SEATTLE, Wash., Sept. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/
-- Fathom, the pioneer in social impact travel and
Carnival Corporation's (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK) 10th
and newest brand, today announced that it intends to visit three
ports of call in Cuba --
Havana, Cienfuegos and
Santiago de Cuba. It also unveiled
the intended 7-day itinerary that Fathom travelers will experience
featuring an authentic Cuban cultural immersion – part learning,
part sharing, and all immersion into the Cuban culture and full
connection with the Cuban people.
Launched in June 2015, Fathom made
history in July in receiving U.S. approval to sail from the U.S. to
Cuba, and it is working to finalize Cuban approval. Currently
Fathom is accepting reservations for its inaugural voyage to Cuba
beginning in May 2016.
Today's announcement gives travelers preliminary information
about the three ports Fathom intends to visit, along with insight
into the proposed itinerary for the 7-day journey and the
experiences that will take place in Cuba – which will focus on supporting cultural
exchange and economic development for the Cuban people and include
a variety of artistic, educational and humanitarian activities.
Below is a sample itinerary for a 7-day journey from
Miami to Cuba:
DAY 1 -
Havana
|
|
DAY 2 –
Havana
|
ACTIVITY
|
Old City Walking
Tour
|
ACTIVITY
|
Rural Cuba
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Economic development
and micro-enterprise.
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Supports
micro-entrepreneurs.
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
Walk led by a
preservationist expert.
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
Visit Las terrazas, a
self-sustaining community and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
|
ACTIVITY
|
Afro-Cuban Community
Meeting
|
ACTIVITY
|
Old Havana
Booksellers
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Connect with artist
entrepreneurs and support the after-school community.
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Supports local
entrepreneurs.
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
Visit Muraleando, a
neighborhood brought back to life and turned into a living work of
art.
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
Meet with independent
Cuban booksellers at market.
|
ACTIVITY
|
Journalistic
Perspective
|
ACTIVITY
|
Casa Fuster and
Fusterlandia
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Encourages Cubans to
share their stories with the world.
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Supports the
arts.
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
Attend a special
Q&A session with a well-known author from Cuba
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
Meet a famous
contemporary Cuban artist
|
ACTIVITY
|
Hemingway
|
ACTIVITY
|
Interact with Cuban
Professionals
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Envisions new
micro-enterprise opportunities for the Cuban people.
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Encourages economic
activity.
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
See the fishing
village of Cojimar, the setting for Ernest Hemingway's book The Old
Man and the Sea.
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
Engage in a specially
arranged highly interactive Q&A session.
|
DAY 1 – Havana
(continued)
|
|
DAY 2 – Havana
(continued)
|
ACTIVITY
|
Alamar: Planned
Soviet-Style Community.
|
ACTIVITY
|
Organic Farm: Visit
an Organoponico (Urban Organic Farm and Agriculture +
Micro-Enterprise)
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Understand the Cuban
housing infrastructure and identifies opportunities for
improvement.
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Encourages
independent economic activity.
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
District of Alamar is
a 1970s social housing project of Soviet-style concrete.
|
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
Learn about this
growing agrarian movement and dine a family owned
restaurant.
|
|
|
ACTIVITY
|
Paladares: The
Entrepreneurs of Modern Cuba
|
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Encourages
independent economic activity.
|
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
Enjoy lunch held in
privately owned restaurants or private homes.
|
DAY 3 - Cultural
Immersion at Sea
|
|
DAY 4 -
Cienfuegos / Trinidad
|
|
ONBOARD
ACTIVITIES
|
Discussion Series:
Cuban History
|
ACTIVITY
|
Elementary School
Visit
|
Discussion
Series: Famous Cubans throughout history
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Encourages
independent economic activity.
|
|
Discussion Series:
What is a Change Maker? Unleashing the gifts and talents in every
human being.
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
Interact with
children at a primary school, while taking part in their
lessons.
|
|
Discussion Series:
Why so many Cuban doctors throughout the world?
|
ACTIVITY
|
UNESCO World Heritage
Site
|
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Encourages economic
development and micro-enterprise.
|
Discussion Series:
Cuban Culture, Music and Food Entertainment: Cuban Music &
Dance
|
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
Admire the colonial
architecture of Cienfuegos.
|
|
Cuban Book Club:
Discussion regarding popular Cuban literature and
stories
|
ACTIVITY
|
A Cappella
Today
|
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Support after-school
community development programs.
|
|
Entertainment: Buena
Vista Social Club
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
Enjoy a choral
performance and discussion with Choir of Cienfuegos.
|
|
Activity:
Change Maker Program - Unleashing the Change Maker within
you!
|
|
ACTIVITY
|
The Entrepreneurs of
Modern Cuba
|
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Encourages
independent economic activity.
|
|
Activity: From
Aid to Enterprise (Poverty Cure, Humanitarian)
|
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
Enjoy lunch held in
privately owned restaurants or private homes.
|
|
Film Series: Social
Impact Film Series [FILMS TO TBD]
|
|
Film Series: Cuban
Documentary Films [FILMS TO TBD]
|
ACTIVITY
|
Interact with Cuban
Professionals
|
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Encourages economic
activity.
|
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
Engage in a specially
arranged highly interactive Q&A session.
|
ACTIVITY
|
Trinidad Colonial
Splendor
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Encourages economic
development.
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
Explore Trinidad with
a restoration expert.
|
ACTIVITY
|
The People of and
Life in Trinidad
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Encourages economic
development.
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
Learn about
traditional ceramic techniques at the Casa de la
Alfarero.
|
ACTIVITY
|
Interaction with
Cuban Professionals in Trinidad.
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Encourages
independent economic activity.
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
Engage in a specially
arranged interactive Q&A session
|
DAY 5 - Santiago
de Cuba
|
|
DAY 6 - Cultural
Immersion at Sea
|
|
ACTIVITY
|
Spanish & French
& Afro-Cuban Heritage
|
ONBOARD
ACTIVITIES
|
Discussion Series:
Cuban Economy 2015 and Beyond
|
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Encourages economic
development and micro-enterprise through a focus on the local
entrepreneurs and business leadership community.
|
Discussion Series:
Cuban Culture, Music and Food
|
|
Discussion Series:
Environmental Partner: Cuban Micro-Climates
|
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
Explore the culture
known for rum, cigars, music and more.
|
Entertainment: Cuban
Music & Dance
|
|
Activity: Change
Maker Program
|
|
ACTIVITY
|
Economic Development
Activity
|
Activity: Art +
Activism - Social Impact Workshop
|
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Encourages economic
development.
|
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
Santiago is known for
its provincial economy that relies on natural resources and its
entrepreneurial residents.
|
Activity: From
Aid to Enterprise
|
|
Activity: Social
Impact Scavenger Hunt
|
|
Activity: Cuban
Marketplace
|
|
ACTIVITY
|
Elementary School
Visit
|
Film Series:
Cuban Social Impact [FILMS TO TBD]
|
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Encourages
educational progress.
|
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
Interact with
children at a primary school, while taking part in their
lessons.
|
Reflection: How can I
best serve and support the Cuban people?
|
|
Reflection: How
will I unleash the Change Maker within me back home?
|
|
ACTIVITY
|
The Entrepreneurs of
Modern Cuba
|
Impact
Commitment: What commitment will I make to my onboard
traveling community taking action for change?
|
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Encourages
independent economic activity.
|
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
Enjoy lunch held in
privately owned restaurants or private homes known as
paladares.
|
|
|
ACTIVITY
|
Interaction with
Cuban Professionals
|
SOCIAL
IMPACT
|
Encourages
independent economic activity.
|
SPECIAL
FEATURES
|
Engage in a specially
arranged highly interactive Q&A session.
|
"Cuba is a magnetic, beautiful country with tremendous
opportunity for the Cuban people and for Fathom travelers to
immerse, learn, grow and flourish through educational and cultural
exchange experiences that we will offer," said Tara Russell, president of Fathom and global
impact lead for Carnival Corporation. "Fathom travelers will have
the chance to interact, one-on-one, with artists, musicians, small
business owners, health workers and others to learn about all
aspects of Cuban society and to connect and share insights and
stories, leading to further progress for the Cuban people."
Russell added: "We believe there is tremendous pent up demand in
the marketplace to visit this extraordinary country – particularly
in the U.S. where travelers are eager to experience Cuba – so we
wanted to share as much of the country as possible."
According to Russell, each of the three ports of call is unique
and was selected to provide distinctly different Cuban experiences.
For example:
- Havana: Cuba's colorful
capital is popular for its exciting collection of
Spanish-influenced castles, cathedrals, mansions and museums, and
may be best known for historic Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage
site with more than 900 landmarks. One of the most culturally rich
urban centers in the world and once home to Ernest Hemingway, Havana features a lively music and
entertainment scene, an eclectic mix of inspirational museums and
art galleries, some of the world's best ballet schools and dance
companies, and much more.
- Cienfuegos: Considered an architectural jewel of French
influence and known as "the Pearl of the South," this city is
popular among diving enthusiasts for an undersea maze of coral
columns along the coastline called Notre
Dame. Among its many attractions, Cienfuegos boasts an
imposing fortress – Castillo de Jagua – built to protect the city
from attacks and widely recognized as one of Cuba's most important
military structures.
- Santiago de Cuba: Cuba's
second-largest city, Santiago de
Cuba is infused with a distinctly Caribbean spirit. The traditional site of two
popular festivities – Carnaval and the Fiesta del Fuego – the city
encompasses a diverse assortment of architectural influences, from
the El Morro castle (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), to the Parque
Céspedes in the bustling historic quarter, to the glorious Basílica
de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre, Cuba's most sacred
pilgrimage site.
The Cuban itinerary provided has been designed in full
compliance with U.S. Department of Treasury rules that allow
licensed travel companies to transport travelers to Cuba to engage
in activities that support the Cuban people and Fathom is working
to finalize the details around the proposed itinerary with its
partners.
Fathom travelers will sail aboard the 710-passenger MV Adonia
where they may take part in robust onboard experiences customized
to this unique travel encounter, including specialized retail
focused on empowering purpose-driven businesses and entrepreneurs
and culturally and geographically relevant music and film options,
as well as Cuban inspired menu options.
Special onboard programming will include a wide variety of
activities covering an array of interests, ranging from an
orientation to the country's history, customs and culture, to
casual fun personal enrichment activities, to conversational
Spanish lessons, to guided sessions with the Fathom team to share
insights, ideas, and opportunities about the future of cultural
exchange travel to Cuba.
Fathom Also Begins Sailing to Dominican Republic in April 2016
In addition, beginning in April
2016, Fathom will begin sailing Amber Cove, a new port in the Dominican Republic and the company's first
social impact destination. In the Dominican Republic, Fathom will offer
consumers authentic, meaningful impact travel experiences to work
alongside locals as they tackle community needs. Fathom
collaborated with diverse Dominican stakeholders including
Dominican community leaders, Dominican officials and leaders of top
local non-profits with deep roots in the country to identify
activities that would have the greatest impact on people's lives
and make lasting contributions to the community.
Prices for the seven-day trips to the Dominican Republic start at $974 per person, excluding taxes, fees and port
expenses and including all meals on the ship, onboard social impact
immersion experiences, three on-shore social impact activities and
related supplies. Prices will vary by season. 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 150 days
prior to departure.
Prices for seven-day itineraries to Cuba start at $1,800 per person, excluding Cuban visas, taxes,
fees and port expenses and including all meals on the ship, onboard
social impact immersion experiences and on-the-ground cultural
immersion 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 150 days
prior to departure. To reserve a spot on future sailings, travelers
may call 1-855-9Fathom or through a travel professional. Learn more
at www.Fathom.org.
About Fathom
Fathom is a different kind of
cruise that combines one's love of travel with the desire to make a
difference in the world. It is a new category of travel, social
impact travel. Part of the Carnival Corporation (NYSE/LSE: CCL;
NYSE: CUK) family of now ten brands, Fathom offers consumers
authentic, meaningful travel experiences to enrich the life of the
traveler and work alongside locals as they tackle community needs.
Fathom is unique in that it leverages Carnival Corporation's
expertise and scale for a one-of-a-kind business model to create
long-term collaboration with its partner countries, allowing for
sustained social impact and lasting development. Fathom will serve
the sizable and growing market of potential social impact travel
consumers – approximately one million North Americans – in addition
to global travelers already pursuing service-oriented travel
experiences worldwide.
Sailing aboard the MV Adonia, a 710-passenger vessel redeployed
from Carnival Corporation's P&O Cruises (UK), Fathom will
mobilize, educate and equip travelers on every trip allowing for
thousands of impact activity days per week – and tens of thousands
of travelers a year to communities of promise, providing
unprecedented scale for impact.
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fathom-announces-intended-ports-of-call-7-day-itinerary-to-cuba-300151361.html
SOURCE Fathom