MIAMI, April 25 (UPI) -- The Cuban government will allow people born in Cuba to visit the island nation via cruise ship in a reversal of a Cold War policy.
Carnival will become the first cruise ship operator to set sail between the United States to Cuba in more than 50 years. The Adonia ship will set sail from Miami to Havana on May 1.
When the Cuban government indicated that Cuban-born travelers would not be welcomed, Carnival threatened to abandon plans to do business with the country. Carnival is the world's largest cruise ship operator.
Carnival CEO Arnold Donald hailed the Cuban government's reversal, which was announced on Friday by Granma, the Cuban Communist Party's media outlet.
"We made history in March, and we are a part of making history again today," Donald said in a statement from the company. "More importantly, we are contributing to a positive future. This is a positive outcome and we are extremely pleased. We want to extend our sincere appreciation to Cuba and to our team who worked so hard to help make this happen."
