Empress of the Seas Awaits Green Light to Start Miami-Cuba Cruises

Royal Caribbean International has extended the booking availability of the Empress of the Seas until Oct. 29, while the cruise line awaits approval from authorities to sail the ship to Cuba.

Empress was recalled from the Pullmantur fleet and given a $50 million makeover. It is doing a schedule of four- and five-day Caribbean cruises, but bookings can’t be made very far into the future in case the ship is given the green light for Cuba itineraries.

Bookings had previously been available through the end of July. Agents on a tour of the ship in Miami asked several questions about when the Cuba cruises would start, but Royal Caribbean officials said they had no new information.

“We’re not going to Cuba until at least Oct. 29,” said Vicki Freed, Royal Caribbean's senior vice president for sales, trade support and services.

Source: Travel Weekly