Royal Caribbean International’s Empress of the Seas will operate three cruises to Cuba from the US in the spring of 2017, the company said in a statement.

The newly revitalised Empress of the Seas will make history for the cruise line with its first visit to Cuba during a five night sailing departing Miami on 19 April 19 The ship will then reposition to Tampa offering two itineraries with calls to Havana. A seven night cruise will depart on 30 April and a five night one on 20 May. These Empress of the Seas sailings are now open for sale.

Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd (RCCL), the parent company of Royal Caribbean International, earlier this week received a permission from Cuban authorities to operate cruises to the country.