MIAMI – Royal Caribbean has opened its first year-long program to Cuba with expanded sailings that include 58 new cruises, including 28 overnights through March 2019.

New sailings to Havana will be onboard the Empress of the Seas, which has been recently refreshed. She will sail 58 cruises of four- and five-night itineraries from January 2018 through March 2019, more than half offering overnight stays in Havana.

Empress’ Western Caribbean and Havana sailings were opened for bookings earlier this week.

“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.”

Empress of the Seas 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 on most sailing. The ship will reposition to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale for the winter 2018-2019 season, continuing short Caribbean adventures.

Currently, Empress sails from Tampa through Nov. 4, 2017. The ship will then return to Miami for the winter 2017-2018 season, adding calls to Royal Caribbean’s private island, CocoCay, and Nassau in The Bahamas.

To celebrate its service to Cuba, Empress of the Seas has been decked out with colourful Cuban décor and offerings, including ‘cortaditos’ and café con leche in Café Royal and salsa music in Boleros Latin lounge.