More Than They've Been Letting on

Another party was heard from today when NCLH revealed exactly how much not being able to go to Cuba is going to cost their brands. Again, as they've been asked in the past, they've downplayed how the importance of the market to them, saying how little of their capacity was involved in the market.

But when they published the numbers, it turns out Cuba was worth even more to Norwegian than it was to Royal.

Details appeared June 7 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

The Cost of Canceling Cuba

In the runup to this week's cancellation of calls to Cuba, it seems that whenever cruise operators would be asked about Cuba, they would downplay the importance of Cuban cruises saying in the whole scheme of things, they have so much capacity to so many places, the capacity they have sailing to Cuba isn't very significant.

It may just be a blip on the radar, but Royal Caribbean said today it's a bit more of a significant blip than they have been letting on.

Details appeared in the June 6 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Lines End US-Cuba Cruises

The US cruise industry halted their Cuban operations today after having the door was shut yesterday by the Trump administration, and they are doing it in a rather chaotic way.

They seem to only now be putting together actual alternative itineraries and programs.

Frankly, we've seen the industry respond much more efficiently and elegantly to the uncertainty of an impending hurricane than to this government order for which they were given a seven-week warning. They just didn't know the exact effective date.

The complete story appeared in the June 5 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

US Shuts Door on Cruises to Cuba

If you have been thinking about cruising to Cuba, but haven't done it by now, you probably won't be able to do it for the foreseeable future. Back in April, the Treasury Department began to close the door when they announced the new policy, but the cruise industry continued to operate until they were given more specifics about the restrictions and when they would take effect.

In an announcement today, the rules remained ambiguous, but it was clear, the end was coming as the press release specifically singled out cruise travel (among other types of non-family-visiting travel) was no longer allowed, nor was “group people-to-people travel” under which most cruise passengers qualified for their visas.

The press release said the new rules become effective tomorrow (June 5). And this afternoon Royal Caribbean became the first to begin canceling calls in Cuba.

The complete story appeared in the June 4 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Other Things You'll Want to Know - May 10, 2019

CND subscribers also read about:

• Signs Cuba may be more lucrative for cruise lines than they have been letting on
• Royal Caribbean declares quarterly dividend

Details appeared in the May 10 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - May 3, 2019

CND subscribers also read about:

• Oasis of the Seas left the Cadiz yard where it was repaired after "extensive" damage it received in the Grand Bahama Shipyard accident. 
• Carnival has chosen a name for the big green waterslide that will be added to Carnival Splendor.
• Carnival Corp has been sued by the Americans who claim ownership to Cuban cruise facilities.

Details appeared in the May 3 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Other Things You'll Want to Know - April 18, 2019

CND subscribers also read about:

• An update on the situation with cruises to Cuba with relation to the latest Trump administration announcement.
• Carnival declares a dividend

Details appeared in the April 18 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

New Rules Could Halt US Cruises to Cuba

Details regarding travel are still not clear, but an announcement by the Trump administration on Wednesday said they were imposing restrictions on trade with Cuba which, among other things, would limit travel. The announcement in separate speeches by both Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor John Bolton did not specifically mention cruises, but from what was said, it seems passengers on cruises are definitely the type of tourism they want to prohibit.

It was enough of an indication that the stock of all three major US-based cruise companies closed down slightly on Wednesday. All, though, have said in the past that cruises to Cuba are a small part of their total business.

The complete story appeared in the April 17 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Back for a Second Season

Norwegian Sun is back at Port Canaveral beginning a second season of cruises to Cuba from the port. Beginning today they include four-, five- and seven-night cruises to Havana.

Details appeared in the April 15 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Cuba Turns Away Grand Classica

When Bahama Paradise's Grand Classica arrived at Havana on Friday, after prolonged negotiation with immigration authorities, the ship was turned away and sailed on to its next destination.

It is unknown at this point if the reason was some perceived rule infraction by the charterer or cruise line, or if the Cuban authorities had simply changed their minds about the special nature of the charter. Either way, it was the first ship turned away from Cuba since regular cruises began from the US.

Details appeared in the February 18 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

One Time Only (for Now)

Add Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line to the list of lines going to Cuba. The line which normally only sails two-night cruises to Freeport has scheduled a four-night cruise to Havana next month.

The best part is that when you return home, you can honestly say you've been to Havana twice.

The complete story appeared in the January 21 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Cuba by Silversea

Next month Silversea will begin their first series of cruises to Cuba, and unlike most lines cruising to Cuba, Silversea will take passengers beyond Havana to other Cuban ports.

Time in those ports will be limited, so for sightseeing, the way to best maximize that time is on a shore excursion, and Silversea has finalized their offerings.

The complete story appeared in the January 4 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Forwarding Address: Miami

Until this week MSC Armonia was homeported in Havana for European passengers, but MSC Armonia arrived in her new home port of Miami today, where she will be one of three MSC ships homeported there this winter, two of which (including MSC Armonia) will remain year round. But she won't be any stranger to Havana.

She will be a weekly visitor to Havana on her weekly western Caribbean itinerary where she will spend two full days (Saturday and Sunday) giving passengers plenty of time to explore this port of call new to US citizens.

The complete story appeared in the December 10 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Virgin Expands Fleet and Begins to Say Where They Will Go

Fincantieri said today Virgin Voyages had contracted for a fourth vessel for their fleet to be delivered at the end of 2023.

This ship will be a 110,000-ton sister to the first three, carrying 2,800 passengers (double occupancy), which will be delivered beginning in 2020.

If that wasn't enough news, this afternoon, Virgin said that during their first season, in 2020, Scarlet Lady will feature Havana on its Caribbean itinerary.

Details appeared in the October 31 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Silversea Puts Cuba on the Itinerary

Silversea Cruises has received approval to operate 17 cruises to Cuba in 2019 and 2020. Four will sail already this winter in the early months of 2019.

Typical of Silversea, they will be a bit longer than a standard Caribbean itinerary and a bit unusual.

The complete story appeared in the October 19 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

The Countdown Is On

It's only 60 days until MSC's new Caribbean program aboard MSC Armonia launches on December 10. The itinerary is going to be a great new seven-night western Caribbean program that includes calls at Montego Bay, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Havana. The big pluses that give MSC a competitive edge as far as itinerary are that it is a weekly program and it features a day-and-a-half call at Havana from noontime on Saturday to late afternoon on Sunday.

MSC Armonia will sail with new features including a new 35-seat premium restaurant ($35), “Surf & Turf,” a new Havana-inspired Mojito Bar, a new pub menu (sandwiches) in the White Lion Pub along with additional beer selections, and MSC's famed gelato (made onboard in dozens of flavors) is now complimentary.

Details appeared in the October 11 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Third Carnival Brand Receives Approval to Sail to Cuba

Seabourn has received permission to sail to Cuba on cruises from Miami and San Juan, beginning with a cruise on November 4, 2019.

Seabourn joins Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line as Carnival brands approved to operate between the US and Cuba, meaning that Carnival will be able to offer cruises to Cuba each market segment, mass market, premium and luxury.

The complete story appeared in the August 9 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

This Man Doesn't Want You to Cruise to Cuba

According to an American man, living in the UK, every time you take a cruise to Havana it's like trafficking in stolen property. That's because he and the US Government believe he owns Havana Harbor.

The complete story appeared in the June 26 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Carnival Expands Cuba

Carnival Cruise Line is expanding their cruises to Cuba and will add the port of Charleston (SC) as a departure port in 2019.

Carnival has received approval for 23 additional sailings to Havana from four East Coast ports during the 2019-2020 season.

Details appeared in the May 10 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

And We're Going to KEEP Going to Cuba

Carnival Cruise Line announced receiving permission for an  additional 20 voyages to Cuba in 2019. These are essentially extending the line's program from Tampa and in addition to the recently announced sailings to Cuba from Miami aboard Carnival Sensation in 2019.

The Tampa program will continue operating with the just-refurbished (and private verandas added) Carnival Paradise.

The complete story appeared in the April 6 edition of Cruise News Daily.