Royal Caribbean’s Empress of the Seas
Both Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and Royal Caribbean International have been given the green light from the Cuban government to operate cruises to the country in 2017.
All three of NCL’s brands – Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises – have received the approval.
NCL’s first cruise will set sail from Port Miami on Oceania Cruises’ Marina on March 7, 2017, with select Caribbean itineraries featuring calls on Havana. Seven Seas Mariner, of the Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet, will call on Havana during two cruises in April 2017. As well, Norwegian Sky will also offer a selection of four-day voyages that will overnight in Havana in May 2017.
Royal Caribbean’s revitalised Empress of the Seas will make its first visit to Cuba during a five-night sailing departing Miami on April 19, 2017. The ship will then reposition to Tampa, and offer two itineraries with calls to Havana on April 30 (seven-night sailing) and May 20 (five-night sailing). These Empress of the Seas sailings are now open for bookings.
From there, the Empress of the Seas will homeport in Tampa for the 2017 summer season – the cruise line’s first-ever summer programme from the destination – offering a series of four- and five-night sailings, including port calls to destinations in Cuba.
