Carnival Corporation has secured approval from the US Department of Treasury and the US Department of Commerce to run cruise services to Cuba.
As a result, the company will start taking travellers to Cuba from May 2016, through its new Fathom brand.
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Carnival Corporation president and CEO Arnold Donald said: "We are excited about receiving US approval as the very important first step to ultimately take travellers to Cuba under the existing 12 criteria for authorised travel.
"We look forward to working with the Cuban authorities for their approval to help make the social, cultural and humanitarian exchanges between US citizens and the people of Cuba a reality."
Voyages to Cuba on Fathom ships will meet US Department of Treasury rules permitting transport-approved travellers to Cuba to engage in activities that support the Cuban people.
Fathom president Tara Russell said: "Our goal remains the same for both destinations, to enable travellers to immerse, learn, serve and flourish while making enduring, sustainable contributions on a scalable and systematic basis."
Carnival’s tenth global brand, Fathom, anticipates attracting 37,000 travellers a year, who will be able to spend a total of more than 100,000 days each year in voluntary or educational and cultural work with local communities.
From April 2016, Fathom will offer seven-day voyages from Port Miami aboard the 710-passenger vessel MV Adonia.
In May, the US Government approved ferry services between Florida and Cuba, resuming the operations after a hiatus of more than 50 years.
Image: A Carnival cruise ship. Photo: courtesy of PRNewsFoto / Carnival Corporation & plc.
