Cuba: A Win-Win Destination for Most Cruise Lines

The opening of Cuba to cruise tourism from the US is not just set to grow business for the Caribbean but, according to Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association president Michele Paige, it also could boost the all-important first-time cruiser market.

In her keynote speech at the “Future of Cruising in the Americas and Caribbean” conference session at Seatrade Cruise Global, she said: “Cuba presents a host of opportunities including new itinerary options and the tapping of pent-up demand from non-cruisers who may cruise for the first time.”

And not just to Cuba, either, as Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy pointed out: “Even if the person who sees all the coverage about cruise lines going to Cuba does not take a cruise there, they might well be influenced to cruise somewhere else.”

But the development of Cuba as a cruise destination is not going to be straightforward. MSC Cruises USA president Roberto Fusaro said: “Havana has just the one pier and even the transfer from the airport to the port is challenge.”

Duffy added that it was not just about the infrastructure but the whole complexity of the process for US travelers. “Travel agents are being asked questions and there have been lots of calls to our call center as there is much explaining to do,” she said. “It helps that we have already been through this with Fathom so it might be even harder for those lines coming in now.”

One of those is Norwegian Cruise Line and its SVP sales Camille Olivere said that one early surprise involves the sourcing of the passengers for Cuba. 

“We’re not just seeing the expected demand from the Florida market but also one from the US Northeast. This is because it is such a culturally immersive itinerary and I think that many of those passengers will return for a land vacation,” she said.

“The size of ship you can take is limited but, as the infrastructure there grows, you’ll see us all offering a greater range of Cuba itineraries.”

Source: Seatrade Cruise News