USA: US Government Bans All Cuba Cruises Stranding Over 800,000 Passengers

US cruise lines have been forced to cancel trips to Cuba, affecting almost 800,000 passengers worldwide.

The US government yesterday announced an immediate implementation of new regulations banning previously approved cruises from the States to the Caribbean island.

As a result, CLIA said US cruise lines had been forced to eliminate all Cuba destinations from itineraries immediately.

It said this affects almost 800,000 passenger bookings that are currently scheduled or already underway.

US citizens have long been banned from taking independent trips to Cuba, but under previous US President Barack Obama's regime new rules allowing 'people to people' or group travel were introduced.

However, the Trump administration said it wants to steer American dollars away from the Cuban regime, and its military and security services, who control the tourism industry in Cuba.

We are disappointed that cruises will no longer be operating to Cuba, said CLIA chairman Adam Goldstein.

While out of our control, we are genuinely sorry for all cruise line guests who were looking forward to their previously booked itineraries to Cuba.

Norwegian Cruise Line said it is closely monitoring the situation and will contact guests and travel partners with information when details are available.

Royal Caribbean has dropped Cuba from today's itineraries.

Carnival Corporation said its brands would no longer be permitted to sail to Cuba effective immediately.

Currently, Carnival Corporation is sailing to Cuba on Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line, and Seabourn has been scheduled to begin sailing in November to Cuba. Additional details will be provided for currently booked cruises by the cruise lines, it said.

MSC Cruises said it is currently reviewing and working through the details of the administration's Cuba policy to assess the scale and timing of its effect on its cruise sailings from the US to Cuba.

Viking Ocean Cruises said it has one remaining call in late December 2019 and is currently reviewing its options for that and early 2020 sailings. Once confirmed, guests and travel partners will be notified directly, it added.

The ban is a blow to Virgin Voyages, whose first trip was due to sail from Miami to Cuba. In a statement, the new cruise line said: While we are disappointed, the beauty of sea travel means that we have the flexibility to take our ships to many wonderful destinations.

The Virgin Voyages' crew is hard at work making necessary adjustments to any affected sailings that feature a stop in Cuba next year.

Virgin Voyages will be announcing and opening sales on adjusted voyages featuring a new destination early next week.

Virgin Voyages' existing booking policies allow all sailors the flexibility to move to another voyage date without penalty. When we announce a new port-of-call next week, we will implement a special policy for affected Cuba bookings.


Tourism Observer

HNA Group A Chinese Travel Corporation To Buy Cruise Line

According to a report by Cruise Industry News, Chinese travel conglomerate HNA Group is eyeing the acquisition of an unnamed “major” cruise line.

The rumors of HNA’s potential acquisition of a cruise line sent cruise line stocks soaring, including industry giants such as Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Carnival Corp.

The potential move follows a busy last week for HNA Group, when it acquired a 16.79 percent stake in travel retail giant Dufry, as well as acquired a substantial stake in Rio de Janeiro’s Galeo airport. HNA Group previously had an unsuccessful foray into the cruise industry with the HNA Cruises brand and its MS Henna, which was sold for scrap in 2016. HNA cruise operations were suspended in 2015.

Even though HNA’s unsuccessful attempt to penetrate China’s domestic cruise market may be cause for skepticism about the rumored acquisition of an international cruise line, it wouldn’t be the first time HNA makes a substantial investment in a tourism industry giant.

In October last year, HNA Group acquired a 25 percent stake in Hilton Worldwide for $6.5 billion, only a few months after acquiring Carlson Hotels—owner of Radisson hotels. The company holds substantial investments in airlines, airports, airport services providers, duty-free operators, and even owns the third-largest stake in Deutsche Bank.

After withdrawing from China’s cruise market in 2015, it is currently left without a stake in China’s growing cruise market.

According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), China’s cruise industry grew at an annual compounded rate of 66 percent between 2012 and 2015, making it the fastest growing cruise tourism market in the world.

Market leaders in the cruise industry have reacted accordingly, repurposing ships for the Chinese market, building new ships designed with the Chinese market in mind, as well as entering joint ventures with Chinese partners to boost growth and domestic ship construction in China.

The Chinese government is also one of the biggest cruise industry stakeholders with various state-owned enterprises owning stakes in domestic cruise brands and shipbuilding plants.

Among the major players in the market is a domestic cruise brand owned by Carnival Corp, state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), and China Investment Corporation.

For HNA Group, it wouldn’t be the first time it goes into a market where the Chinese state has significant interests. HNA Group’s Hainan Airlines is the largest privately-owned airline in China, trailing only state-owned Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines, and has enjoyed substantial growth as a result of the booming popularity of international tourism in China.

With the growth of cruise tourism outpacing overall tourism growth in China, buying a significant stake in one the Chinese cruise market’s many suitors could present an exciting prospect for HNA Group in its search for future growth through acquisition.

With competition in the Chinese cruise market heating up, HNA Group and its strong foothold in China’s tourism industry could also present an ideal partner for cruise lines looking to China and Asia for future growth.

NORWAY: Norwegian Cruises From Miami To Cuba

Norwegian Cruise Line today opened for sale the line’s 2017 cruises to Cuba aboard Norwegian Sky, the largest vessel sailing to Cuba, which also offers an overnight stay in Havana.

Norwegian Sky will sail a series of five, four-day cruises from Miami to Cuba in May 2017 that will include an overnight in the capital of Havana. On Monday, May 1, Norwegian Sky will set sail for her first voyage to Havana, arriving on Tuesday morning and staying alongside until Wednesday evening, allowing guests the opportunity to go ashore and experience the island’s rich cultural traditions through people-to-people exchanges. Norwegian will also offer OFAC-compliant shore excursions, where guests aboard Norwegian Sky will have the opportunity to visit historical sites such as Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; view incredible art and listen to the vibrant local music scene; and visit with Cuba’s warm and friendly residents through people-to-people exchanges.

The ship will continue on to call on Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s private island destination in the Bahamas that was recently enhanced to offer guests exciting new ways to enjoy the island, with additional features to be added through summer 2017.

Along with the freedom and flexibility that only Norwegian Cruise Line can provide, guests sailing on Norwegian Sky also enjoy unlimited complimentary beverages as a part of the ship’s all-inclusive program. Additional Cuba cruise departure dates include May 8, 15, 22 and 29. The four-day cruises begin at 619 € per person.

CUBA: Carnival Heads To Cuba

The Adonia, a cruise ship from Carnival’s new Fathom line.

Carnival Corporation will begin offering a seven-day cruise to three Cuban cities starting May 1 after Cuban authorities lifted a longstanding restriction that barred people born in Cuba from traveling to the island by sea.

The prospect of Carnival operating a cruise that excluded Cuban-born passengers had drawn fierce protests from the Cuban community in the United States and from American officials, and prompted Carnival to say it would delay its trips until the problem was resolved.

However, Cuba announced in a statement on Friday that Cubans could now travel to and from the island by commercial vessel.

Carnival will be the first company to offer cruises or ferry service on an American vessel between the United States and Cuba in half a century.

The Adonia, of Carnival’s Fathom brand, which can host 704 travelers, will set sail from Miami and dock in the Bay of Havana for two nights. Then it will round the western tip of Cuba and spend one night at Cienfuegos, a French-influenced, former sugar-trading hub on the island’s southern coast. The ship will make a final stop at Santiago de Cuba, at the far eastern tip of the island, before returning to Miami.

Passengers on the ship have to travel under one of 12 categories of licensed travel to Cuba, which include so called people-to-people trips that involve a full-time schedule of engagement with Cuban people and culture. Arnold W. Donald, chief executive of Carnival Corporation, told reporters on a conference call on Friday that Fathom will offer talks, concerts and workshops to allow “deep immersion” in Cuba. The company would take care of visas and of retaining documentation required by the Treasury Department about how passengers spent their time.

The rules for Cubans are different: They are allowed under Treasury Department regulations to visit Cuba from the United States; Cuban authorities demand that they do so with their Cuban passport.

Mr. Donald said that there had been few inquiries so far from prospective Cuban passengers but that he expected to receive more now that Cuban authorities had said they could travel to the island by sea.

Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line, both based in Miami, have expressed interest in operating cruises to Cuba but need authorization from the Cuban government.

American travelers are also allowed to join cruises sailing to Cuba from non-American ports, so long as they are licensed to travel to the island and are not simply tourists.

The Cuban government’s decision to allow Cubans to travel to the island by sea may unblock months of delays in getting Cuban authorization for American ferry operators who wish to sail between Florida and Havana, said Robert Muse, an expert in Cuba-related law. Ferry service could significantly reduce the cost of reaching Cuba from the United States, which is currently only possible on expensive charter flights.

Several ferry companies, including Havana Ferry Partners of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Baja Ferries, a Florida-based company that operates routes in Mexico, were granted licenses from the Treasury Department to operate routes from the United States to Cuba almost a year ago. But Mr. Muse, who handled Baja Ferries’ license application, said the company – and other prospective ferry operators - had yet to receive authorization from the Cuban government.

With the latest change in Cuban rules for travel by sea, he hoped negotiations “can move swiftly,” he said.

NORWAY: Norwegian Cruise Line Takes Delivery Of Norwegian Escape

Norwegian Cruise Line took delivery today of the line’s largest ship to date, the 164.600 gross ton Norwegian Escape, from Meyer Werft during a ceremony in Bremerhaven, Germany, after a building period of only 17 months. Norwegian Escape is the first ship in the company’s new Breakaway Plus-Class, signifying an evolution of Norwegian Cruise Line and bringing to life the brand’s promise of freedom and flexibility with a premium experience from bow to stern. Following delivery today, Norwegian Escape sets sail for Hamburg for the start of her European inaugural festivities, after which the ship will make the crossing from Southampton to her year-round homeport of Miami on October 29. The ship will be christened in Miami on November 9.

“Norwegian Escape’s arrival marks a true evolution for our brand – we’ve capitalized on the best of our Breakaway-Class ships and taken freedom and flexibility to the next level with this incredible new ship,” said Andy Stuart, Norwegian Cruise Line’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “Once again, the team at Meyer Werft, along with our new build and operations teams, and all of the ship’s officers and crew have done a remarkable job and we cannot wait to welcome guests on board this spectacular new vessel.”

“We are thrilled to deliver the first in Norwegian Cruise Line’s Breakaway Plus-Class,” said Bernard Meyer, Managing Partner with Meyer Werft. “Norwegian Escape is the newest and most advanced cruise vessel on the seas and we are proud of the team that worked diligently to design and build her.”

To celebrate the arrival of the newest member of the fleet, Norwegian Cruise Line has launched a special offer in Continental Europe as part of the Freestyle Choice Campaign. Guests booking a cruise of 5 to 16 nights between Oct 22 and Nov 9, 2015, sailing before April 30, 2016, will receive a free internet package and can also choose an additional free extra of those offered within the campaign.

Norwegian Escape, the largest in Norwegian’s fleet of 14 vessels, features an elevated design that makes for a decidedly upscale experience. Quality finishes, curated artwork and the most luxurious The Haven by Norwegian® exclusive ship-within-a-ship suite complex are just a few of the standout features that put Norwegian Escape in a class of her own.

Norwegian Escape’s Haven is the largest in the fleet and the most luxurious. At the heart of the private enclave on the top of the ship lies a three-storey covered courtyard. An expanded forward sundeck with a cantilevered whirlpool, along with a new outdoor dining space in the Haven’s private restaurant make Norwegian Escape’s Haven the ultimate small ship experience, while still providing the freedom to enjoy large ship dining, entertainment and amenities.

Norwegian Escape’s dining options offer guests a mix of complimentary options, signature favourites and new premium speciality outlets. Showcasing all-new upgraded menus across all restaurants, the ship’s 11 complimentary dining offerings and signature speciality restaurants Le Bistro, Cagney’s and La Cucina rival those of luxury lines, with menu highlights including Herb Crusted Rack of Lamb, Fresh Maine Lobsters and Steak au Poivre with cognac sauce. Two new speciality restaurants from James Beard Award-Winning Iron Chef Jose Garces include Bayamo, a Latin seafood speciality restaurant, and Pincho Tapas Bar. Also new on board is the Food Republic, a sophisticated food hall developed by Miami-based The Pubbelly Restaurant Group. The combination of choice and quality in dining options on board and her upmarket design sets Norwegian Escape apart in the contemporary cruise market.

Continuing with Norwegian’s commitment to excellence in entertainment, Norwegian Escape features two truly spectacular Tony Award-winning Broadway musicals that headline the Escape Theater: After Midnight, the smash-hit musical that combines the big-band songs of Duke Ellington and the best dancing from Broadway; and Million Dollar Quartet, the smash-hit musical inspired by the famed recording session that brought together rock ‘n’ roll icons Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins. In a new concept exclusive to Norwegian Escape, the Supper Club has been re-imagined for an unforgettable dinner and show. For The Record: The Brat Pack™ is a critically acclaimed Hollywood night that celebrates classic soundtracks of motion picture masters in a one-of-a kind 360° post-modern cabaret.

Nightlife on board includes outposts of several popular land-based outlets, including the first-ever Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville restaurant and 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar at sea, a music venue and outdoor bar on The Waterfront that features live nightly performances. The District Brew House, a hip, urban craft beer hall featuring an exclusive partnership with Miami’s own Wynwood Brewing Company, will serve up more than 24 draft beers while The Cellars, A Michael Mondavi Family Wine Bar, features an array of immersive wine experiences, focusing on tasting, education, and the enjoyment of wine. Norwegian Escape will also feature Miami’s oldest and most legendary bar, Tobacco Road.

Norwegian Escape’s recreation spaces are unrivalled, with the largest ropes course at sea leading a wide array of activities. This three-storey multiplex of heart-pounding challenges complete with two planks and five Sky Rails, zip tracks that allow guests to soar through the air. On the top of the ship, guests will find a redesigned pool deck area that features an open area for sunbathing, a double-deck bar and two new large format LED screens. Norwegian Escape’s Aqua Park is the largest at sea and includes a new tandem Aqua Racer slide, complete with a clear acrylic section to further enhance the thrill of this adventure ride. Adding to the family fun, Norwegian Escape features an expanded Kids’ Aqua Park with an enclosed slide, rope climb fun zone and spray cannons for kids to splash and play in their own designated space. Along with an expanded Splash Academy youth center that includes dedicated play spaces for specific age groups, Norwegian Escape also offers the line’s first nursery for cruisers two and under.

In addition to family oceanview staterooms that accommodate up to five guests, Norwegian Escape’s accommodation includes Studios, designed and priced for solo travellers; and many options for families, multi-generational groups, spa enthusiasts and more.