Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings gets Cuba approval

All three Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings brands have been granted approval to begin sailing to Cuba from US ports.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Oceania Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line will begin cruises to the Caribbean island in March 2017.

Oceania Cruises will kick off proceedings on March 7, 2017, with a Caribbean cruise out of Miami. Seven Seas Mariner will call into Havana in April while Norwegian will debut in Cuba in May.

“We are tremendously excited to have not just one, but all three of our award-winning brands receive approval from the Cuban authorities to offer cruises to Cuba from the United States,” said Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “As a Cuban-American and founder of Oceania Cruises, I am incredibly proud that one of Oceania’s vessels will be our company’s first to sail to Cuba. This is truly a dream come true for me and I cannot wait for our loyal guests to experience the sights and sounds of my hometown of Havana and get to know its rich culture and its warm and welcoming residents.”

Full itinerary details and on sale dates for voyages that call on Cuba are now available for Oceania Cruises, later this month for Regent Seven Seas Cruises and on 20 December for Norwegian Cruise Line.

The announcement came as Royal Caribbean was also approved to to sail to the island.

Two of the company’s line, Royal Caribbean International and Azamara Club Cruises, will run cruises to the island from Florida. Details will be announced in the new future.