ThPeople born in Cuba are eligible to visit a Carnival Cruise Line (NYSE: CCL ) trip.
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The Cuban government Friday also hinted at its next move: the possibility of allowing Cuban-born people to travel to the island aboard recreational boats.
The imposition was uplifted by the country and they can now travel through a Carnival Cruise Line-Cubans have not had access to this luxury since the Cuban Revolution in 1959.
Cuba cleared the way Friday for the resumption of cruise voyages from the United States, lifting a restriction on Cubans entering or leaving the country by sea.
The Carnival ship is due to sail to Havana on May 1, which is celebrated as workers day on the island with a massive pro-government parade.
CCL stock is down 1.3% Friday. Carnival CEO Arnold Donald said earlier this week that his company would postpone trips to Cuba if the country’s government did not change the policy towards Cuban nationals.
For years now, citing problems of terrorism, maritime navigation security and human trafficking issues relating to Cuba’s national security, Cuba allowed its citizens residing overseas to enter the country only by air. Carnival’s Fathom brand had scheduled its first Cuba-bound departure for May 1, and on Friday Carnival confirmed that its vessel Adonia would sail as planned.
“The Government of the Republic of Cuba has decided.to authorize the entry and exit of Cuban citizens, regardless of their immigration status, as passengers and crew on merchant ships”, effective April 26, Granma announced.
Carnival originally adhered to Cuba’s longstanding previous policy by preventing Cuban exiles from booking passage on the cruise, sparking protests by Cuban-Americans outside the company’s Doral headquarters, criticism from Secretary of State John Kerry and local politicians and a federal lawsuit that claimed discrimination.
The announcement from the Cuban government said Cuban-born citizens traveling to the island must do so through proper channels, and with the appropriate visas.
A Cuban government statement in the official Granma newspaper said the new policy allowing Cubans to board cruises will go into effect Tuesday.
The decision is a sign that steps to normalize relations between the two countries continue despite anti-U.S. rhetoric from Cuba’s leaders seeking to reassure hardliners following U.S. President Barack Obama’s historic visit to the island.
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“These measures contrast with the prohibition on US citizens freely traveling to Cuba”, the Cuban statement said. Carnival, the world’s largest cruise provider, and the U.S. Justice Department on Thursday, July 23, 2015 announced a settlement regarding accessibility access for people with disabilities on 62 ships in the Carnival, Holland America and Princess Cruises brands. Norwegian Cruise Lines is engaged in ongoing talks with the Cuban government.
