Tom Stieghorst

Special for USA TODAY

Ready. Set. Don’t go.

Royal Caribbean International is all prepared to go to Cuba, having spent $50 million refurbishing the 1,840-passenger Empress of the Seas for the itinerary.

But lacking permission from the Cuban government, Royal Caribbean has put the ship into a holding pattern itinerary, sailing four- and five-night cruises from Miami to familiar stops such as Key West, Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

This week, the company extended its schedule of such cruises available for booking through Oct. 29, signaling it will be at least November before Cuba cruises can start.

“This is the right sized vessel for Cuba, and our intention is someday we will be going there. We’re just still waiting for the nod,” said Vicki Freed, senior vice president for sales, trade services and support at Royal Caribbean.

Freed led a tour of the Empress for about 200 travel agents, showing off the improvements, including the addition of photos of Cuba in the Boleros nightclub. "I don’t think that was with the ship coming to Miami,” Freed said. A Cuban combo in Boleros provided entertainment.

Empress of the Seas, a 27-year-old ship, had been sailing for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.’s Spanish brand Pullmantur until earlier this year. A big part of Royal Caribbean’s upgrade to the ship came in the galleys, which were completely gutted and redone, said Mark Tamis, senior vice president of hotel operations.

All the rooms got new carpets, drapes, linens and other soft goods. The six suites got new furniture and upgrades such as bedside USB ports.

Empress will be the only ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet where smoking is banned from the casino, due to the open multi-deck design, Tamis said.

South Florida travel agents say clients are eager to go to Cuba with Royal Caribbean. “I’ve got a list in my office,” said Cheryl Scavron, owner of a Dream Vacations franchise in Pompano Beach. “They didn’t want to go on Carnival. They waited to go on Royal,” she said.

Although Carnival Cruise Line isn’t yet sailing to Cuba, Carnival Corp.’s Fathom brand won permission and began going there in June.