MIAMI – Carnival Cruise Line will be the first American cruise line to make a voyage to Cuba in about 50 years.
About 700 passengers are slated to take part in the week-long cruise aboard the Adonia, which is part of Carnival’s Fathom line.
The cruise departs Sunday and will stop at ports in Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba.
This inaugural cruise came with a sea of controversy.
Cuba had a ban placed on Cuban-born travelers entering the country by sea, which sparked protests and Carnival faced a civil rights lawsuit accused of discriminating against Cuban born passengers from buying a ticket for the cruise.
That lawsuit against Carnival has since been dropped in response the Cuban government changing that policy ban on Cuban born travelers.
The ship is set to take sail about 4:30 p.m. Local 10 News reporter Hatzel Vela will be among those taking part in the historic cruise.