival Cruise Line Adds Twenty Cruises To Cuba
Carnival Cruise Line has added another 20 voyages to Cuba from Tampa, Florida, in 2019.
The new voyages on board Carnival Paradise are in addition to the 17 recently announced Cuba cruises on board Carnival Sensation departing from Miami in 2019.
"Our Cuba cruises have been met with phenomenal guest response since we began sailing to the island last year, and we're thrilled to add yet another 20 voyages to this fascinating and sought-after destination," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line.
The newly added five-day voyages on Carnival Paradise will depart Tampa on Saturdays and feature a day-long or a full day and overnight call in the Cuban capital of Havana, along with stops at tropical destinations Key West and Cozumel.
Guests sailing on Carnival's Cuba cruises can select from nearly 20 different shore excursions, and a variety of Cuban-themed activities and entertainment are provided on board.
Carnival Paradise completed an extensive, multi-million-dollar refurbishment last month that added a water park, 38 new cabins, 98 balconies to existing staterooms and new food and beverage concepts.
The visits to Havana comply with regulations of the U.S. Department of Treasury that permit travel operators to transport approved travelers to Cuba to engage in activities as defined by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Foreign Assets Control.
According to the latest Travel Agent Cruise Industry Outlook Report, more cruisers are showing interest in Cuba. Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) released the report this month noting that over 40 percent of agents reported increasing interest in the destination because it is a new, exotic and mysterious destination. Additional reasons cited to visit Cuba include: immersion in an unfamiliar culture (30 percent) and reconnecting with relatives or friends (five percent). Filling in the generation gap, nearly 70 percent of Baby Boomers show interest in traveling to Cuba followed closely by 58 percent of Gen Xers, 47 percent of Traditionalists and 43 percent of Millennials.
