By
Rebecca Gibson |
Carnival Corporation has confirmed that its ships can still sail from the US to Cuba, despite travel policy changes planned by President Donald Trump’s administration.
Currently, two of Carnival Corporation’s brands – Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line – and its social impact travel brand Fathom have already been approved for travel to Cuba. Authorised under current US-to-Cuba travel guidelines, all the itineraries comply with US Department of Treasury rules that allow licenced travel companies to transport approved tourists to Cuba to engage in activities that support the Cuban people (people-to-people requirements).
News reports suggest that President Trump’s draft memo will include tighter enforcement to ensure Americans legally fit the 12 authorised people-to-people categories they claim to be travelling under. It is expected that tourists will need to keep detailed records of all financial transactions while they are in Cuba to ensure they are not benefiting GAESA (Cuban military) entities. These records will be subject to audit by the US Treasury for five years.
“We will review the extent of the tightening of the travel rules, but our guests have already been travelling under the 12 approved forms of travel to Cuba since we undertook our historic first cruise to Cuba more than a year ago,” said Carnival Corporation in a statement. “Our experience in Cuba this past year has been extremely positive. Travel brings people and cultures together, so we are excited about the upcoming cruises to Cuba for our guests.”
Carnival Corporation has also requested approval for its other brands to cruise from the US to Cuba.