Carnival’s Fathom Releases Cuba Shore Excursions

Fathom, the new social impact cruise line owned by Carnival Corp., has released a preliminary schedule of shore excursions and activities for its planned cruises to Cuba.

The seven-day trip, which will start in Miami and visit three cities in Cuba -- Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba -- will offer artistic, educational and humanitarian activities, in keeping with the people-to-people requirements that still govern travel to the island. To be compliant, Fathom passengers will have to commit to eight hours of onshore programming each day, a line spokesperson said.

Sample activities in Havana include a city walking tour with a preservationist; visiting the fishing village of Cojimar where Ernest Hemingway set The Old Man and the Sea; having lunch in a paladares (a restaurant in a private home); or meeting with Cuban business people, entrepreneurs, organic farmers and artists.

In Cienfuegos, sample tours include traveling to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Trinidad or the old part of the city (which also has the designation); visiting an elementary school; taking in a concert; learning about ceramic techniques and meeting with Cuban professionals.

Santiago de Cuba excursions include exploring Cuban rum, cigars and music; visiting an elementary school; lunching in a paladares and meeting with Cuban professionals.

The cruise will also have two sea days, which will be filled with lectures, film screenings, Cuban music and even a book club.

Fathom's Cuba cruises are slated to begin in May 2016, and are already on sale. While Fathom has already received approval from the U.S. government to sail to Cuba (a necessity before the Obama Administration again relaxed regulations last week), the Cuban government has yet to sign off.

Fathom will alternate its Cuba cruises weekly with voluntourism cruises to Amber Cove, a new port set to open in the Dominican Republic.