Tag Archives: P&O Adonia

Carnival’s new Fathom brand to sail to Cuba

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P&O Adonia to become Fathom

Carnival Corp.’s new Fathom brand has already received permission from the U.S. government to mount cruises to Cuba and it plans to start next year.

Fathom’s Cuba cruises are scheduled to begin in May 2016, a month after the brand launches its inaugural social-impact travel experiences in the Dominican Republic. Carnival said the U.S. Treasury and Commerce departments have signed off on the cruises, which will qualify for exceptions in the law that prevents general travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens.

“We are excited about receiving U.S. approval as the very important first step to ultimately take travelers to Cuba under the existing 12 criteria for authorized travel,” Carnival Corp. CEO Arnold Donald said in a statement. “We look forward to working with the Cuban authorities for their approval to help make the social, cultural and humanitarian exchanges between U.S. citizens and the people of Cuba a reality.”

Donald appeared on “CBS This Morning” on Tuesday to talk about cruising to Cuba.

The move is a major departure for Carnival Corp., which like other U.S.-based cruise lines has strictly avoided business dealings with the Castro government.  The issue has been particularly sensitive in the large Cuban-American community in Miami, where Carnival and several other major cruise brands are headquartered.

Many Cubans in Miami emigrated there after the Communist-led coup in 1959, some emigrating after their businesses or properties were confiscated by the government and many leaving all of their possessions and property behind as they sought political refuge.

General travel to the island has been off-limits to Americans since a trade embargo enacted in the early 1960s.

The new diplomatic thaw with Cuba initiated by the Obama administration has several cruise lines seeking an opening for cruises to the island. Over the weekend, MSC Cruises, based in Geneva, Switzerland, said it will begin weekly seasonal cruises from Havana on its 2,106-passenger MSC Opera in December.

In the Dominican Republic, Fathom has identified two domestic organizations that are doing social-improvement projects already in the country. Carnival’s announcement didn’t say who it would work with in Cuba, or whether the organizations would be affiliated with the Cuban government.

However, the Carnival statement said one of its partners in the Dominican Republic, the Instituto Dominicano de Desarrollo Integral, would be interested in partnering with Fathom in Cuba.

“IDDI has longstanding relationships in Cuba and more than a decade of experience working on the ground side-by-side with local officials to make a positive impact in Cuban communities,” IDDI founder and executive director David Luther said.

Carnival said prices for a seven-day Cuban itinerary will start at $2,990 per person, more than triple the cost of a typical seven-day Caribbean cruise from Miami on its flagship Carnival Cruise Line brand. It said the price includes onboard social-impact immersion experiences and on-the-ground cultural immersion activities, but excludes taxes, port charges and other fees.

Tara Russell, president of Fathom and global impact lead for Carnival Corp., said she was incredibly excited by the potential for expanding the brand’s mission to Cuba.

“We are looking forward to building what we intend to be a beautiful and lasting friendship with the Cuban people,” she said.

Carnival brand Fathom placed on same commission set-up as sister lines

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By Hollie-Rae Merrick

Carnival brand Fathom placed on same commission set-up as sister linesCarnival Corporation’s new cruise brand Fathom will be placed on the same commission structure as sister lines P&O Cruises and Cunard.

Fathom was launched last week and will offer seven-night ‘social impact’ cruises, from Miami to the Dominican Republic, allowing passengers to work on community projects in the Caribbean destination.

The line’s first sailing will be in April 2016. It will launch with one ship, Adonia, which will be transferred from the P&O Cruises fleet.

Tara Russell, president of Fathom, confirmed that UK agents would be able to make bookings from next week. Speaking to Travel Weekly, she said: “Initially we are targeting [customers from] North America, but from June 15 agents in the UK will have all the tools and resources they need to book people with Fathom.

“Bookings will have the same commission structure as Cunard and P&O Cruises.

“Our intention is to marry Fathom into the P&O Cruises commission structure as they are a very important partner with Fathom.”

Russell, who set up social enterprise Create Common Good and has been working on the Fathom project since 2013, said she expected interest from customers in the US, UK, northern Europe and Australia.

She believes Fathom’s fleet will grow to between four and six ships within 15 years.

“I would love us to have a ship homeport in Europe, Asia and Australia because that way we would be able to impact a lot of communities,” she said.

Cruise-only fares start at $1,540, with an unspecified proportion to be donated to local projects.

The brand is targeting people in their 20s and 30s, the family market, and those over 50

Carnival Corporation to launch new cruise brand

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P&O Adonia

P&O Cruises’ smallest ship Adonia (pictured) is being transferred to a new ‘social impact’ cruise brand being established by parent company Carnival Corporation.

The 710-passenger vessel will operate under the ‘Fathom’ brand, running weekly departures from Miami to the Dominican Republic where passengers will work with local communities on a range of projects for up to three days per cruise.

Cruise-only prices for the seven-day trips start at $1,540 per person, including three onshore social impact activities in the Puerto Plata region.

These can range from helping cultivate cacao plants and organic fertiliser at a local women’s co-operative in producing artisan chocolates, to working with local schools to help teach English and building water filters for islanders.

Fathom sailings are due to start in April 2016 with reservations opening this month. The cruises will be available to book through the UK trade with 15% commission for reservations made until September 4.

Agents can register online via fathom.org and confirmations will be converted onto the Polar Online reservations platform by October. A Founder’s Circle membership scheme is being created for agents who make at least one booking in the first 90 days, with further details to emerge in the autumn.

An unspecified portion of every cruise purchase price will go directly to partner organisations to cover on-the-ground activities in the Dominican Republic, according to Carnival Corporation. Other destinations will be added after the launch phase.

The initiative is being targeted at people aged in their 20s and 30s “looking to make a difference in the world”, and those over 50.

But Fathom chiefs also believe more than half of passengers will be families, as parents “seek a way to open their children’s eyes to other parts of the world in a meaningful way”.

A growing market of potential ‘social impact’ travellers – approximately one million North Americans, in addition to global travellers already pursuing service-oriented travel experiences worldwide – have been identified as being interested in the concept.

The company believes Fathom will attract a “significant number” of new-to-cruise passengers. Almost 40% of those who will book a social impact trip on Fathom will have never been on a cruise before.

Sailings will start with one to two days at sea preparing for going ashore, including an orientation to the Dominican Republic, conversational Spanish lessons, impact activity training and creative workshops.

The onboard experience will be customised to include “purposeful retail options and amenities,” as well as geographically-inspired menus and music.

The ship will serve as a home base for travellers while it is docked at the new Amber Cove port being opened in the Dominican Republic by Carnival Corporation in October.

US social entrepreneur, Tara Russell, founder and chairman of food production social enterprise Create Common Good, is to run the new offshoot as president as well as global impact lead for Carnival Corporation.

Chief executive, Arnold Donald, said: “Fathom will cater to an underserved market of consumers who want to have a positive impact on people’s lives, and aren’t always sure where to begin.

“We believe travel is a meaningful way to allow for personal growth while making purposeful and engaging contributions in the world.

“We are so pleased that Fathom will give travellers a unique opportunity to work alongside local people as part of a larger scale effort that will demonstrably improve lives. Both our travellers and the local citizens will learn and benefit from the opportunity to serve together.”

Russell added: “We created Fathom to meet the real hunger in the world for purpose, while at the same time tackling profound social issues through a sustainable business model.

“We harness the assets and resources of the world’s largest travel and leisure company and combine them with the talents and hearts of those working in social enterprises around the world.

“Travellers will work in partnership with proven, trusted local organisations on the ground to amplify their missions for far greater, sustained impact.

“Because Fathom will bring hundreds of travellers to a destination on a regular basis, Fathom can achieve focused and holistic, collaborative contributions in a broad region of the country – allowing Fathom travellers to make a collective, transformative impact that they know will extend far beyond their involvement.

“They also will know they played an important role in ensuring the region flourishes.

“We are excited about making the Puerto Plata region of the Dominican Republic our first partner destination, and we are optimistic about taking all that is being built in and through Fathom to other global destinations and to the broader Carnival corporate family.”