Havana, November 28 (RHC)-- Frank Del Río, President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holding, said in Havana that the cruise industry is very much supportive of Cuba remaining open as a destination.

“All our colleagues, all the brands are doing fantastic in terms of business and we want to see it keeping open, said the U.S. business executive and expressed hope that the governments of the U.S. and Cuba can work out their differences.

He further said: “The good news is that we are still here. Guests are happy coming to Cuba. Out of all the 500 or so destinations that my cruise lines visit around the world, Havana is right number one in customers' satisfaction, and I think that several of my colleagues repeated this same comment. For our new destination to come on the cruise scene, involved in less than two years, to rank number one, I think is quite a tribute to what Cuba has to offer.”

The Norwegian Cruise Line Holding CEO advocated for normalized relations between the United States and Cuba. He said: “I'd like to see fully normalized relations between the U.S. and Cuba, and of course, I would like to see all the impediments removed. It's been too long already, nearly 60 years. Imagine if we didn't have made peace with Germany or Japan after World War II for 60 years. Today we (the U.S.) have business with China, Russia. Cuba certainly deserves better.”

Executives of the world's main cruise line companies and Cuban authorities are discussing here in Havana opportunities to broaden and strengthen the tourism modality on the island.

Sponsored by the Cruise Lines International Association and the Cuban travel agency Havanatur, among other associations in Florida and the Caribbean, the meeting is being attended by representatives of some of the most prestigious companies in the sector from around the world.