The U.S. has authorized the first cruise service to Cuba in half a century.
Cruise giant Carnival Corp. announced Tuesday that it has received U.S. government licenses to offer "purposeful" cruises from the U.S. to Cuba for people-to-people, humanitarian and other exchanges.
Pending approval from Cuban authorities, Carnival aims to offer seven-day trips from Miami to several Cuban ports starting in May on its new "fathom" brand, which offers travel for social causes such as volunteer work and cultural immersion.
The Cuba trips would use the 710-passenger MV Adonia, a deluxe ship that offers no casino or Broadway-type shows but rather features Spanish classes and workshops on island arts and heritage. The relatively small ship could enter even smaller and shallower ports across Cuba.
"We think there's enormous demand from the U.S. side for this experience," said fathom President Tara Russell, citing a "hunger" to see a nation off-limits for most Americans since the 1960s.
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