Fathom unveils excursions for Cuba cruises
By Tom Stieghorst /
Fathom, Carnival Corp. new social-impact cruise brand, unveiled nearly two dozen excursions it plans to offer as part of its week-long sailings to Cuba when they start in May 2016.
In a statement, Fathom described the activities as “part learning, part sharing and all immersion into the Cuban culture and full connection with the Cuban people.”
American citizens traveling on Fathom are limited in what they can do onshore in Cuba. Regulations from the U.S. Treasury Department spell out 12 types of activities that are considered to meet the standards of “purposeful travel,” and promote cultural engagement.
Fathom passengers, for example, won’t be able to spend a day at the beach, but may partake in a Q&A session with a prominent Cuban author or meet with independent Cuban booksellers.
Two days of activities are scheduled for the Cuban capital of Havana, including a walking tour highlighting its architecture; a visit to Las Terrazas, a Unesco biosphere reserve; and a visit to Muraleando, a neighborhood “brought back to life and turned into a living work of art.”
Havana also will serve as the base for a trip to an organic farm, a Soviet-style 1970s housing project and Cojimar, a fishing village that was the setting for Ernest Hemingway’s novel “The Old Man and the Sea.”
While in Havana, Fathom guests will dine in paladares, private homes or restaurants that are not run by the state.
Day 3 will be at sea and feature organized discussions on everything from Cuban food and history to the question of why so many Cuban doctors work in foreign countries. There will be an entertainment session focused on the music of the Buena Vista Social Club.
Fathom will next visit Cienfuegos for a day. On the agenda: a visit to an elementary school, a choral performance and an interactive session with Cuban business professionals. There will be a side trip to Trinidad to explore colonial architecture with a restoration specialist.
Fathom will also stop in Santiago de Cuba, the island’s Second City, where a half dozen activities await, including explorations of Spanish, French and Afro-Cuban heritage; talks with local professionals; meals at paladares; and an unspecified economic development project.
“Fathom travelers will have the chance to interact, one-on-one, with artists, musicians, small-business owners, health workers and others to learn about all aspects of Cuban society,” said Fathom President Tara Russell, “and to connect and share insights and stories, leading to further progress for the Cuban people.”
The excursions are included in the fare, which starts at about $1,800 per person. The price excludes Cuban visa, taxes, fees and port expenses. Prices will vary by
season.
http://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Fathom-unveils-excursions-for-Cuba-cruises
My comment:
The Cuba Cruise P2P program December 18 - April 11 can be seen here http://tinyurl.com/CCP2Pitinerary
In a statement, Fathom described the activities as “part learning, part sharing and all immersion into the Cuban culture and full connection with the Cuban people.”
American citizens traveling on Fathom are limited in what they can do onshore in Cuba. Regulations from the U.S. Treasury Department spell out 12 types of activities that are considered to meet the standards of “purposeful travel,” and promote cultural engagement.
Fathom passengers, for example, won’t be able to spend a day at the beach, but may partake in a Q&A session with a prominent Cuban author or meet with independent Cuban booksellers.
Two days of activities are scheduled for the Cuban capital of Havana, including a walking tour highlighting its architecture; a visit to Las Terrazas, a Unesco biosphere reserve; and a visit to Muraleando, a neighborhood “brought back to life and turned into a living work of art.”
Havana also will serve as the base for a trip to an organic farm, a Soviet-style 1970s housing project and Cojimar, a fishing village that was the setting for Ernest Hemingway’s novel “The Old Man and the Sea.”
While in Havana, Fathom guests will dine in paladares, private homes or restaurants that are not run by the state.
Day 3 will be at sea and feature organized discussions on everything from Cuban food and history to the question of why so many Cuban doctors work in foreign countries. There will be an entertainment session focused on the music of the Buena Vista Social Club.
Fathom will next visit Cienfuegos for a day. On the agenda: a visit to an elementary school, a choral performance and an interactive session with Cuban business professionals. There will be a side trip to Trinidad to explore colonial architecture with a restoration specialist.
Fathom will also stop in Santiago de Cuba, the island’s Second City, where a half dozen activities await, including explorations of Spanish, French and Afro-Cuban heritage; talks with local professionals; meals at paladares; and an unspecified economic development project.
“Fathom travelers will have the chance to interact, one-on-one, with artists, musicians, small-business owners, health workers and others to learn about all aspects of Cuban society,” said Fathom President Tara Russell, “and to connect and share insights and stories, leading to further progress for the Cuban people.”
The excursions are included in the fare, which starts at about $1,800 per person. The price excludes Cuban visa, taxes, fees and port expenses. Prices will vary by
season.
http://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Fathom-unveils-excursions-for-Cuba-cruises
My comment:
The Cuba Cruise P2P program December 18 - April 11 can be seen here http://tinyurl.com/CCP2Pitinerary
