Majesty of the Seas and Empress of the Seas will begin sailing to the island nation
By
Elizabeth Robinson |
Royal Caribbean International is expanding its sailings to Cuba in summer 2018 with Majesty of the Seas and Empress of the Seas sailing to the island nation.
Cuba’s historic cities of Havana, Santiago and Cienfuegos will be included in the destinations on a variety of four- to eight-night sailings on Empress of the Seas.
“Cuba is such an important part of Caribbean culture, and we can’t wait to call on Santiago de Cuba and Cienfuegos next year, showcasing even more of the country’s scenic beauty, rich history and distinctive architecture,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO, Royal Caribbean International.
Cienfuegos is a UNESCO World Heritage Site established in 1819 with an array of attractions, including botanical gardens with over 2,000 plant species on display, neoclassical architecture, a 950-seat opera house and the Santa Isabel Boulevard.
Santiago de Cuba is a gateway to Cuba's religious history, with sites such as the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Castillo del Morroto, the Sierra Maestra foothills, El Cobre and historic sites such as Revolution Square.
The 1,602 passenger Empress of the Seas will also offer Cuban culture onboard with cortaditos and café con leche in Café Royal, salsa music and dancing in Boleros Latin lounge.
“Cruising remains the easiest way to visit Cuba, and with both Empress and Majesty sailing there in 2018 and 2019, we hope to make it that much easier for adventure seekers to experience the legendary island,” said Bayley.
Departing from Miami year-round, Empress cruise vacations will include seven-night Best of Cuba itineraries to Cienfuegos, Havana and Nassau, Bahamas. Itineraries will also feature five-night sailings visiting Key West, Florida and spending the night in Havana and an eight-night journey to Cienfuegos, Santiago de Cuba, Grand Cayman, and Labadee, Haiti.
Majesty of the Seas will continue the four- and five-night offerings to Havana that include day and overnight stays, departing from Tampa from April to October 2018, and Fort Lauderdale from November 2018 to March 2019.