Carnival Paradise to sail short Cuba cruises from Tampa

Carnival Cruise Line has received permission to sail to Cuba
with the Carnival Paradise, with the ship sailing 12 four- and five-day cruises
from Tampa, starting June 29.

Four-day cruises will depart June 29, July 13, Aug. 24,
Sept. 7 and 21, Oct. 5 and 19 and May 3. Itineraries include a daytime and
overnight visit to Havana.

Five-day voyages will depart Aug. 14 and 28, Sept. 25 and
Oct. 9. Voyages include a daytime and overnight visit to Havana as well as a
stop in either Cozumel or Key West.

The Paradise will begin sailings as the Adonia, which sails
for Carnival Corp.’s Fathom brand, exits the Florida-Cuba route after May.

Two other lines have already received permission to sell Cuba
cruises beyond May. Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Sky will sail weekly from
Miami and Royal Caribbean’s Empress of the Seas will do seven sailings from
Tampa.

The Carnival Paradise is somewhat newer than the Sky and the
Empress. Delivered in 1998, the ship carries 2,052 passengers at double
occupancy.