Fathom, Carnival’s “social impact” brand that is the only U.S. cruise to Cuba so far has proven so popular that Fathom is changing two of its Dominican Republic cruises to go to Cuba instead.
The ship’s original plan was to alternate Cuba and DR sailings; both itineraries include a variety of cultural, educational and people-to-people activities that, for Cuba trips, satisfy U.S. rules against just-tourism trips. The cruises, on the Adonia, sail from Miami and call at Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba.
Passengers already booked for non-Cuba sailings on the ship will have the option of keeping their reservations and going to Cuba instead, or shifting to a later DR trip, or taking a refund.
This should all be good news to other cruise lines that are waiting in the wings to start Cuba cruises from the U.S. Ponant, Viking, Grand Circle and Pearl Seas all have U.S. permission to go, but only Ponant, which is French-owned, has permission so far from Cuba. Its cruises will start next year.
