Cruises Opens Cuba For Americans

Cruising may be the best way to see Cuba right now, especially for American tourists accustomed to a certain level of service from hotels.  When the Adonia sets sail from Miami on May 1, it will mark the first time a regularly scheduled ship has sailed to Cuba from the US in 50 years.

The Adonia belongs to Fathom, Carnival Corporation's "social impact" brand.  Fathom offers alternating, week-long cruises to Cuba and the Dominican Republic.  In the Dominican Republic, passengers may choose to engage in some volunteer activities or not.  In Cuba, because current restrictions on travel, most of the time passengers participate in educational shore tours as a group.

Pearl Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbeans Cruises Ltd., and Oceania Cruises (part of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings), also anticipate getting the go-ahead from Havana very soon.

Why cruise to Cuba as opposed to booking a land-based trip?

"With the Cuban infrastructure stuck in time, travelers need to be aware of the fact that the roads are in bad shape, the electrical system is archaic and troublesome, the water;s not always running and available and (there are hotels with no air conditioning" says Shawna Hoffman, long-time cruise expert and Cruising to Cuba CEO.

"Cuba has a ways to go before it is up to the standards that Americans are use to when traveling.  But when you travel by ship, you get a safe, air conditioned haven to come back to every night.  You also have the influx of investments from the cruise lines to make sure that your land excursions are safe and up to par," says Hoffman.

In addition, most of the cruise lines handle the paperwork required for visas, you only unpack once, and cruises guarantee your room.  Booking a cabin also assures you of a place to sleep.  Hotels frequently overbook leaving some land-based passengers without rooms, according to a group travel specialist.

fathom: How to Take a Cruise and Do Some Good at the Same Time

Cruises were once known for all-you-can eat buffets and ultimate lazing as you sailed from port to port, squeezing in some sightseeing along the way.  But Carnival, the largest cruise line in the world, is hoping to change that with its new "impact travel" brand: fathom (and yes, that's with a lowercase "f").

The seven-day trips offered by fathom will serve as "volunteer vacations," with a focus on serving communities they visit.  The cruise line's first cruises will depart from Miami in April 2016 and head to the Dominican Republic on the 710-passenger ship Adonia.

In the Dominican Republic, passengers will be able to take part in traditional excursions such as windsurfing or hiking.  But they will also have a chance to participate in "social impact" activities like teaching English in Dominican schools, working in a local women's cooperative to produce artisan chocolates and helping build water filters for families in need.

"we created fathom to meet the real hunger in the world for purpose, while at the same time tackling profound social issues through a sustainable business model," said Tara Russell, president of the newly-formed brand.  "We harness the assets and resources of the world's largest travel and leisure company and combine them with the talents and hearts of those working in social enterprises around the world."

In addition, in May of 2016, fathom has just announced it has been granted permission to cruise with US travelers to Cuba.  The line plans to provide "cultural, artistic, faith-based and humanitarian exchanges between American and Cuban citizens."  The 7-day social impact sailing on the Adonia will be begin alternating between weeklong cruises to Cuba and the Dominican Republic at that time.

According to Carnival, fathom will cater to a variety of demographics; people in their 20s and 30s who want to make a difference, parents who want to show their children other parts of the world "in a meaningful way," and adults age 50 and up who want rewarding ways to give back aside from just writing a check.  Rates for the weeklong trips will include all meals aboard the ship, volunteer activities, taxes and fees, and onboard social-impact immersion experiences and certain on-the-ground cultural immersion activities.