Carnival Cruise Line and Port Tampa Bay announced today that the Carnival Paradise will add Havana, Cuba to select itineraries from Tampa starting this summer. The four- and five-day itineraries will include multiple opportunities which will include overnight visits to Havana. Carnival Paradise guests will be able to choose from a range of exciting shore excursion experiences that showcase Cuba’s vibrant culture and majestic beauty, along with the island’s warm and friendly people and centuries-old architectural landmarks.
“Cuba is an island jewel, unique from anywhere else in the Caribbean, and we are thrilled to have this rare opportunity to take our guests to this fascinating destination,” said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. “The opportunity to visit Havana, combined with the fun, relaxed ambiance and wide variety of amenities and features offered on Carnival Paradise, will make for a truly one-of-a-kind vacation experience,” she added.
“Carnival has been our long-standing partner for over twenty years. We are excited to play host to the hundreds of thousands of Carnival passengers that will come to and from Port Tampa Bay to the exotic and exciting destinations that Carnival has to offer,” Paul Anderson, port president and CEO, said. “Adding Havana to the already popular Carnival Paradise experience is a ‘win-win’ for cruise lovers everywhere, and we Thank Christine Duffy and Carnival for our great and rewarding partnership that we have enjoyed for so long and will continue for years to come,” he said.
Raul Alfonso, the port’s executive VP and chief commercial officer, added, “We value how Carnival Cruise Line has responded to market demands by expanding its Tampa-based itineraries, and this new port of call addition will be very well received by the travel industry.”
The visits to Havana comply with regulations of the U.S. Department of Treasury that permit travel operators to transport approved travelers to Cuba to engage in activities as defined by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Office of Foreign Assets Control. The Carnival Paradise is one of seven cruise ships that will home port at Port Tampa Bay during the 2017-28 cruise season. For more information about cruising from Tampa, visit www.portTB.com.