Royal Caribbean has officially opened booking for their very first trips to Cuba, aboard the newly revitalized Empress of the Seas.
The first sailing will be a 5-night out of Miami on April 19, 2017. Then, the ship will reposition to Tampa and offer two itineraries with calls to Havana on April 30 (7-night) and May 20 (5-night).
Empress will homeport in Tampa for the 2017 summer season – Royal’s first summer program from the destination, offering a series of four and five-night cruises that include stops in Cuba. Details of the summer itineraries will be released soon.
Guests headed to Cuba will be able to enjoy curated people-to-people experiences created to immerse and educate travelers on the beauty, history, architecture, food, and music of the island nation. All voyages are being designed in compliance with US travel regulations.
While in Cuba, guests will explore Old Havana – including some of the city’s most notable squares, historic neighborhoods, a local artisan market, Havana’s rum museum, as well as Hemingway’s former residence and favorite spots. Local experts will immerse guests in the culture of Cuba in many different facets.
The authentic experiences will continue onboard, too. From cortaditos and café con leche in Café Royal to salsa music, guests will have a wide range of activities developed to bring Cuba to life during the entire cruise vacation. Empress will include signature amenities as well, such as a rock-climbing wall, new pools including an adults-only solarium, a Vitality Spa, and Adventure Ocean youth program. There will also be a variety of dining options including the buffet, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, and Royal Caribbean’s signature steakhouse Chops.
The summer program aboard Empress of the Seas will provide guests more opportunities to sail from Tampa. Two other Royal ships, Rhapsody and Brilliance of the Seas will be offering Caribbean itineraries from the port during the winter season.
The Empress of the Seas cruises that visit Cuba in summer 2017 are now open for booking.
