Carnival aims to start Cuba cruises in May

Miami

CARNIVAL Corp has won US approval to operate cruises to Cuba and plans to start taking travellers there in May, joining a growing list of maritime companies hoping to profit from a thaw in relations between Washington and Havana.

The United States and Cuba have been working for months to improve relations after more than five decades of animosity that had led to a trade embargo against the communist-led country. The countries formally agreed last week to restore diplomatic relations on July 20.