Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Fathom Offers Limited-Time Savings for Week-Long Cruises to Cuba

Fathom, one of Carnival Corporation’s 10 global cruise brands, has added significant savings for deluxe staterooms for its popular week-long cruises to Cuba. Travelers save up to 28 percent off the standard rate when booking by March 31 for Fathom’s cruises to Cuba between March 5 and May 28. Choices feature premium balcony staterooms starting from $2,999 with an additional $150 shipboard credit, or ocean view staterooms starting from $2,499 with a $75 credit shipboard credit. Credit may be applied to popular onboard activities such as rejuvenating treatments at Fathom’s full-service luxury spa, an appetizing dinner at the ship’s specialty restaurant Ocean Grill or on one-of-a-kind collections located in any of the onboard retail stores.

“Many of our travelers want to immerse themselves in another culture by richly exploring new communities in deeper ways but at times they may feel limited by their budgets,” said Tara Russell, president of Fathom and global impact lead for Carnival Corporation. “Fathom's Cuba cruises open up the island beyond Havana and give our travelers time and space to explore, connect, reflect and truly understand the country's heritage.”

The new offers follow Fathom’s recent announcement that allows travelers to book six unique upcoming voyages known as the “Cultures of Caribbean” for $399 that will visit the Dominican Republic and Santiago de Cuba, the second largest city in Cuba and the birthplace of salsa dancing.

Fathom’s people-to-people itinerary introduces travelers to the world beyond Havana with stops in the historic ports of Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba that provide greater context to the country's history and culture. From historical site visits to cultural experiences and everyday interactions with a broad range of people, travelers deepen their understanding and connections in a wondrous country. Every night, travelers return to the comforts of the playfully small ship knowing Fathom has handled all the details of getting from location to location in Cuba. This allows them to have the freedom and flexibility to savor each city from sun up to sundown, not worry about packing and unpacking at each destination, and make each moment even more noteworthy.

The experience includes unique shore excursions—featuring several included in the overall price of the cruise—that provide travelers varying opportunities to interact with the Cuban people and become immersed in their culture. Some highlights include the island’s famously friendly people, Spanish and French colonial architecture, traditional Cuban music and dance, restaurants with genuine Cuban cuisine, cathedrals, coastal fortresses, theatres, monuments, plazas, art installations and the cannons on San Juan Hill.

Highlights of each destination include:
• Havana: Cuba’s colorful capital is best known for the Spanish-influenced architecture of Old Havana, the classic American cars that cruise the island and its thriving nightlife. But its historic castles, fortresses, cathedrals, mansions and public buildings vie for attention with the city’s lively music and entertainment scene, an eclectic and sophisticated mix of museums, art galleries, music, dance and open-air festivals that take full advantage of the island’s sunny Caribbean climate.
• Cienfuegos: This coastal city is the center of Cuba’s sugar, tobacco and coffee trades, and is known to Cubans as the Pearl of the South for its collection of French-influenced Neoclassical buildings and wide seaside boulevards, with a downtown that has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Near the entrance to the city’s spectacular natural bay stands the great stone fortress of Castillo de Jagua, built in 1745 to protect the city against pirate attacks. The city offers a chance to enjoy musical performances, city plazas and charming settings.
• Santiago de Cuba: Capital of the Spanish colony of Cuba from 1522 to 1589, Santiago de Cuba is considered the birthplace of salsa dancing and rum. With its watchtowers and cannons used in the Spanish-American War still well-preserved, Cuba’s second largest city is home to the popular festivals of Carnaval and the Fiesta del Fuego, as well as to many of the country’s most famed musicians and artists and some of its most-visited historic sites.
Cultures of Caribbean Cruises
Only Fathom provides travelers with a single journey that provides two distinct experiences in one trip. The 7-day voyages combine the magnetic energy of Cuba with the Dominican Republic’s charismatic charm and the opportunity to make lifelong connections through specially designed impact activities. Travelers are deeply immersed in the arts, history, culture and everyday lives of Cuban people while in Santiago de Cuba. While in the Dominican Republic, travelers have the opportunity to participate in social impact experiences that make a profound and meaningful difference in the lives of Dominican citizens and their communities.

After a restful day at sea, travelers awake to spend one and a half days participating in optional and unforgettable impact activities to connect with the Dominican Republic and its people in exceptional ways. Impact activities are designed to address the economic, educational and environmental health of the community and enable travelers to collaborate with locals on meaningful activities like planting trees, helping a women's cooperative produce artisan chocolates and building water filters for Dominican homes. Participating in these activities allows travelers to fully experience the personal transformation that comes with this journey and being part of creating powerful and sustainable change.

Special Offer Specifics
Fathom’s special Cuba offer is available for balcony and ocean view staterooms only. For more information or to book, travelers can call 1-855-932-1719 or their travel professionals by March 31 and reference code “RF.” This promotion is not available for bookings made online, is non-refundable, and cannot be combined with any other offers.

Prices for ocean view and balcony staterooms to Cuba from March 5 to May 8 start at $2,499 and $2,999 per person based on double occupancy and include all meals on the ship, and lunch while in the three ports, onboard experiences and select on-the-ground activities. These prices do not include taxes, fees, port expenses, visa and gratuities. Estimated taxes, fees and port expenses vary by sail date and range from $144.02 to $165.98 per person. The required travel visa is $75 per person and gratuities are estimated at $80.50 per person. To secure a spot on a future sailing, a non-refundable $600 per person deposit is required at the time of booking and final payment is due 90 days prior to departure.

Pricing for Fathom’s 7-day Cultures of Caribbean itineraries to the Dominican Republic and Santiago de Cuba start at $399, excluding taxes, fees, port expenses and gratuities and Cuban visa, and include all meals on the ship and lunch in Santiago de Cuba, lunch during Dominican Republic impact activities, onboard experiences, and select on-the-ground activities. The required Cuban travel visa is $75 per person and gratuities are estimated at $80.50 per person. The offer is applicable for all staterooms during cruises departing on February 26, March 12 and 26, April 9 and 23, and May 7. To secure a spot on future sailings, a fully refundable $300 per person deposit is required for all cabin categories and occupancy levels. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Learn more at Fathom.org.

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