Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has expressed sorrow on behalf of its members and their passengers who had booked trips to Cuba after the US Government implemented new travel restrictions to the country this week.

New regulations enacted by the Trump administration yesterday (5 June) prohibits US group people-to-people educational travel and passenger and recreational vessels – including cruise ships, yachts, private and corporate aircraft – from visiting Cuba. However, existing transactions such as flight bookings made prior to 4 June would be ‘grandfathered.’

The decision effectively ends the relaxation on travel restrictions instigated by former US President Barack Obama’s administration in 2016.

General tourism between the US and Cuba has not been permitted historically, but Obama’s partial lifting of the US embargo with Cuba in the context of thawed relations had opened the door to some forms of travel to the Communist state under 12 travel categories.

US President Donald J. Trump has curbed travel freedoms between the US and Cuba enacted under the previous administration.

DECISION ‘WITHOUT WARNING’

In a statement, CLIA says the ‘without warning’ decision has affected nearly 800,000 passenger bookings currently scheduled or active that had been permitted under the general licence issued by the US authorising ‘people-to-people’ travel to Cuba.

The implications of the restrictions effectively means it is illegal to cruise to Cuba from the US, says the CLIA.

“We are disappointed that cruises will no longer be operating to Cuba,” said Adam Goldstein, Chairman, CLIA. “While out of control, we are genuinely sorry for all cruise line guests who were looking forward to their previously booked itineraries to Cuba.”

A statement from the US Department of State says the tourism trade has helped to support Cuba’s security, military and intelligence sectors.

As such, the move is designed to choke off an important income stream to a regime that the US says ‘represses’ its people and supports ‘US adversaries’ including Venezuela and Nicaragua.

“This Administration has made a strategic decision to reverse the loosening of sanctions and other restrictions on the Cuban regime,” said US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. “These actions will help to keep U.S. dollars out of the hands of Cuban military, intelligence, and security services.”

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross added: “Cuba remains communist, and the United States, under the previous administration, made too many concessions to one of our historically most aggressive adversaries.

“The Trump Administration recognises the threat Cuba’s government poses in the region, and the Commerce Department is acting to limit commercial activity that provides revenue for the Cuban regime. Holding other countries accountable remains a focus for this Administration and we will remain vigilant.”

The Treasury stresses that the regulatory changes were announced on 17 April, which refers to a speech made by US National Security Advisor John Bolton in Miami.

Bolton had earlier tweeted that the announcement ends ‘veiled tourism’ to Cuba, with the administration continuing ‘to take actions to restrict the Cuban regime’s access to US dollars’.