These bookings were made under a license issued by the U.S. government that allowed "people-to-people" travel to Cuba.
"Very disappointing. I don't think there's any reason for these new regulations. It has been great being here. People are very friendly and we have learned about Cuba's educational, heritage and cultural values," Nick Ferraro, another passenger aboard the "Empress of the Seas" told Xinhua shortly before departing.
U.S. cruises brought to Cuba 340,000 Americans in 2018, which doubled the figure in the previous year and made the United States the second largest source of visitors to the island nation following Canada, according to data by the Cuban Ministry of Tourism.
Another 298,000 U.S. citizens visited the Caribbean country last year by other means like commercial flights, private vessels and aircraft.
Since the first ships arrived in Cuba in 2016 as a result of a thaw in bilateral relations promoted by former Cuban President Raul Castro and former U.S. President Barack Obama, thousands on both shores have benefited from the booming industry.
"I am very disappointed that these political decisions affect ordinary Cubans, those who live off tourism and also my friends and family who want to visit Cuba and now the Trump administration is banning them," Lucy Himstedt, a U.S. citizen who departed on the last cruise ship, told Xinhua.
The latest U.S. move will drain off one of the major channels for U.S. citizens to visit Cuba and an important source of income for Havana.
【国际英语资讯:Feature: U.S. visitors disappointed with Trump measures as last cruise leaves Cuba】相关文章:
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