Approvals for more Cuba calls by US lines are expected

Until last Friday, when Royal Caribbean International opened sales for additional Empress of the Seas sailings through early November, no US-based operators were known to have received OKs from Cuba for visits beyond May.

Subsequently multiple sources told Seatrade Cruise News further approvals are expected soon.

Approvals from Cuba are one thing. Whether the new Trump administration will continue to allow the voyages, which operate under special rules put in place following an executive order by President Obama, remains to be seen. But the fact that Cuban authorities appear to be resuming approvals now could suggest they don't anticipate an imminent US policy change in that area.

Meanwhile, cruise line spokespersons said there's nothing to announce about Cuba sailings beyond May—yet.

'Nothing to report,' said Roger Frizzell, chief communications officer, Carnival Corp. & plc. 'We have a request into Cuba for approval of our other cruise brands to sail there, and we remain optimistic that we will be approved soon.'

At Carnival Corp., only Fathom has sailed to Cuba—since last May—but that brand is going away by summer. In December Carnival Corp. president and ceo Arnold Donald reiterated that approvals for 'hopefully more than one brand' would get the green light for the June period and beyond.

'Nothing to announce at this time,' a Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings spokeswoman said.

To date, NCLH sailings to the island include one in early March aboard Oceania Cruises' Marina, two in April aboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises' Seven Seas Mariner and five on Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sky in May.

Pearl Seas Cruises' Pearl Mist has been operating 10-night Cuba cruises from Port Everglades since mid-January. They're approved into early April, when the ship is scheduled for other seasonal deployment. Pearl Seas hopes to resume its Cuba program for the winter 2017/18 season, starting this November.

'We are working closely with the Cuban government and are hopeful approval will come soon, but we haven’t gotten the official OK yet,' a Pearl Seas spokeswoman said.

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