Holland America to Offer Cruises to Cuba
Photo courtesy of Holland America Line.
Holland America Line will be warding off the winter cold with voyages to the hottest new destination—Cuba.
On May 26, the cruise line announced the Veendam will set sail to the coastal cities of Havana and Cienfuegos, Cuba from December 2017 through April 2018. This exciting new development gives wanderlust travelers from all walks of life the opportunity to travel to the formerly restricted destination.
Beginning on December 22, 2017, the Veendam will be embarking on seven, 11, and 12-day itineraries from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Some of these voyages also head toward destinations like Amber Cove, Dominican Republic; Belize City, Belize; George Town, Grand Cayman; Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and Key West, Florida, condensing the most travel, fun, and relaxation into one vacation.
Havana, Cuba. Photo courtesy of Pedro Szekely, Flickr.
On board the Veendam, travelers can learn about Cuban culture through Holland America’s Explorations Central program, which gives passengers guidance and information about the local culture and customs.
Holland America is not the only cruise line headed to Cuba in 2017. The Veendam will join Norwegian Cruise Line’s Gem and Royal Caribbean’s Empress of the Seas. In addition, there are 18 other ships planning to set sail to Cuba through 2019.
Holland America’s announcement signifies the United States’ newfound and growing relationship with Cuba. In 2016, the U.S. government lifted the embargo banning American citizens from entering Cuba, and vice versa, enacted by the John F. Kennedy administration in 1962. Journeys to Cuba have yet to become a mainstream tourist attraction for American travelers, but the demand for trips to Cuba is already rising.
“For many, travel is about seeking new places to explore and discovering meaningful new cultural opportunities, and Cuba is one of the most sought-after new destinations for many of our guests,” Holland America Line President Orlando Ashford said in a written statement.
Park West is proud to house art on the Veendam and vehemently supports international arts and culture. Join Park West Gallery aboard your next cruise to journey into the world of fine art.
