MIAMI, Sept. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Fathom, Carnival Corporation's (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK) 10th and newest cruise brand, has added two Cuba sailing dates for fall 2016 – the result of strong pent-up demand by travelers choosing to take a cruise vacation to explore Cuba with Fathom, the only U.S. cruise line sailing from the U.S. to one of the most desired destinations in the Caribbean.
The additional cruises will take place the weeks of Sunday, Oct. 9, and Sunday, Nov. 6. For both week-long cruises, Fathom's Adonia will depart Port Miami on Oct. 9 and Nov. 6 for three destinations in Cuba, including two days in Havana. The Adonia will return to Miami on the following Sunday for each of the cruises. Bookings are now being accepted for both voyages through travel agents or via Fathom's website (www.Fathom.org) or calling Fathom toll-free at 1-855-932-8466.
"Carnival Corporation made history when Fathom arrived in Havana on May 2 of this year, and we continue to strengthen our relationships as the only U.S. cruise company sailing to Cuba from the U.S. – and we are very grateful to Cuban officials for granting us two new dates to accommodate more travelers wanting to sail with Fathom to visit their remarkable country," said Tara Russell, president of Fathom, referring to the first time in more than 40 years a U.S. cruise line has sailed from the U.S. to Cuba.
"Since our inaugural voyage in early May, we have experienced strong, continued demand from travelers wanting to travel to Cuba with the comfort, convenience and peace of mind that comes with cruising with Fathom. Our bookings for the fall are strong, and the word is spreading: Going on a cruise with Fathom to Cuba is the best, easiest and most enjoyable way to visit this unique country."
Added Russell: "Because demand is so strong, we encourage travelers to book as soon as possible for the October 9 and November 6 cruises, as we expect brisk sales for the new sailings on our small premium ship, the Adonia. For people interested in other dates for our Cuba sailings, we are almost sold out for the year with only a small number of staterooms available for a few remaining fall cruises to Cuba, and we have extremely strong demand for 2017."
Fathom's seven-day cruises from Miami to Cuba visit the historic ports of Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba. In post-cruise surveys, Fathom guests are giving high marks for a great experience at all three destinations, which would otherwise be challenging to visit, and on the Adonia, which houses 700 travelers, providing a sense of intimacy that guests are enjoying.
The experience includes Fathom's unique shore excursions -- featuring several included in the overall price of the cruise -- that provide travelers with fun and engaging options for enjoying the country. Some highlights include the island's famously friendly people, Spanish and French colonial architecture, traditional Cuban music and dance, restaurants with genuine Cuban cuisine, museums, cathedrals, coastal fortresses, the cannons on San Juan Hill, the shores of Cojimar that were Ernest Hemingway's favorite fishing village, and lively nightlife including the famous Tropicana Club, and much more.
Fathom's travelers self-certify and can enjoy the island with approved activities.
Highlights of each destination include:
- Havana: Cuba's colorful capital is best known for the Spanish-influenced architecture of Old Havana, the classic American cars that cruise the island and its thriving nightlife. But its historic castles, fortresses, cathedrals, mansions and public buildings vie for attention with the city's lively music and entertainment scene, an eclectic and sophisticated mix of museums, art galleries, music, dance and open-air festivals that take full advantage of the island's sunny Caribbean climate.
- Cienfuegos: This coastal city is the center of Cuba's sugar, tobacco and coffee trades, and is known to Cubans as the Pearl of the South for its collection of French-influenced Neoclassical buildings and wide seaside boulevards, with a downtown that has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Near the entrance to the city's spectacular natural bay stands the great stone fortress of Castillo de Jagua, built in 1745 to protect the city against pirate attacks. The city offers a chance to enjoy musical performances, delicious food and charming settings.
- Santiago de Cuba: Capital of the Spanish colony of Cuba from 1522 to 1589, Santiago de Cuba is considered the birthplace of salsa dancing and the Cuban revolution. With its watchtowers and cannons used in the Spanish-American War still well-preserved, Cuba's second largest city is home to the popular festivals of Carnaval and the Fiesta del Fuego, as well as to many of the country's most famed musicians and artists and some of its most-visited historic sites.
A highly popular element of Fathom's Cuban cruise vacation is enjoying the island while staying and sailing on the intimate and well-appointed Adonia, with guests appreciating the amenities of a modern hotel and convenience of unpacking their suitcases just once, with dining, entertainment and specially designed programs about Cuba part of the cruise. Another popular benefit: Fathom takes care of providing traveler visas and medical insurance in Cuba for its guests.
"Our travelers love that Fathom does all of the intricate planning so they can spend more time having a fun and memorable travel experience," Russell said. "Our guests also love knowing that when they are done exploring, they can return to the Adonia and relax and rejuvenate with excellent food, entertainment, and a beautiful spa. Many of our guests enjoy trading stories about their adventures with their fellow travelers. It is a fantastic way to experience such an enchanting country, and it makes for an unforgettable trip to always remember."
"Cruising aboard Fathom was the perfect way to travel to Cuba – the experience blew me away," said Kimberli McCallum, a recent Fathom traveler from St. Louis. "It was my first cruise and I can't believe how much I loved it! My husband and I were sitting on our cabin's balcony one evening wondering why we had waited so long to cruise. Plus, visiting Cuba was better than I ever imagined. Havana is so beautiful and the art, the music and the people were all amazing!"
Seven-day itineraries on Carnival Corporation's Fathom brand generally depart from PortMiami on Sundays at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The ship arrives at its first destination, Havana, the following morning (Monday) at 11 a.m. Eastern Time. The Adonia returns to its homeport, PortMiami, at 7:30 a.m. Eastern Time the following Sunday.
Prices for seven-day itineraries to Cuba start at $1,599 per person, excluding Cuban visas, taxes, fees and port expenses, and include all meals on the ship and lunch while in the three ports, onboard experiences and on-the-ground activities. Prices will vary by season. To secure a spot on future sailings, a fully refundable $600 per person deposit is required for all cabin categories and occupancy levels. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure. To reserve a spot on future sailings, travelers may call Fathom toll-free at 1-855-932-8466 or work with a travel professional. Learn more at www.Fathom.org.
About Fathom Travel
Fathom is the newest brand in the Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK) family, which carries nearly 11 million travelers a year to communities around the world. Fathom invites travelers to embrace the possibilities ahead and offers a different kind of cruise that combines one's love of travel with the desire for meaning and purpose. Fathom pioneered a new culturally immersive category of travel called social impact travel. What sets Fathom apart is the rich and playful onboard and onshore journey, its alongsided partnership approach with its partner countries paired with a unique business model that allow travelers to travel deep, build community with like-minded travelers and become immersed in another culture.
Fathom offers uniquely different round-trip voyages from Miami to two of the Caribbean's most desired destinations: the Dominican Republic and Cuba. In the Dominican Republic, travelers have the opportunity to work side by side with local residents in existing programs to create enduring social impact in the lives of children, families and communities. In Cuba, travelers visit the port cities of Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba and enjoy on-the-ground activities that provide the opportunity to interact directly with Cuban people and gain insight into their everyday lives, rich culture and history.
The Fathom experience is brought to life aboard the 704-passenger MV Adonia. The smallest ship in the P&O fleet, the Adonia is the ideal home base to engage, mobilize, educate and equip travelers on every Dominican Republic trip allowing for personal enrichment and thousands of traveler impact days per month, providing unprecedented opportunity for collective impact. For Cuban voyages, passengers enjoy premium accommodations including all the amenities of a modern hotel, plus the convenience of having to unpack only once while seeing the breadth of the island. Every night, Fathom travelers return to the comforts of the Adonia, where they can relax knowing that all the details of travel are handled.
For more information about Fathom or to book a voyage, contact your Travel Professional, call Fathom toll-free at 1-855-932-8466 or visit www.Fathom.org.
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SOURCE Fathom
Brandon Smulyan, 214-960-4843, brandon@ldwwgroup.com
