Carnival Will Delay Cruises to Cuba if Cuban-Born Passengers Denied Entry
Photo Credit: The Adonia is sailing for Fathom, Carnival Corp.'s newest brand. Carnival Corp.
Skift Take
This is more about muscling Cuban officials than it it appealing to PR concerns in the U.S., but it doesn't hurt that either.
Carnival Corp. said in a statement today that the cruise line would allow anyone to book passage on its cruises to Cuba, including Cuban-born passengers who according to Cuban law are not allowed to return to Cuba by ship.
The rule had resulted in criticism from U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and was the subject of a lawsuit filed by two passengers last week.
Carnival Corp.'s new Fathom brand is the first U.S.-based cruise ship scheduled to visit Cuba, departing Miami on May 1. Carnival says that it is in talks with Cuban officials about letting all passengers travel to the country. If it does not receive approval by the May 1 departure, Carnival says it will delay the first cruise.
"We want everyone to be able to go to Cuba with us," said Arnold Donald, CEO of Carnival Corporation
