Carnival aims to start Cuba cruises in May
MIAMI/HAVANA--Carnival Corporation has won United States approval to operate cruises to Cuba, and plans to start taking travellers there in May 2016, on weekly seven-day voyages from Miami. Carnival, the world's largest cruise operator and a major source of St. Maarten's cruise tourists, said it was still in talks with Cuba for approval to start humanitarian and culturally themed visits.
Based in Miami, Carnival is the first major US-based cruise ship company to venture into Cuban waters, but joins a growing list of maritime companies hoping to profit from a thaw in relations between Washington and Havana.
The Cuba cruise should be launched in May under its new "fathom" brand, set up last month to run cruises with humanitarian and cultural themes to the Dominican Republic.
Carnival will use the 710-passenger vessel, MV Adonia, for its Cuba cruises on the small side for the company, whose ships typically carry 2,000 to 3,000 people.
Carnival said the cruises would focus on education, the environment and economic development, and feature Spanish lessons and workshops on the country's heritage Read more
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