There were issues with Cuban law regarding Cuban-born passengers returning to the country on cruise ships.
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The Adonia is one of Carnival’s smaller ships – roughly half the size of some larger European vessels that already dock in Havana – but USA cruises are expected to bring Cuba tens of millions of dollars in badly needed foreign hard currency if traffic increases as expected.
The US and Cuba had agreed previous year to restore diplomatic relations between the two countries – which has historically been sour since the days of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Watch for her live reports from Havana, beginning Monday.
St. Petersburg residents and sisters, Janet Rappazini, left, and Jackie Ely, center, hand their documents to security agent, Mazanne Jean as they board Carnival Corp.’s Adonia before it leaves port in Miami, Sunday, May 1, 2016, en route to Cuba.
The passengers didn’t want this historical event to be ruined by politics. Several Cuba-born passengers, among hundreds of others, were aboard, it said.
Speaking over the ship’s PA system, he said: “We’re going to sail directly from the United States to Havana, Cuba”.
The Adonia sailed from the port of Miami carrying some 700 passengers on Sunday. He added his view that the opening of cruise traffic between the USA and Cuba would contribute to worldwide understanding and “the human spirit”. “Some of my friends thought I was foolish, but it was something I always wanted to do”, she said.
On board, the itinerary includes activities from dancing lessons to Cuban cocktail classes, with three meals a day and a traditional cruise cabin.
A Cuban government rule stipulated, however, that Cubans could only enter or leave by plane.
The boat set sail from Miami on Sunday as salsa music played and protesters picketed nearby.
The 52-year-old was 4 when she left Cuba with her sister and parents.
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Donald made the announcement at a press conference at the Port of Miami before the cruise liner began its voyage to the Caribbean island. Like the Adonia, it sailed despite dockside protests by Cuban exiles, and continued protests and bomb threats forced Carras Cruises to cancel additional sailings, Grace said.
