“I’m literally waiting for the phone to ring to give the final approval. Operations are imminent when we receive the green light. ” Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank Del Rio said yesterday in a press briefing. Mr. Del Rio expects approval and permission from the authorities in Havana, in order for NCLH brands to begin cruises to Cuba. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings hopes to set sail to Cuba as early as November 2016.

The company, which owns the Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Oceania Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line plans to send the 684 passengers cruise ship Oceania Regatta, this winter. The announcement was made during a voyage from the new Regent Seven Seas Explorer this weekend. "We also have plans to send Norwegian Sky to Cuba." Frank Del Rio added. "We will have a variety of itineraries, including ship dedicated to making circumnavigation". He also explained that the routes which normally go to the Western Caribbean in future will add Havana as stop. Another possibility of calling at the Havana is to include itineraries that use the Panama Canal. "We want to use Havana as much as possible because we believe that is a star attraction."

Since the summer of 2015 the company seeks ways to operate cruise ships to Cuba. NCL requested the respective licenses to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the Department of Treasury and the Department of Commerce.