Royal Caribbean has announced that the Cuban government has granted them approval for cruises to Cuba and they plan to announce their first Florida-Cuba itineraries in the near future.

At the same time, Oceania Cruises has revealed its first three inaugural voyages from Miami to Cuba.

The first will depart in March 2017.

Oceania Cruises announced it will inaugurate its calls in Cuba with one 14-day and two ten-day Caribbean cruises from Miami aboard Marina.

Each of these voyages will call on the storied city of Havana with two of the voyages staying overnight and offering guests two full days in this legendary destination.

Richard Fain, chairman and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises, said: “Our guests have expressed real interest in having the opportunity to experience Cuba, and we look forward to bringing them there.

“Our discussions with our travel partners indicate that Cuba is a destination that appeals to a new generation of travellers.”

Two RCL lines, Royal Caribbean International and Azamara Club Cruises, will provide guests with travel directly to Cuba for the purpose of people-to-people exchanges between guests and Cuban citizens and other travel permitted by current US regulations.

All voyages from both lines will fully comply with existing US Federal Regulations and the most recent pronouncements from the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US department of the treasury.

“We are tremendously excited to have received approval by Cuban authorities to offer cruises to Cuba from the United States aboard our acclaimed Marina.

“I believe there is no better way to experience the unique culture, beauty and diversity of Cuba than by cruise,” stated Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, the parent company of Oceania Cruises.

“As a Cuban-American and founder of Oceania Cruises, I am incredibly proud that Marina will be the first in our fleet to cruise to Cuba.

“Not only was Marina the first ship to be purpose-built for the Oceania Cruises brand, she showcases millions of dollars’ worth of Cuban-American art, making our inaugural voyages to Cuba even more special.”