For the first time in nearly 40 years, a U.S. cruise ship docked in Havana on Monday despite protest from Cuban dissidents upon its departure.
The voyage restarted commercial sea travel between America and Cuba that had been on pause since 1978. U.S. cruise liner Carnival carried roughly 700 passengers across the Atlantic Ocean.
FOX NEWS ALERT: American cruise ship moments away from docking in Havana, Cubahttps://t.co/oXk2Z6pStL
— FOX & Friends (@foxandfriends) May 2, 2016
Carnival last month initially threatened to delay its May 1 trip, citing a Havana law that barred Cuban-born Americans from entering or leaving the island by sea. In April, the Cuban government lifted the ban and Carnival announced it would sell tickets to Cubans.
The ship’s departure sparked protest from Cuban exiles who accused dictator Fidel Castro of "nationality apartheid."
Gathering in the port of Miami, dissidents held a sign reading, "Castro why do you ask Cubans for a Visa to their own country?" CNN reported.
President Obama restored relations between the U.S. and Cuba last year after nearly four decades of restricted trade and travel spurred by the Cold War.
The seven-day cruise will tour three Cuban cities.
One passenger told CNN Monday that politics should not impede on commercial relations.
"I'm not sure I really understand, because it's time to put those things behind us," Gary Carlson said. "Really the big issue is government to government, not people to people, and that's what we're excited about participating in."
But Cuban exiles remained steadfast in their opposition to relaxing relations between the two nations, citing the Castro regime's notoriety in its domestic human rights abuses.
On cruising Castros folded to pressure from Miami because they desperately need the $. Kudos to all who spoke up against discrimination
— Carlos Curbelo (@carloslcurbelo) April 22, 2016