‘Making history’: First US cruise ship in nearly 40 years reaches Cuba (PHOTOS)

The first US cruise ship to set sail for Cuba in decades has docked in Havana, marking the resumption of commercial travel between the two nations.

The Carnival Cruise ship Adonia set sail from Miami, Sunday, with more than 700 passengers on board - a significant step in normalising diplomatic relations between the countries - and docked in Havana on Monday to welcoming crowds.

The last cruise from the US to Cuba traveled in the late 1970s. In 2014, Presidents Barack Obama and Raul Castro signified their intention to normalize relations, paving the way for travel companies to once again set sail between the two countries.

Up until last month, Havana had banned Cuban citizens from arriving on the island by sea.

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Adonia will also visit the ports of Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba during its seven-day cruise, and will set sail every other week from Miami to Cuba. The resumption of sea travel between the island and the US is expected to bring an influx of tourists to Cuba in the coming months.

Arnold Donald, Carnival president and CEO, said it was a great honor to be a part of “making history and preparing for an even more positive future for everyone”.

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