| Cruise lines sued

A Miami judge has dealt a major blow to cruise lines which travelled to Cuba between 2015 and 2019, saying they engaged in “prohibited tourism” and “trafficking activities” by carrying passengers to the country, and profiting from the use of port facilities in Havana.

The decision is the first of its kind, and could affect similar lawsuits, with Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International and MSC Cruises all included in the judgement.

The judge sided with Havana Docks, a company that held a concession to operate the city’s port, and which filed lawsuits against the four cruise lines for their use of it when cruise travel to Cuba was authorised by the United States Government.

Havana Docks sued under the The Helms-Burton Act, a law which allows aggrieved owners to sue companies which engaged in commercial activities or benefited somehow from properties confiscated by the Castro administration.

“By using the terminal and one of its piers in various ways, Carnival, MSC, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian committed trafficking,” the judge ruled.

The case will now go to a jury trial in May, where damages to be paid will be decided.