Cruise line trade group CLIA said the U.S. government's stricter
rules for Cuba travel have forced cruise lines to eliminate Cuba destinations from all
itineraries, effective immediately.
CLIA said this affects nearly 800,000 passenger bookings
that are scheduled or already underway.
"All these bookings had been made under a general
license previously issued by the United States government that authorized 'people
to people' travel to Cuba," CLIA stated. "The new rules effectively
make it illegal to cruise to Cuba from the United States. While this situation
is completely beyond our control, we are genuinely sorry for all cruise line
guests who were looking forward to their previously booked itineraries to Cuba."
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. said it scrubbed Havana
from the itinerary of cruises leaving the U.S. on June 5 and 6.
Royal Caribbean uses the Empress of the Seas and the Majesty
of the Seas on cruises that include Cuba in the itinerary.