Washington, May 2

An American cruise ship is sailing to Cuba from the US, the first such trip in more than 50 years.

The Adonia sailed from the port of Miami carrying some 700 passengers on Sunday. It is due to arrive in Havana on Monday.

Standing beside a Cuban flag and an American flag, the cruise manager touted the journey as \"the beginning of a new era\", CNN reported.

However, a small group of protesters gathered outside the port.

As the cruise ship was getting ready to leave Miami, police descended upon a nearby boat labelled \'Democracia\', where demonstrators held a blue sign that said, \"Castro why do you ask Cubans for a Visa to visit their own country?\"

The seven-day cruise is scheduled to stop in three cities: Havana, Cienfuegos and Santiago de Cuba.

Scheduled activities on board highlight Cuban culture.

As the boat sailed, a salsa band serenaded passengers on deck.

Cruise officials said six of the passengers on this week\'s cruise are Cuban.

US cruise ship travels to Cuba after over 50 years