MIAMI, Sept. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Fathom,
Carnival Corporation's (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK) 10th
and newest cruise brand, has added three new shore excursions to
its already-popular selection of in-country experiences for its
week-long cruise vacations in Cuba. The new excursions follow Fathom's
recent announcement that it is adding two new sailing dates to Cuba
on Oct. 9 and Nov. 6, the result of high pent-up demand by
travelers choosing to explore Cuba with Fathom, the only U.S.
cruise line sailing from the U.S. to the largest and most enticing
destination in the Caribbean.
Beginning with the Sept. 18
sailing on the MV Adonia, Fathom travelers may now choose from
three additional on-shore adventures that have been added to the
already-popular list of activities and experiences available during
the cruise. These new excursions include:
- Walking in the footsteps of one of the country's most famed
former residents by visiting Earnest
Hemingway's home, watering holes and hangouts, including the
small village that inspired The Old Man and the Sea, his Pulitzer
and Nobel Prize winning book.
- Venturing outside Havana to
explore the lush Cuban countryside and small communities.
- Experiencing the combination of revolution, rum, religion and
salsa in Santiago de Cuba. The tour
includes visits to Cuban hero Jose
Marti's grave and home of Cuba's patron saint during
Fathom's fascinating and off-the-beaten-path excursion into the
Sierra Maestra mountain range along the island's eastern side.
These three new offerings augment an already full set of fun,
one-of-a-kind experiences developed specifically for Fathom
travelers. The variety of excursions provides plenty of options to
enjoy the island and its people, food, music, architecture, culture
and history, which have already generated high satisfaction ratings
from Fathom travelers
All Fathom-sponsored activities are designed with comfort and
entertainment in mind and every detail is handled so travelers can
make the most of their time in the country.
Travelers need to unpack their suitcases just once, and never
have to worry about how they will get from one location to the
next. Fathom takes care of all those details and even provides
traveler visas and medical insurance in Cuba.
"One of the beautiful things about traveling to Cuba with Fathom
is that travelers spend less time planning and more time playing,"
said Tara Russell, president of
Fathom. "Our guests quickly learn they want to cherish every
single minute they spend in Cuba
and discover what makes the island such a special place.
We have experienced very high demand from travelers wanting to
go on an adventure to Cuba with the comfort, convenience and
peace of mind that comes with traveling with Fathom. The word is
spreading: Going on a cruise with Fathom to Cuba is the best way to
visit Cuba."
Because Fathom is focused on ensuring travelers maximize their
time on-shore to enjoy more of each destination, Fathom remains in
each country for an extended time. Cuba travelers have a total of
almost four full days on-shore in Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba.
"We want the Fathom Cuban experience to be unlike anything
travelers have ever before encountered, so we created unique and
exciting adventures to take travelers up close and personal into
the heart of three very distinct Cuban cities – Havana, Santiago de
Cuba and Cienfuegos," said Russell. "And, with the
introduction of three new fantastic, engaging experiences on
the ground, Fathom travelers have even more opportunity to get off
the beaten path to absorb the rich fabric of Cuban
society."
On-shore tours also provide ample time for travelers to explore
sites on their own, as well as stops along the way to dine on
authentic Cuban cuisine or sip rum and coffee with the locals.
Additional details about the new tours include:
- In Hemingway's Footsteps (Five hours) – Ernest Hemingway fans and curious travelers will
see Havana through the eyes of the
famed author. From the cobblestone streets of Old Havana to the
shores of fishing village Cojimar, the spirit of Hemingway is
immortalized in bars, museums and recipes. Travelers may follow in
Hemingway's footsteps as they explore the streets he once called
home.
Travelers visit Hemingway's home
"Finca Vigia," stop by his favorite fishing spot and inspiration
for "The Old Man and The Sea" – the village of Cojimar – step into
the room in which Hemingway wrote "For Whom the Bell Tolls," and
grab a bite and drink at one of his favorite restaurants or
watering holes.
The excursion includes lunch and
refreshments. The per-person price is $59.
- Beyond Havana: Exploring
the Cuban Countryside (Nine hours) – Travelers will have a rare
opportunity to experience rural life in Cuba as they crisscross the countryside known
for its coffee and sugar production. One highlight is Las Terrazas,
developed in the 1960s as part of Cuba's Green Revolution and
recognized today as a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Las Terrazas has
become an ecotourism hotspot and a sustainable community model for
artists, farmers and families utilizing organic farming and
medicine.
Travelers can interact with
doctors who transform flora and fauna into alternative medicines,
visit the vibrant art community and organic farms, and wander the
ruins of a former French coffee plantation. Cuban coffee sipped
inside a biosphere may be the best in the world.
The tour includes lunch at one of
Las Terrazas' locally sourced restaurants and refreshments
throughout the day. The per-person price is $69.
- Magic of Santiago Featuring El Cobre (Six hours) –
Travelers looking to experience the coming together of revolution,
rum, religion and salsa will not want to miss this tour of
Santiago de Cuba – Cuba's former
capital and the third of three destinations during the week-long
cruise to Cuba. Starting downtown in picturesque Antonio Maceo
Revolution Square, travelers proceed to the final resting place of
famed Cuban hero Jose Marti before
touring San Juan Hill, home to the Rough Riders assault during the
Spanish-American War.
The tour ventures beyond the
limits of the Santiago city center into the Sierra Maestra mountain
range for the city of El Cobre, a historic copper mining town with
African influence. Here travelers will visit the famous Basilica de
Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre, where they will hear about
the role religion plays in the daily lives of local communities
while learning about the history of the shrine and the impact made
during the Pope's visit in September
2015.
Travelers also will have the
option to attend a mass (when available), as well as listen to the
sounds of the city's famed steel drum band, El Cobre. The
per-person price is $69.
Travelers interested in heading off on their own also have the
option of self-certifying with approved People to People
activities. For example, travelers may choose to take a spin around
Havana in a mint-condition classic
American car, sample a variety of richly-flavored Cuban rum, groove
along to lively Cuban rhythms at a tropical Cabaret, or enjoy an
authentic Cuban meal in one of Cuba's many distinctive restaurants.
The choices for fun, entertainment and exploration are virtually
limitless.
A highly popular element of Fathom's Cuban cruise vacation is
enjoying the island while taking advantage of all the amenities of
a modern hotel available aboard the intimate and well-appointed
Adonia, which serves as home base throughout the seven-day voyage.
Guests also appreciate the dining, entertainment and specially
designed onboard programs about Cuba that are included as part of
the cruise.
In addition to the shore excursions, Fathom's guests may
participate in several onboard programming activities that
provide insight into Cuba's storied history and rich cultural
heritage, giving guests a base of knowledge before ever stepping
foot in the country.
Entertainment options also abound aboard the Adonia. Travelers
may dance to the rocking rhythms of live music or they can get into
the groove during lively Cuban dance classes. If they prefer, they
may try their luck at Domino Throwdown or Havana Architecture
Bingo, or take time to learn a little bit of Spanish while sipping
sangria.
Prices for seven-day itineraries to Cuba in 2016 start at
$1,599 per person. In 2017, starting
prices will be $1,699, excluding
Cuban visas, taxes, fees and port expenses, and include all meals
on the ship and lunch while in the three ports, onboard experiences
and on-the-ground activities. Prices will vary by season. To secure
a spot on future sailings, a fully refundable $600 per person deposit is required for all cabin
categories and occupancy levels. Final payment is due 90 days prior
to departure. To reserve a spot on future sailings, travelers may
call Fathom toll-free at 1-855-932-8466 or work with a travel
professional. Learn more at www.Fathom.org.
About Fathom Travel
Fathom is the newest brand in the
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK)
family, which carries nearly 11 million travelers a year to
communities around the world. Fathom invites travelers to
embrace the possibilities ahead and offers a different kind of
cruise that combines one's love of travel with the desire for
meaning and purpose. What sets Fathom apart is the rich and
playful onboard and onshore journey, its alongsided partnership
approach with its partner countries paired with a unique
business model that allow travelers to travel deep, build
community with like-minded travelers and become immersed in another
culture.
Fathom offers uniquely different round-trip voyages
from Miami to two of the Caribbean's most desired destinations: the
Dominican Republic and
Cuba. In the Dominican Republic, travelers have the
opportunity to work side by side with local residents in existing
programs that matter to the communities, like planting trees,
making chocolate, and creating life-saving water filters. In Cuba,
travelers visit the port cities of Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de
Cuba and enjoy on-the-ground activities that provide the
opportunity to interact directly with Cuban people and gain insight
into their everyday lives, rich culture and history.
The Fathom experience is brought to life aboard the
704-passenger MV Adonia. The smallest ship in the P&O fleet,
the Adonia is the ideal home base to engage, mobilize,
educate and equip travelers on every Dominican Republic trip allowing for personal
enrichment while participating in activities that unite strangers
to become part of something bigger together. For Cuban voyages,
passengers enjoy premium accommodations including all the amenities
of a modern hotel, plus the convenience of having to unpack only
once while seeing the breadth of the island. Every night, Fathom
travelers return to the comforts of the Adonia, where they can
relax knowing that all the details of travel are handled.
For more information about Fathom or to book a voyage, contact
your Travel Professional, call Fathom toll-free at 1-855-932-8466
or visit www.Fathom.org.
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SOURCE Fathom