At 6:30 am on Mother’s Day, a cruise ship returned from its round trip to Cuba marking the first such trip in over 50 years.
The historic cruise made the round trip from PortMiami with a crew of 373 and 700 guests including 16 individuals who were native born Cubans but had been living most of the life in the U.S.
Passengers traded stories of returning to the island nation where they were born, and which many had left as children. The seven-day cruise aboard Fathom’s Adonia gave many Cuban-Americans, a chance to see relatives, some for the first time ever, thanks to the softening of relations between the U.S. and Cuba.
Approval for travel to Cuba was given to the Carnival Corporation by the U.S. last year while gaining permission to dock and disembark in Cuba was provided by its government in March. Now that the “gate” has been opened it is conceivable that it will stay open.
According to Cuban American Alex Hernandez, the Cuban people are embracing entrepreneurship and starting up small restaurants in anticipation of U.S. tourism. Assuming Cuba becomes a regular destination for cruise lines, both Cuban and Miami entrepreneurs could benefit and local merchants will likely want to confer with their printing services to promote their goods and services in Cuba.
