Havana Docks Corp. v. Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd.

Havana Docks Corporation, a U.S. company, claimed ownership of the Havana Cruise Port Terminal, which was confiscated by the Cuban government in 1960. Royal Caribbean Cruises used the terminal for its cruise operations in Cuba. In 2019, Havana Docks sued under Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, seeking damages for trafficking in confiscated property. The district court granted summary judgment for Havana Docks, finding Royal Caribbean liable. A jury awarded approximately $109 million in damages. Royal Caribbean appealed, arguing the Act violated international law and due process. As of May 21, 2026, the appeal remained pending before the Eleventh Circuit, making the case a critical test of private enforcement against alleged traffickers.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida granted summary judgment in favor of Havana Docks Corp., awarding approximately $109 million in damages. Royal Caribbean appealed; as of May 21, 2026, the appellate ruling remained pending.

Whether Royal Caribbean's use of the Havana cruise terminal constituted "trafficking" in confiscated property under Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, and whether the Act's liability provisions violate international law, due process, or the extraterritorial application of U.S. law.

The case signaled the broad reach of the Helms-Burton Act, deterring foreign and U.S. companies from engaging with properties confiscated by Cuba. It heightened legal risks for the cruise industry and influenced U.S.-Cuba relations by enforcing private rights of action against alleged traffickers.