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Norwegian and Royal Caribbean Approved for Cruises to Cuba

Dec. 07, 2016
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2 min read
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Norwegian and Royal Caribbean Approved for Cruises to Cuba
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Plenty of airlines now offer service to Cuba, and soon you'll have a few more options if you're looking to reach the destination by boat as well: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and Royal Caribbean Cruises have been approved for voyages to the island.

The Cuban government approved all three of Norwegian’s lines (Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises) and two Royal Caribbean brands (Royal Caribbean International and Azamara Club Cruises) for trips to the island. Until now, the only US-to-Cuba cruises available were on board Carnival Corp.’s Fathom brand, which TPG Senior Editor Kaeli Conforti got to experience first-hand, but the cruise line will come to an end in 2017.

Norwegian announced that its Oceania Cruises’ Marina (with a capacity for 1,250 passengers) will kick off Cuba voyages on March 7, 2017, offering three itineraries with a mix of full-day and overnight stops in Havana. No word yet on when Royal Caribbean will begin sailing, but the company previously said it would sail the Empress of the Seas (with a capacity of 2,270 passengers).

Some cruises will include an overnight stay in Havana. Image courtesy of Piero Damiana via Getty Images.

Next up will be Regent Seven Seas’ Seven Seas Mariner in April with two itineraries offering overnight stays, followed by Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sky setting sail in May, with five Caribbean trips, also with overnight stays in Havana.

Because Americans still can't travel to Cuba only for tourism purposes, the cruise lines will provide activities that comply with all laws and regulations.

While we've seen plenty of cheap fares to the island nation, the addition of cruise options is good news for travelers — especially those who prefer traveling by sea and are hoping to explore multiple destinations in the Caribbean on their trip.

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H/T: Skift

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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