The 3 Largest Cruise Companies Can Now Take Tourists to Cuba. What’s Next?
Photo Credit: Norwegian Cruise Line said Norwegian Sky will visit Cuba during four-day sailings in May. It is one of five cruise lines that received approval to sail to Cuba on Wednesday. Norwegian Cruise Line / Norwegian Cruise Line
Skift Take
Cruise ships in Cuba are adding capacity to keep up with a demand that hotels can't match. Right now, they're an essential part of the tourism development story.
The first cruise ship in many decades sailed between Miami and Havana this spring. Since the Carnival Corp.-owned vessel made that trip in May, rival cruise lines have been making plans as they waited for their turns.
They got some good news on Wednesday.
Cuban authorities gave permission for five more lines — two owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises and all three owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings — to come to Cuba in a move that will send thousands more visitors pouring into Havana next year.
The news comes amid uncertainty over the future of U.S.-Cuba relations once President-elect Donald Trump takes office. President Barack Obama started the process of easing travel restrictions to Cuba in December of 2014, which enabled cruise lines to start considering the island as a real possibility.
Royal Caribbean Cruises gave few details about its plans Wednesday but said it would offer "multiple itineraries" on ships from its Royal Caribbean International and high-end Azama
