{"id":200175,"date":"2019-06-06T19:23:25","date_gmt":"2019-06-06T23:23:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/?p=200175"},"modified":"2019-06-06T19:23:25","modified_gmt":"2019-06-06T23:23:25","slug":"u-s-cruises-to-cuba-banned-the-end-of-an-era","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oncubanews.com\/en\/cuba-usa\/u-s-cruises-to-cuba-banned-the-end-of-an-era\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. cruises to Cuba banned: the end of an era"},"content":{"rendered":"

Yesterday, when the last U.S. cruise ship weighted anchor in Cuban port, another link between the two countries will be cut. And not just any one: figures from the Cuban government show that 142,721 Americans arrived in Cuba just on cruises this year, between January 1 and April 30, more than the 114,832 who came by plane. According to a study by the U.S.-Cuba Economic and Trade Council, cruise lines would have earned more than 761 million dollars in gross revenues between 2017 and 2019 transporting more than 570,000 passengers.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Carnival stops its trips to Cuba,” “Royal Caribbean changes itineraries of cruises to Cuba,” “Cruises\u2019 ban causes uncertainty among travelers”…are the press headlines this morning. The U.S. government <\/span>announced<\/span><\/a>\u00a0that it would ban cruise trips to Cuba, and that the measure would <\/span>take effect<\/span><\/a> as soon as last Wednesday.<\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/OnCuba\/posts\/2252033104892627<\/p>\n

Under the argument of preventing that “the Cuban regime and its military services which control the tourism industry in Cuba have access to U.S. dollars,” this ban condemns to an uncertain future emerging businesses that were fueled by this tourism, from restaurants and souvenir shops to taxi drivers and tour guides: the private sector that Donald Trump says he supports.<\/span><\/p>\n

Along with the elimination of the 5-year visas, this measure puts Cuban entrepreneurs back in the middle of a crossfire between local limitations and restrictions from abroad. In addition, it intensifies the diplomatic and political crisis between two countries separated by only 90 miles and with multiple issues of common interest.<\/span><\/p>\n

To understand how these trips happened and how they economically influenced Cubans and the shipping companies, as well as bilateral relations, we reviewed step by step how a solid and mutually beneficial relationship was forged.<\/span><\/p>\n

July 7, 2015:<\/strong> The U.S. government grants Carnival the first license in more than half a century for a U.S. company to operate cruises to Cuba.<\/span><\/p>\n

March 21, 2016:<\/strong> The Cuban government approves Carnival trips to the island beginning in May. The cruise company signs agreements with the Cuban companies Havanatur, Consignataria Mambisa and Aries Transporte.<\/span><\/p>\n

April 22, 2016:<\/strong> The Cuban government <\/span>announces it will allow<\/span><\/a> those born on the island, regardless of their migratory status, to enter and leave Cuba on merchant ships and cruises starting the 26th of the same month. The measure would authorize the arrival of Cuban-Americans on the first Carnival cruise.<\/span><\/p>\n

May 2, 2016:<\/strong> Carnival\u2019s Adonia cruise ship arrives in Havana, with around 700 passengers, on a <\/span>historic journey<\/span><\/a> from Miami to the Cuban capital. Arnold W. Donald, president of the company, thanks the governments of both countries for the opportunity to reopen the sea route.<\/span><\/p>\n