Holland America Line is going to Cuba for the first time in more than 30 years.
They’re the latest cruise line to gain approval to sail to the island nation since the Obama administration loosened up the rules for traveling to Cuba in March 2016.
One of the caveats of cruising to Cuba is that passengers must participate in approved educational/cultural enrichment activities, or what they call “people-to-people” programs. Cruise lines have worked closely with the organizations to craft excursions and onboard programs to meet these requirements and Holland America Line is no different.
The line is offering its “EXC Tours” which will take cruisers into historic Havana and Cienfuegos to experience the sights, sounds, and food of the land that time forgot while fulfilling travel requirements.
Holland America’s first cruise to Cuba will be a 12-day holiday voyage, sailing from Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale, FL) on December 22, 2017, on the 1350 passenger ms Veendam. Following the maiden voyage, the line will offer nine 7-day cruises and one 11-day cruise before wrapping up the season with a final departure on April 18, 2018.
In addition to Cuba, some ports-of-call these cruises will call on include parent company Carnival’s newest private island, Amber Cove, Belize City, Costa Maya, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Grand Turk, Key West and Montego Bay.
Cruises to Cuba on the ms Veendam go on sale May 26, 2017.
Be sure to read my ms Veendam cruise review and read about what it’s like to sail on one of the smallest, most intimate ships in the Holland America Line fleet.
