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Cruising to Cuba: Which Lines Can Sail There Right Now?

Ralph Grizzle

Editor’s note: This blog post was updated as of December 12, 2016, to reflect the ongoing influx of cruise ships carrying U.S. passengers to Cuba.

Cuba has the potential to change the face of Caribbean cruises as we know them. With renewed diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba and the resumption of regularly-scheduled flights between the U.S. and the island country, it’s only a matter of time before we start seeing ports like Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cubapositioned alongside places like St. Thomas and Grand Turk.

Classic cars race along the streets of Havana, Cuba. Photo © 2014 Aaron Saunders

Classic cars race along the streets of Havana, Cuba. Photo © 2014 Aaron Saunders

For the rest of the world, it’s all a bit mystifying: guests from Canada, Europe, Asia and around the world have all been traveling – and cruising – to Cuba to vacation for years. UK-based lines like Fred.Olsen  have called on Cuba in the past, as have the ships from Spanish cruise operator Pullmantur – that was, at least, until they became a fully-owned subsidiary of Royal Caribbean. (By the way, Royal Caribbean begins cruising to Havana in April 2017.) In the past, lines with U.S.-based parent companies have been prohibited from calling on Cuba, and foreign ships calling on Cuba were banned from entering the United States for months on end.

Of course, that’s all changing now, thanks to a new thaw in relations between the United States and Cuba. High-profile lines like Fathom have also brought renewed focus on cruises to Cuba, and other lines continue to follow suit. In an interesting twist, Fathom will actually be discontinuing its “voluntourism” cruises to Cuba in spring 2017. But there are several other lines taking its place, including some of the biggest names in luxury and upper premium cruising: Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises.

Celestyal Cruises' Louis Crystal, shown here in her seasonal Cuba Cruise livery in Cienfuegos, Cuba, is a great blend of big-ship amenities in a small ship package. Photo © 2014 Aaron Saunders

Celestyal Cruises’ Celestyal Crystal, shown here in her seasonal Cuba Cruise livery (as Louis Cristal) in Cienfuegos, Cuba, has been sailing to Cuba for the past three winters. Photo © 2014 Aaron Saunders

Other companies have been around for a while, but may be less familiar. In 2013, a Canadian company called Cuba Cruise partnered with Celestyal Cruises to market Cuban cruises to Canadians and Europeans. It was such a success that Celestyal bought them out, and will now base the Celestyal Crystal (the former Louis Cristal) in Cuba year-round as of this winter. The product is open to Americans as well.

It’s important to note that there are other cruise lines – like MSC Cruises  – that sail to Cuba at the moment, but don’t actively market their Cuban-based itineraries to American customers. Because of that, we’ve left them out of the table for the moment; the lines below are all ones that are actively pursuing American customers looking to travel to Cuba for the first time.

Who Sails to Cuba?

LINE SHIP APPROVED? START DATE DEPARTURE PORT
Regent Seven Seas Cruises Seven Seas Mariner Yes April 2017 Miami
Oceania Cruises Marina Yes January 2017 Miami
Azamara Club Cruises Azamara Quest Yes March 2017 Miami
Celestyal Cruises, also known as Cuba Cruise Celestyal Crystal Yes; sailings began in late 2013. Already in operation; sailings operate year-round beginning in late 2016. Havana, Cuba or Montego Bay, Jamaica
Fathom Adonia Yes, but discontinuing in spring 2017 Already in operation Miami
Lindblad Expeditions Panorama II Yes December 7, 2016 Havana or Cienfuegos, Cuba
Pearl Seas Cruises Pearl Mist No October 26, 2016 Miami
Ponant Le Ponant Yes; “People-to-People” voyage January 2017 Havana
Royal Caribbean Empress of the Seas Yes April 2017 Tampa and Miami
Star Clippers Star Flyer Yes December 27, 2016 Havana or Cienfuegos, Cuba (12/27 departure begins in St. Maarten).
Victory Cruise Lines Victory I Pending October 28, 2016 Port Canaveral (inaugural); Miami.
Viking Ocean Cruises Viking Sun Yes December 1, 2017 Miami

 

We’ll continue to update this table as new lines receive approval or announce their intentions to enter the Cuban market for American guests.

Contact Cruise Specialists today for help booking your Cuba cruise!

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Caribbean Cruise Reviews, Cruise Destinations, Cruise News, Cuba Cruise Reviews

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ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Maggie Blehert

Her ideal travel day: venturing to a new place, learning something interesting and sharing a smile.
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Steve and Wendy Bodenheimer
Cruise Specialists Voyage Hosts reporting on their round the world journeys.
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Ralph Grizzle

The Avid Cruiser. Well-traveled and insightful. Helping you make informed cruise decisions.
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