Trump administration halts cruises to Cuba under new rules

The Trump administration on Tuesday imposed major new travel restrictions on visits to Cuba by US citizens, banning stops by cruise ships and ending a heavily used form of educational travel as it seeks to further isolate the communist government.

The Treasury Department announced that the US will no longer allow cruises to Cuba or the group educational and cultural trips known as "people to people" travel to the island.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the measures are a response to what it calls Cuba's "destabilising role" in the Western Hemisphere, including support for the government of President Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela.

"This administration has made a strategic decision to reverse the loosening of sanctions and other restrictions on the Cuban regime," Mnuchin said.

"These actions will help to keep US dollars out of the hands of Cuban military, intelligence, and security services."