Havana, Dec 29 (IANS): A new US cruise has docked here in a bid to promote Cuba as one of its most important destinations in the Caribbean despite a serious setback in bilateral ties.

The ship "Veendam" of Holland America Line, one of US firm Carnival Corporation's brands, arrived in the Cuban capital on Thursday with more than 1,600 passengers on board, reports Xinhua news agency.

The ship plans to continue its sail to the southern Cuban city of Cienfuegos where travellers will engage in cultural and educational activities.

At the inaugural ceremony, Holland America Line President Orlando Ashford said the ocean unites the two peoples and Carnival will continue to bet on the island as one of the most important destinations worldwide.

After 37 years, said Ashford, the Carnival brand returns to Cuba, a place that offers warmth and hospitality to cruise line guests.

Cuba has experienced an exponential growth of visitors by cruises since the opening of this type of trips, receiving 380,000 people for this modality until November of this year.

According to official figures, 579,288 Americans visited Cuba between January and November 2017, registering a 248.7 per cent increase compared with the previous year.

However, there has been a substantial reduction in American travellers in recent weeks due to the prohibitions by the USs and a travel warning issued in September by the State Department that recommended Americans not visit the island.