Royal Caribbean International announced today that the Empress of the Seas will sail 58 short cruises from January 2018 through March 2019 calling Havana, with half offering overnight calls in the Cuban city. 

“Since arriving in Cuba for the first time last month, we’ve seen the excitement of our guests when sailing into Havana and the passion they have for the city at sail away – its people, its architecture, its food, its music. This is the enthusiasm we strive to bring to adventure-seekers who vacation with us,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “The positive reaction to our Cuba sailings is very encouraging, and we are thrilled to expand on the number of sailings for our 2018-2019 itineraries.”

The Empress will return to Tampa for summer 2018, offering a series of four- and five-night cruises, calling on Key West, Florida, and Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, as well as Havana, Cuba on most sailings.

The ship will the re-position to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for the winter 2018-2019 season, continuing short Caribbean cruises.

The Empress currently sails from Tampa through Nov. 4, 2017. The ship then returns to Miami for the winter 2017-2018 season, adding calls to CocoCay and Nassau.