Carnival Cruise Line has announced that they will be offering trips from Miami to Cuba starting in May of 2016 on their new social-mission-based line Fathom, the first cruise voyage to the island nation since the 1960 trade embargo.
Under US travel regulations which still do not allow tourist visits, passengers will be required to participate in cultural activity or social outreach for eight hours per day. To comply with these regulations, passengers will make the week-long journey aboard the Adonia, a ship that will eschew casinos and traditional excursions such as snorkeling and beach-hopping for ones that focus on cultural enrichment. While the itineraries are still in the process of being finalized, on-shore activities are likely to include volunteer work with local small business and educational trips. This announcement follows a similar initiative by Carnival in the Dominican Republic , where travellers volunteer on farms and in schools.
Read more: theguardian.com; nytimes.com