While the last year has seen a pullback in U.S. travel to Cuba by air, in part due to tightening of U.S. rules that had been loosened under Obama, the cruise market seems to keep on growing with all major U.S. carriers in the market.
One indicator of how strong the demand is: Carnival, which already listed 17 Cuba cruises from Miami for next year on Carnival Sensation, has announced 20 more on Carnival Paradise, sailing from Tampa. The Tampa sailings are all 5-day trips with either an overnight or an all-day call in Havana.
One reason for the popularity of cruises over air and land travel: it avoids all issues of regulations, hotel arrangements (sometimes chancy in Cuba) and many other matters. While it doesn’t provide as much immersion in Cuban life and culture, for many that’s just OK.
Carnival Paradise docked in Havana (Photo: hargcb/Wikimedia)
