New Orleans-Cuba Cruise in the Works

New Orleans could become a major departure point for tourists who want to travel to Cuba in the future.

As the United States moves toward improved relations with Cuba, Louisiana leaders say they see several opportunities, including the potential for cruise ship lines to offer trips between New Orleans to Havana. Currently travel restrictions from the U.S. to Cuba ban most tourist visits to the Caribbean island nation.

But President Barack Obama and others have signaled that the relations between the countries are improving.

Gov. John Bel Edwards and representatives from four of the state's major ports, business and education leaders and others are in Cuba this week, largely to work on strengthening trade ties for when an embargo that bans most exports to Cuba is lifted.

Brandy Christian, chief operating officer of the Port of New Orleans said that cruise ship operators generally prefer a cruise that would have people on board for much of a day. The trip between New Orleans and Havana is about seven hours, she said.

"We see this as a huge opportunity," she told a group meeting at Cuba's new Port of Mariel on Wednesday.

Edwards on Tuesday signed a series of largely ceremonial agreements with Cuba that have little practical impact aside from signaling a commitment to building relations with Cuba. His trip, and the signed agreements, has been the subject of both print and television news in Cuba this week.

Source: The Advocate