Norwegian’s Oceania Brand Adds Sailings To Cuba; 3 Largest U.S. Cruise Lines Could Now Bring More Than 110,000 Visitors To Cuba In 2017/2018; US$150 Million To Companies; US$11+ Million To Cuba

Miami, Florida-based Oceania Cruises, a subsidiary of Bermuda-based (Miami, Florida, headquarters) Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (2016 revenues exceeded US$4.3 billion), announced that the company would have two vessels make a combined nine (9) sailings in 2017 that would include the Republic of Cuba.

If the vessel operates at capacity, the 684-passenger 593ft Insignia (with six sailings) would bring 4,104 visitors to the Republic of Cuba with gross revenues to Oceania Cruises of approximately US$12.5 million and have a direct economic impact upon the Republic of Cuba which could exceed US$800,000.00.

If the vessel operates at capacity, the 1,250-passenger 784ft Marina (three sailings) would bring 3,750 visitors to the Republic of Cuba with gross revenues to Oceania Cruises of approximately US$10.5 million and have a direct economic impact upon the Republic of Cuba which could exceed US$600,000.00.

On 7 February 2017, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. announced an additional twenty-five (25) sailings from Miami, Florida, to Havana, Republic of Cuba, for the period June 2017 through December 2017. Previously, the company announced five (5) sailings for May 2016. NCL is using the 2,004-passenger, 848ft Norwegian Sky. If operating at capacity, NCL will deliver 60,120 passengers to the Republic of Cuba, resulting in a potential direct economic impact to the Republic of Cuba of more than US$7 million. Gross revenues to NCL if the vessel operates at capacity for all sailings could be US$81.4 million.

On 2 February 2017, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. (2016 revenues exceeded US$8.5 billion) increased the number of sailings in 2017 that include the Republic of Cuba from four (4) to eleven (11); changing the number of passengers from a potential 6,408 to 17,622 and gross revenues from a potential US$8.3 million to US$22.9 million. For the Republic of Cuba sailings, the company is using its 1,602-passenger 692ft Empress of the Seas. For 2017, Royal Caribbean Cruises will have eleven (11) sailings that will include the Republic of Cuba: ten (10) from Tampa, Florida, and one (1) sailing from Miami, Florida. The sailings, which range from four (4) nights to seven (7) nights, commence in April 2017 and continue through November 2017. If the Empress of the Seas sails at capacity, the total number of passengers that would visit the Republic of Cuba in 2017 will be 17,622 with gross revenues of approximately US$22.9 million. The direct economic impact to the Republic of Cuba could exceed US$2.6 million.

Carnival Adds 24,624 Potential Passengers To Cuba Sailings; 3 Largest U.S. Cruise Lines Potential 102,366 Passengers To Cuba; US$121+ Million To Companies; US$13+ Million To Cuba
February 14, 2017

On 14 February 2017, Miami, Florida-based Carnival Corporation & plc (2016 revenues US$16 billion), reported that the company would launch twelve (12) sailings to the Republic of Cuba during the period June 2017 through May 2018 using the 2,052-passenger 855ft Carnival Paradise.

If the vessel operates at capacity, the company would place 24,624 passengers in the Republic of Cuba in 2017/2018, resulting in gross revenues to Carnival Corporation & plc of more than US$21.3 million and a direct economic impact upon the Republic of Cuba of more than US$3.2 million.

On 1 May 2016, Carnival Corporation & plc, through its Fathom subsidiary, commenced seven-day itineraries with the 700-passenger 594ft MV Adonia directly from/to the United States (Port of Miami, Florida) for individuals subject to United States law who are authorized to visit the Republic of Cuba under regulations (twelve categories; tourism is prohibited by United States law) issued by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the United States Department of the Treasury in Washington, DC.