02/16/2017
Carnival is sailing to Cuba
Greetings Carnival Paradise Guest,
Although your cruise is still a while away and your bags arenât packed yet, we want to provide you with some information regarding the itinerary for your sailing on Carnival Paradise.
We are excited to share that we have been granted permission by the Cuban government to operate sailings to Cuba. We will be replacing our call to Grand Cayman and Cozumel with a visit to beautiful and historic Havana, Cuba and Key West, FL. Entering the harbor, you will be welcomed by the Cuban people lining the sidewalks of the famous seawall, El Malecon, as you sail past the iconic El Morro Castle, a fortress guarding the entrance to Havana bay named after the three biblical Magi. You will have the opportunity to admire the beauty of the cityâs abundant colonial architecture, sample the delectable local cuisine and experience the personal warmth of the Cuban people and its vibrant culture in this island paradise where time has stood still. Below is the revised itinerary:
Day Port of Call Arrive Depart__ Mon Tampa, FL 4:00 PM Tue Fun Day @ Sea Wed Key West, FL 8:00 AM 5:00 PM Thu Havana, Cuba 8:00 AM Fri Havana, Cuba 6:00 AM Sat Tampa, FL 8:00 AM Pre-purchased Carnival shore excursions for Grand Cayman and Cozumel will be automatically refunded to the original form of payment. A selection of Fun tours in Havana will be available and will include a full time schedule of activities that meet the requirements of the U.S. Government for travel to Cuba. These exciting excursions will create great opportunities for you to experience Cuba through interactions with the Cuban people, visits to the historic sites and many other unique features. Guests wishing to conduct their own selfguided tour of Havana must confirm on a signed affidavit that their planned visit complies with the allowable categories of travel (www.carnival.com/cuba-affidavit). We will send you an email once shore excursion information is available on carnival.com so you can start your planning.
IMPORTANT NOTES: ⢠All guests visiting Cuba MUST travel with a passport valid for six months after the completion of your cruise (birth certificates are not acceptable). ⢠All guests must purchase a visa to enter Cuba which Carnival will facilitate at a cost of 75 USD per person. This charge will be added to your on board Sail and Sign account. ⢠Guests who are Cuban born have special visa and documentation requirements. ⢠The Cuban government also requires all guests to pay a Cuba Health Insurance fee, however this will be included in your taxes, fees, and port expenses. ⢠All guests must provide a Travel Affidavit documenting the category for approved travel that they will be utilizing (www.carnival.com/cuba-affidavit). This form must be provided prior to boarding and guests will be responsible for maintaining a copy of their records.
We recognize that meeting these new obligations will result in some additional work for guests who were already booked on the affected sailings and as a gesture of our appreciation, we will be posting a credit of 100 USD per person on to your Sail and Sign account.
In the event you decide you wish to keep your original itinerary, please contact 1-800-CARNIVAL or your Personal Vacation Planner so our team can get you rebooked on another departure date or Carnival ship. Rates will be protected when rebooking on a comparable sailing in like accommodations. Should you wish to cancel your reservation, you will receive a full refund. If you would like to change your sailing date or cancel your cruise, please contact us by March 7, 2017.