Credit: Fathom
Credit: Fathom

As part of our continued coverage of Carnival’s new Fathom cruise line, which focuses on social impact travel, here today comes the reveal of their full Cuba itinerary, as well as pricing for both their Cuba and the Dominican Republic trips. Check out more about the new brand here.

7-day itinerary to Cuba
The 704-passenger ship Adonia will sail to Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba, offering travelers many Cuba culture and immersion activities. Last month Fathom shared select itinerary items for Cuba, covered here. Now, they have a full sample itinerary to share, with full days of activities and their social impact. Times are not included below, but you can get a better sense of schedule by scrolling down to the sample day on this page.

Each port of call showcases a totally different culturally immersive experience, which makes the trip pretty unique.

When you think of Havana, you may think of historic Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage site that has more than 900 landmarks. Havana also features an energetic music and entertainment scene. On the days at port, Fathom guests can find art galleries, dance schools and inspirational museums to explore.

Cienfuegos is known to be the “Pearl of the South” with its beautiful French architecture and diving along the Notre Dame coast. Fathom guests will also see the fortress Castillo de Jagua, one of Cuba’s most important military structures.

Cuba’s second largest city, Santiago de Cuba has a unique Caribbean vibe as the site of the popular festivities of Carnival and the Fiesta del Fuego. Guests will see the Morro Castle and Cuba’s pilgrimage site, Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre.

Below is a sample itinerary with more details on what yo can expect from a 7-day journey from Miami to Cuba:

DAY 1 – Havana

  • Old City Walking Tour
    • SOCIAL IMPACT: Economic development and micro-enterprise
    • SPECIAL FEATURES: Walk led by a preservationist expert
  • Afro-Cuban Community Meeting
    • SOCIAL IMPACT: Connect with artist entrepreneurs and support the after-school community
    • SPECIAL FEATURES: Visit Muraleando, a neighborhood brought back to life and turned into a living work of art
  • Journalistic Perspective
    • SOCIAL IMPACT: Encourages Cubans to share their stories with the world
    • SPECIAL FEATURES: Attend a special Q&A session with a well-known author from Cuba
  • Hemingway
    • SOCIAL IMPACT: Envisions new micro-enterprise opportunities for the Cuban people
    • SPECIAL FEATURES: See the fishing village of Cojimar, the setting for Ernest Hemingway’s book “The Old Man and the Sea”
  • Alamar: Planned Soviet-Style Community
    • SOCIAL IMPACT: Understand the Cuban housing infrastructure and identifies opportunities for improvement
    • SPECIAL FEATURES: District of Alamar is a 1970s social housing project of Soviet-style concrete

 

DAY 2 – Havana

  • Rural Cuba
    • SOCIAL IMPACT: Supports micro-entrepreneurs
    • SPECIAL FEATURES: Visit Las terrazas, a self-sustaining community and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
  • Old Havana Booksellers
    • SOCIAL IMPACT: Supports local entrepreneurs
    • SPECIAL FEATURES: Meet with independent Cuban booksellers at market
  • Casa Fuster and Fusterlandia
    • SOCIAL IMPACT: Supports the arts
    • SPECIAL FEATURES: Meet a famous contemporary Cuban artist
  • Interact with Cuban Professionals
    • SOCIAL IMPACT: Encourages economic activity
    • SPECIAL FEATURES: Engage in a specially arranged highly interactive Q&A session
  • Organic Farm: Visit an Organoponico (Urban Organic Farm and Agriculture + Micro-Enterprise)
    • SOCIAL IMPACT: Encourages independent economic activity
    • SPECIAL FEATURES: Learn about this growing agrarian movement and dine a family owned restaurant
  • Paladares: The Entrepreneurs of Modern Cuba
    • SOCIAL IMPACT: Encourages independent economic activity
  • Organic Farm: Visit an Organoponico (Urban Organic Farm and Agriculture + Micro-Enterprise)

 

DAY 3 – Cultural Immersion at Sea

  • ONBOARD ACTIVITIES:
    • Discussion Series: Cuban History
    • Discussion Series: Famous Cubans throughout history
    • Discussion Series: What is a Change Maker? Unleashing the gifts and talents in every human being.
    • Discussion Series: Why so many Cuban doctors throughout the world?
    • Discussion Series: Cuban Culture, Music and Food Entertainment: Cuban Music & Dance
    • Cuban Book Club: Discussion regarding popular Cuban literature and stories
    • Entertainment: Buena Vista Social Club
    • Activity: Change Maker Program – Unleashing the Change Maker within you!
    • Activity: From Aid to Enterprise (Poverty Cure, Humanitarian)
    • Film Series: Social Impact Film Series (FILMS TO TBD)
    • Film Series: Cuban Documentary Films (FILMS TO TBD)

 

DAY 4 – Cienfuegos / Trinidad

  • Elementary School Visit
    • SOCIAL IMPACT: Encourages independent economic activity
    • SPECIAL FEATURES: Interact with children at a primary school, while taking part in their lessons
  • UNESCO World Heritage Site
    • SOCIAL IMPACT: Encourages economic development and micro-enterprise
    • SPECIAL FEATURES: Admire the colonial architecture of Cienfuegos
  • A Cappella Today
    • SOCIAL IMPACT: Support after-school community development programs
    • SPECIAL FEATURES: Enjoy a choral performance and discussion with Choir of Cienfuegos
  • The Entrepreneurs of Modern Cuba
    • SOCIAL IMPACT: Encourages independent economic activity
    • SPECIAL FEATURES: Enjoy lunch held in privately owned restaurants or private homes
  • Interact with Cuban Professionals
    • SOCIAL IMPACT: Encourages economic activity
    • SPECIAL FEATURES: Engage in a specially arranged highly interactive Q&A session
  • Trinidad Colonial Splendor
    • SOCIAL IMPACT: Encourages economic development
    • SPECIAL FEATURES: Explore Trinidad with a restoration expert
  • 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
  • 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

  • Spanish & French & Afro-Cuban Heritage
    • SOCIAL IMPACT: Encourages economic development and micro-enterprise through a focus on the local entrepreneurs and business leadership community
    • SPECIAL FEATURES: Explore the culture known for rum, cigars, music and more
  • Economic Development Activity
    • SOCIAL IMPACT: Encourages economic development
    • SPECIAL FEATURES: Santiago is known for its provincial economy that relies on natural resources and its entrepreneurial residents
  • Elementary School Visit
    • SOCIAL IMPACT: Encourages educational progress
    • SPECIAL FEATURES: Interact with children at a primary school, while taking part in their lessons
  • The Entrepreneurs of Modern Cuba
    • SOCIAL IMPACT: Encourages independent economic activity
    • SPECIAL FEATURES: Enjoy lunch held in privately owned restaurants or private homes known as paladares
  • Interaction with Cuban Professionals
    • SOCIAL IMPACT: Encourages independent economic activity
    • SPECIAL FEATURES: Engage in a specially arranged highly interactive Q&A session

 

DAY 6 – Cultural Immersion at Sea

  • ONBOARD ACTIVITIES:
    • Discussion Series: Cuban Economy 2015 and Beyond
    • Discussion Series: Cuban Culture, Music and Food
    • Discussion Series: Environmental Partner: Cuban Micro-Climates
    • Entertainment: Cuban Music & Dance
    • Activity: Change Maker Program
    • Activity: Art + Activism – Social Impact Workshop
    • Activity: From Aid to Enterprise
    • Activity: Social Impact Scavenger Hunt
    • Activity: Cuban Marketplace
    • Film Series: Cuban Social Impact (films TBD)
    • Reflection: How can I best serve and support the Cuban people?
    • Reflection: How will I unleash the Change Maker within me back home?
    • Impact Commitment: What commitment will I make to my onboard traveling community taking action for change?

 

DAY 7 – (Return to Miami)


Pricing to Cuba and the Dominican Republic
Prices for both Fathom itineraries—Cuba and the Dominican Republic—vary based on the size of the room, the view and the time of year. You can choose from four different stateroom options: interior stateroom, ocean view stateroom, balcony stateroom, and suite stateroom. Fathom also has pricing for single (see below), double and triple occupancy.

Cuba ground transportation (Credit: Fathom)
Cuba ground transportation (Credit: Fathom)
  • Cuba cruises: Sailing aboard the Adonia to Cuba start at $1,800 per person for seven days, including all meals on the ship, onboard social impact immersion experiences and certain on-the-ground cultural immersion activities (excluding taxes, fees and port expenses).
  • Dominican Republic cruises: Seven-day cruises on the Adonia to the Dominican Republic start at $974 per person, including all meals on the ship, onboard social impact immersion experiences and three on-shore culture activities (excluding taxes, fees and port expenses).

 

“Impact travel experiences historically have been limited, hard to identify, and complex to piece together and schedule,” said Tara Russell, president of Fathom and global impact lead for Carnival Corporation. “Our pricing philosophy is consistent with our goal of simplifying the entire experience—Fathom offers an accessible, convenient and high-value offering that is easy to book and competitively priced.”

Solo travel
Fathom also offers a pretty cool option for solo travelers. Through Fathom’s Single Traveler Share Program, an individual traveler can share the cost of a double-occupancy stateroom with another traveler of the same gender interested in the same type of stateroom (interior and ocean view only). Even if Fathom can’t find a suitable roommate, the traveler still only pays the single supplement fare.


This is a sponsored post. All opinions expressed are my own. For more on Fathom or to book a cruise, call 1-855-9FATHOM or visit fathom.org.

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