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MSC first cruiseline to homeport ship in Cuba
MSC will base the 2,120-passenger MSC Opera in Havana from December, operating sailings to Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and Mexico.
As a European registered company, MSC is not subject to the US embargo in Cuba, but for the time being while these sanctions still exist, will not be able to employ any US crew members or accept US dollars onboard.
Although MSC said it would not be targeting any Cuban or US nationals as paying guests, it was an ‘optimal moment’ to establish a base in Cuba, as improving relations will inevitably result in more freedoms for US-Cuba travel.
The ship will homeport in Cuba until April 2016 before returning to Europe.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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