First U.S. cruise ship in 50 years sets sail for Cuba
By Khaleda Rahman For Dailymail.com 21:50 01 May 2016, updated 22:55 01 May 2016
Carnival Corporation's Fathom Line Ship Adonia left Miami for Havana with just over 700 passengers on board.
The ship cast off around 4pm, the Sun-Sentinel reports, with Captain David Box telling passengers: 'We're going to sail directly from the United State to Havana, Cuba. How awesome is that? Tomorrow we will make history.'
However, Carnival sparked controversy for initially blocking Cuban-born passengers from booking tickets because Cuba would not allow them to arrive by sea.
But amid an uproar from Miami's large Cuban-American community, largely opposed to the Cuban government, and from the US government, Carnival reversed course and said it would take reservations from people of Cuban origin.
Scroll down for video
Carnival Corporation's Fathom Line Ship Adonia (pictured) left Miami for Havana with just over 700 passengers on board
Carnival had said it was in talks with the Cuban government on lifting the maritime entry and exit restriction.
They had warned that the first cruise would be postponed past May 1 unless the Cubans changed their policy.
But on April 22, Cuba lifted the restriction that barred travelers born in Cuba from the trips.
The government statement said Cubans can now enter and leave the country on cruise ships 'regardless of their migratory status.'
The statement made no mention of ferry services, even though the United States has granted licenses to a half dozen companies to operate such sea links.
But Cuba's reversal cleared the way for anyone to book the cruise.
Carnival sparked controversy for initially blocking Cuban-born passengers from booking tickets because Cuba would not allow them to arrive by sea
Carnival said it was 'proud to play a role' in the change, adding their ship will cruise to Havana and two other cities every other week.
'Carnival will be able to include all travelers, including individuals born in Cuba, on to our cruiser voyages to Cuba, that will begin on May 1, with our historical inaugural voyage,' it added.
Before, Cubans were only permitted to travel to and from the United States by plane.
The restriction dates back to the Cold War and stemmed from fears of a U.S.-backed invasion from the sea.
The voyage is the fruit of of the restoration of diplomatic relations between Havana and Washington last year, which culminated in a historic visit to Cuba by President Barack Obama (pictured with Cuban President Raul Castro, left) in March
The change is another fruit of the restoration of diplomatic relations between Havana and Washington in July last year.
Its climax was a historic visit to the communist island nation by President Barack Obama and his family in March.
Commercial flights between the two countries are also expected to resume soon.
But despite the restoration of ties, the United States has maintained its trade embargo against Cuba, and regular, full-fledged U.S. tourism to Cuba is still banned.
WHY WERE CUBANS NOT ALLOWED TO TRAVEL TO THE ISLAND BY SEA?
The restriction on Cubans entering from the United States by sea goes back to the tensest days of the Cold War, after the Cuban Revolution of 1959.
It was designed to prevent anti-communist militants from landing on Cuban shores to try to overthrow the government, as in the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 against Fidel Castro.
As it freed up maritime travel Friday, the Cuban government urged the United States to find ways 'to prevent and confront the carrying out of terrorist actions against Cuba, which were what gave rise to the regulation' in the first place.
The lifting of the restriction on Cubans leaving on U.S.-bound cruise ships is also sensitive.
Many Cubans fleeing poverty attempt to reach Florida in rickety vessels, and the dangerous trips have been on the rise.
Cubans fear that with the resumption of ties with Washington, the Americans will end a preferential policy under which Cuban migrants who make it to land in America are allowed to stay, but sent back if caught at sea.
Nissan recalls nearly four million cars with front passenger air bags that could fail in a crash
By Khaleda Rahman For Dailymail.com 21:50 01 May 2016, updated 22:55 01 May 2016
- Carnival Corporation's Fathom Line Ship Adonia left Miami for Havana
- It's the result of the restoration of diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Cuba
- But the leisure company initially sparked controversy for refusing to sell tickets to Cuban-born passengers
- This was because Cubans were only permitted to travel to and from the United States by plane
- But the Cuban government lifted the ban on maritime entry on April 22
Carnival Corporation's Fathom Line Ship Adonia left Miami for Havana with just over 700 passengers on board.
The ship cast off around 4pm, the Sun-Sentinel reports, with Captain David Box telling passengers: 'We're going to sail directly from the United State to Havana, Cuba. How awesome is that? Tomorrow we will make history.'
However, Carnival sparked controversy for initially blocking Cuban-born passengers from booking tickets because Cuba would not allow them to arrive by sea.
But amid an uproar from Miami's large Cuban-American community, largely opposed to the Cuban government, and from the US government, Carnival reversed course and said it would take reservations from people of Cuban origin.
Scroll down for video
Carnival Corporation's Fathom Line Ship Adonia (pictured) left Miami for Havana with just over 700 passengers on board
Carnival had said it was in talks with the Cuban government on lifting the maritime entry and exit restriction.
They had warned that the first cruise would be postponed past May 1 unless the Cubans changed their policy.
But on April 22, Cuba lifted the restriction that barred travelers born in Cuba from the trips.
The government statement said Cubans can now enter and leave the country on cruise ships 'regardless of their migratory status.'
The statement made no mention of ferry services, even though the United States has granted licenses to a half dozen companies to operate such sea links.
But Cuba's reversal cleared the way for anyone to book the cruise.
Carnival sparked controversy for initially blocking Cuban-born passengers from booking tickets because Cuba would not allow them to arrive by sea
Carnival said it was 'proud to play a role' in the change, adding their ship will cruise to Havana and two other cities every other week.
'Carnival will be able to include all travelers, including individuals born in Cuba, on to our cruiser voyages to Cuba, that will begin on May 1, with our historical inaugural voyage,' it added.
Before, Cubans were only permitted to travel to and from the United States by plane.
The restriction dates back to the Cold War and stemmed from fears of a U.S.-backed invasion from the sea.
The voyage is the fruit of of the restoration of diplomatic relations between Havana and Washington last year, which culminated in a historic visit to Cuba by President Barack Obama (pictured with Cuban President Raul Castro, left) in March
The change is another fruit of the restoration of diplomatic relations between Havana and Washington in July last year.
Its climax was a historic visit to the communist island nation by President Barack Obama and his family in March.
Commercial flights between the two countries are also expected to resume soon.
But despite the restoration of ties, the United States has maintained its trade embargo against Cuba, and regular, full-fledged U.S. tourism to Cuba is still banned.
WHY WERE CUBANS NOT ALLOWED TO TRAVEL TO THE ISLAND BY SEA?
The restriction on Cubans entering from the United States by sea goes back to the tensest days of the Cold War, after the Cuban Revolution of 1959.
It was designed to prevent anti-communist militants from landing on Cuban shores to try to overthrow the government, as in the failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 against Fidel Castro.
As it freed up maritime travel Friday, the Cuban government urged the United States to find ways 'to prevent and confront the carrying out of terrorist actions against Cuba, which were what gave rise to the regulation' in the first place.
The lifting of the restriction on Cubans leaving on U.S.-bound cruise ships is also sensitive.
Many Cubans fleeing poverty attempt to reach Florida in rickety vessels, and the dangerous trips have been on the rise.
Cubans fear that with the resumption of ties with Washington, the Americans will end a preferential policy under which Cuban migrants who make it to land in America are allowed to stay, but sent back if caught at sea.
Nissan recalls nearly four million cars with front passenger air bags that could fail in a crash
all that Cuba is communist shit yet that ship is sold out.