Welcome Back! Cuban-Americans Now Free to Hop On Board Havana Cruise Ship

US travel company Carnival announced cruises to and from the United States and Cuba, including for Cuban-born passengers, according to official company's statement.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The US-based luxury travel enterprise Carnival Corporation will begin offering cruises to and from the United States and Cuba, including for Cuban-born passengers, the company announced in a press release on Friday.

"We have already seen tremendous interest in the incredible Cuba journey we have put together, and we are ecstatic that this historic opportunity is open to everyone who wants to travel to Cuba," said Tara Russell, global impact lead for Carnival Corporation.

#BREAKING: Cuban government lifts ban on Cuba-born citizens sailing to Cuba. First cruise to set sail May 1. pic.twitter.com/dGyhq5RAf5

— Joel Franco (@OfficialJoelF) 22 April 2016

​

Carnival noted that it is the first time in decades that Cuban-born travelers will be able to sail to and from the country, and the first time in over 50 years that a cruise ship has been able to sail from the United States to Cuba. 

The company said it would offer the 7-day trips every other week, beginning on May 1.

Relations between Washington and Havana started to improve after President Barack Obama announced in December 2014 a historic shift in US policy, including the loosening of a decades-old trade and travel embargo on Havana.

The two countries reopened embassies in their respective capitals in the summer of 2015, after more than 50 years of diplomatic non-engagement.