Norwegian ship-owner Norled plans to launch a regular day cruise between Key West, Florida, and Havana, Cuba, reconnecting two cities that lost ferry service more than fifty years ago. The proposal comes amid renewed interest in restoring direct maritime links and would revive a historic route across the Straits of Florida.
Under current U.S. travel regulations, citizens may travel to Cuba for a limited set of authorized reasons. Despite those restrictions, Norled estimates the service could stimulate significant visitor demand: as many as 3 million overnight visitors and roughly 500,000 daytrippers to the Keys. A daily Key West–Havana ferry would likely boost bookings at local hotels and increase foot traffic at restaurants, shops, and other businesses throughout Key West.
“International connections like this fit Norled’s strategy of leveraging our long experience to expand into new markets,” said Jacob Engelesen, deputy chief executive officer of Norled. He emphasized the appeal of arriving in central Havana after a three-hour ocean crossing and highlighted the memorable return journey across the Atlantic at sunset as part of the overall travel experience.
A U.S. International Trade Commission report cited by the company suggests that if the U.S. lifts the embargo, between 1.5 and 3.5 million travelers from the United States could visit Cuba annually. For many travelers, a comfortable three-hour sea crossing would present an attractive alternative to air travel, offering a relaxed, scenic option that may encourage more frequent trips between the two destinations.
Norled’s plan reflects broader interest in reconnecting coastal communities by ferry and expanding tourism-driven transportation links. If implemented, the Key West–Havana service would not only restore a historic maritime connection but also create new economic opportunities for both cities while offering travelers a distinctive, leisurely way to move between Florida and Cuba.