The change – until now Cubans could only travel to and from the United States by plane – is yet another fruit of the restoration of diplomatic relations a year ago between Havana and Washington.
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CNN’s Havana bureau reported the news early Friday morning, and a Carnival Corp. spokesman confirmed it and said the company was planning to issue a press release with details. “More importantly, we are contributing to a positive future”.
Sailing to Cuba just got a whole lot easier after the Cuban government adjusted its migration policy allowing all Cubans and Cuban Americans to enter and leave Cuba by sea.
Cuba wasn’t going to allow Cuban-born passengers to enter the island nation by sea under a long standing law that dates back to the embargo’s chilliest days.
The decision follows protests last week by Cuban-Americans outside Carnival’s headquarters in the suburb of Doral.
Donald said the company’s negotiators underscored to Cuban officials that Cuban passengers have always been permitted to fly in and out of Cuba and that the same policy should apply to sea travel.
“But we’ll find them, we’ll catch them and they’ll be brought to justice”, he said.
“We continue to see great enthusiasm from travelers in the USA who want to sail to Cuba”, Donald said.
Carnival announced its plans to cruise to Cuba last July, after winning approval from USA regulators for what it termed “social impact travel”, but still had to negotiate with Cuban officials.
The uproar, which Carnival did not anticipate, began this month when Cubans in Florida tried to buy tickets for the weeklong voyage.
The Cuban statement on Friday said authorities were also reviewing a ban on citizens from boarding recreational vessels such as fishing boats and yachts.
The first United States cruise to Cuba in 50 years is due to set sail from Miami on 1 May with up to 704 passengers on board. Carnival says bookings will start at $1,800 per person and feature an array of cultural and educational activities, including Spanish lessons.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, a Cuban-American who had questioned the previous Carnival policy, said Carnival Chairman Micky Arison called him Friday about the agreement. Protesters said the company was discriminating against Cuban-Americans.
About Carnival Corporation & plcCarnival Corporation & plc is the largest leisure travel company in the world, with a portfolio of 10 cruise brands in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia comprised of Carnival Cruise Line, Fathom, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, P&O Cruises (Australia) and P&O Cruises (UK).
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The status of the lawsuit is unclear in light of Carnival’s announcement on Friday.
