It’s official: Carnival Cruise Line will start offering the line’s first-ever cruises to Cuba, departing this summer aboard the 2,025-guest Carnival Paradise.
Beginning on June 29, 2017, Carnival Paradise will offer 12 of these brand-new four-and-five day cruises that combine ports of call in the Caribbean with an overnight stay in Havana. Departing from Tampa, Florida, these sailings will be offered at various dates between June and October, along with a four-day voyage that leaves on May 3, 2018.
Carnival Paradise’s four-day cruises will depart on June 29, July 13, August 24, September 7, September 21, and October 5 and 19, 2017. These will include an overnight call on Havana before returning to Tampa.
Five-night voyages are scheduled to set sail on August 14, 29; September 25, and October 9, 2017. With an extra day, these cruises are able to feature an overnight stay in Havana along with an additional port stop in either Cozumel, Mexico or Key West, Florida.
On all itineraries, guests aboard the Carnival Paradise will be able to choose from a full range of shore excursions that showcase the natural and cultural beauty of Cuba, along with the timeless history of Havana’s most iconic landmarks.
“Cuba is an island jewel unique from anywhere else in the Caribbean and we are thrilled to have this rare opportunity to take our guests to this fascinating destination,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “The opportunity to visit Havana, combined with the fun, relaxed ambiance and wide variety of amenities and features offered on Carnival Paradise, will make for a truly one-of-a-kind vacation experience,” she added.
While it’s not an issue for Canadian or international guests that are used to travelling with a passport, Carnival is quick to point out that these new Cuban-Caribbean sailings will require all guests to carry a passport. Currently, many American citizens are able to set sail to the Caribbean with nothing more than a piece of photo ID and a birth certificate.
In many ways, Carnival Paradise is ideally suited to these sailings – and not just because it can fit into the narrow confines of Havana harbour that are off-limits to much larger vessels. Built in 1998, Carnival Paradise has been upgraded to include many of the line’s most popular new features, from the Seuss-At-Sea partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises that’s sure to keep the kids happy; to the adults-only Serenity Retreat that serves as a sort of Fun Ship oasis for those looking to unwind on the open sea.