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Unique Cruise Solutions The news you need to know |
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Cruise News for the Corporate Travel Professional |
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Possible end of Cuba travel ban heartening, but island not ready for cruise ships. |
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Cuba currently lacks the infrastructure to handle a large influx
of cruise ships and visitors, says Richard Sasso, chairman of Cruise Lines
International Association. "Even if the United States lifts the travel ban to Cuba, don’t expect Havana to be a port of call for American cruise lines any time soon, says Richard Sasso. Heartened by news reports that Cuba has agreed to release 52 political prisoners and increasing congressional support for ending the American travel ban, Sasso said he foresees the day when Cuba will be on the Caribbean itinerary of every major cruise line. “Right now, though, they lack the infrastructure and facilities to handle the huge influx of vessels and visitors,” he added. “It’ll probably take one, two or maybe three years before the necessary developments are completed. Lots of work has to be done. We also have to be sure there’ll be no political backlash.” The CLIA chairman, one of Celebrity Cruises’ founders, came out of retirement several years ago to serve as president of the Mediterranean Shipping Company’s North American section. Earlier this month, senators of both political parties indicated they have sufficient votes to lift the American travel ban to Cuba. They said they plan to push legislation in the next few weeks to eliminate it. President Barack Obama modified the travel restriction last year, allowing Cubans to visit their relatives in Cuba, but declined to rescind America’s decades-old embargo before the Caribbean nation ends its prosecution of political dissidents. Human rights have long been a sticking point in U.S.-Cuban relations. Under existing law, American journalists and persons on humanitarian missions are permitted to travel to Cuba. |
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