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US cruise ship makes historic arrival at Havana port

WASHINGTON, May 2 (KUNA) -- A 704-passenger US cruise ship docked at Havana Harbor in Cuba late Sunday, less than four hours after leaving Miami, Florida on a voyage not made in almost 40 years.
The Adonia, part of the Carnival cruise lines, is the first vessel to carry US tourists to the island since a ban on travel to Cuba was reinstated in 1978, after President Jimmy Carter left office.
Ever since the Obama Administration and the Castro regime declared their intent to normalize relations in late 2014, US travel companies have jumped at the chance to give Americans a way to explore Cuba.
While regular tourism is still not allowed, students, journalists, and those going for research or business purposes are permitted to go to the island.
To get around current regulations, Carnival has branded the trip as "impact travel," where Americans and locals can learn about one another at each port.
The Adonia will leave Miami for Cuba every other week, and the seven-day, three-city trip around the island starts at USD 1,800 per person.
Prior to the 1960s, and then again in the early 1970s, Cuba was a major holiday destination for US tourists, until all travel was officially banned again when President Ronald Reagan assumed office in 1981. (end) ys.ibi