Current Approvals for Cruises to Cuba

Cruising to Cuba has been nearly impossible for US citizens in recent decades, but  changes to Cuban and US laws are adding many options to cruise Cuba.

Here is a current inventory of cruises to Cuba:

Approved for Sailing to Cuba From the USA

• Carnival’s Fathom – First sail is May 1, 2016. Fathom’s ports-of-call in Cuba will include Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba during seven-day cruises roundtrip from Miami, Florida;
• Ponant – This French-flagged luxury cruise line will open its Cuba sailings to cruisers from the US starting in 2017;

Approved for Sailing to Cuba ex-USA Port for Non-US Citizens

• MSC – The 2,120-guest MSC Opera sails out of Havana for the winter 2015-16 season and will offer guests 16 Caribbean region cruises. A second ship, MSC Armonia, will operate out of Cuba starting November 2016 for the entire winter season;
• Star Clipper Cruises – This UK company operates the 170-passenger Star Clipper to Havana, Cienfuegos and St. Maarten;
• Fred Olsen Cruise Lines – This UK cruise company operates Cuba and Caribbean cruises out of Barbados;
• Thomson Cruises – This UK cruise line operates Cuba and Caribbean cruises out of Montego Bay, Jamaica;
• Voyages of Discovery – This UK cruise line specializes in small ship experience departing from Cozumel and ending in Barbados;

Approved for Sailing to Cuba ex-USA Port with US Citizens

• Cuba Cruise – A Canadian company that sails from Havana and Montego Bay;
• International Expeditions – This American-owned travel company operates people-to-people cruises for Americans out of Havana and Cienfuegos using a Greek-registered motor sailor;
• Cyprus-based Celestyal Cruises – Cruises embark every Monday from Havana, and every Friday from Montego Bay, for the duration of the season. This year will be Celestyal’s third year operating in Cuba and the first year to accept US citizens;

Seeking Approval for Sailing to Cuba From the USA

• Pearl Seas Cruises – This company sells cruises to Cuba from Fort Lauderdale, but has not yet announced approval from the Cuban government and had to cancel its first planned voyages;
• Haimark – This cruise company was seeking approval to sail to Cuba from the USA but declared bankruptcy late last year due to insurance claims and cancelled voyages in North America. This company has been acquired by a venture capital firm and reports suggest Haimark’s Cuba ambitions remain intact under its new owner;