Mediation Between CDC and Florida on Resuming Cruises Collapses
Mediation between the CDC and Florida on resuming cruise operations have collapsed and now it goes back to the Judge.
Photo Credit: bear productions / Shutterstock.com
As many expected, mediation between the CDC and Florida regarding cessation of the Conditional Sail Order, and an immediate restart of cruising, has broken down. Mediation was a long shot and one where neither the CDC nor the State of Florida was likely to back down in any way.
Taryn Fenske, the communications director for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, issued a statement saying the United States District Court declared an impasse. When District Court Judge Steven D. Merryday announces the next step in the case remains unknown.
Port Everglades with
One potential sticking point? One CDC requirement for cruise lines to restart and receive a
Conditional Sail Order (CSO) for sailings from a U.S. port is that 98 percent of crew and 95 percent of passengers must be vaccinated, or, alternatively, the lines must perform test cruises. That vaccination mandate conflicts with a new
Florida law that bans any business from requiring vaccination for service.
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Cayman Compass
Royal Caribbean s Freedom of the Seas on a visit to Cayman prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ship is among the first to be granted permission by the CDC to carry out test cruises to determine if cruising can be resumed safely. - Photo: File
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday approved Royal Caribbean to launch the first test cruise from the US since the agency issued a no-sail order on all cruise lines last year.
The CDC, earlier this month, issued a Framework for Conditional Sail Orders, laying the groundwork for authorising ‘simulated’, or test, cruises.
House Passes Bill That Would Save Alaska Cruise Season
Photo: Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock.com.
On Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved the bill that would allow cruise ships to sail Alaska itineraries this summer.
H.R. 1318, which was sponsored by Alaska House Rep. Don Young and Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, passed by a voice vote without opposition on Thursday. It has now passed both chambers and could be signed by President Joe Biden as soon as later today.
The bill, which can be found in full here, would allow Alaska-bound cruise ships to bypass restrictions that were preventing ships from sailing out of the U.S. ports, including ports in Washington State, through Canada to Alaska.