Stung by criticism and a possible legal challenge, Carnival Corporation said ‘all travelers’ can book its cruises to Cuba.
Carnival’s Fathom brand is due to start Cuba cruises on May 1, but the company acknowledges the possibility of a delay or cancelation if Cuba doesn’t decide by then to allow Cuban-born Americans to travel by sea to the island.
A long-standing Cuban law bans people born on the island from returning by sea, which sparked protests and a class action lawsuit filed by Cuban Americans.
"We want everyone to be able to go to Cuba with us. We remain excited about this historic opportunity to give our guests an extraordinary vacation experience in Cuba," Carnival Corp CEO Arnold Donald said in a statement.
The line is optimistic the rule will be overturned and ‘continues active discussions with Cuba’ over the issue, it said
Even Secretary of State John Kerry weighed in last week, urging Carnival ‘not to embrace a policy that is Cuban, but which winds up discriminating against Americans."
