American cruise lines could be making calls to Cuba as early as next May, a date that is earlier than what was expected for many people in the cruise industry.
Carnival Cruise Lines announced on its website last week that it has received permission from the United States Department of the Treasury and the US Department of Commerce to begin travelling to Cuba.
In April 2016, Carnival will begin making calls to the Dominican Republic, according to the announcement.
“Following the inaugural April month voyages to the Dominican Republic, [Carnival] intends to offer both Dominican and Cuban itineraries on a systematic and regular basis,” the cruise line stated.
The pending relationship has captured the attention of some Virgin Islands leaders, with Communications and Works Minister Mark Vanterpool addressing the issue in the House of Assembly on Tuesday.
“These are discussions I recall having with a couple of the cruise industry companies just about two years ago, when we were just having a casual discussion about what will happen when Cuba opens its doors to tourists from the United States,” he said. “Though we said it’s on the horizon, none of us anticipated that it would happen so quickly.”
See the July 16, 2015 edition for full coverage.
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