The Norwegian Sky, one of the last two cruise ships in Havana harbor, departs Cuba this morning ahead of a deadline by the Trump administration for US cruise lines to cease operations on the communist-run island by the end of the day Wednesday. Cruise lines are scrambling to reroute ships following the surprise announcement. It's true that cruise ships didn't do much to help the average Cuban but with their enormous pools, climbing walls, monster TV screens and abundant WIFI, they were a sign of a better future or a future. I saw countless Cubans come and take photos with their whole families in front of the cruises, marveling at them as if they were alien spacecrafts. The ships were a rare connection to the US that is now gone. I know Cubans that are pro-government and Cubans that are anti-government. I have never met a single Cuban that didn't want Americans to visit. We are their neighbors.
