Cruise Restart Saga Continues

 Florida in the News

Will Florida law derail cruise restart?

Earlier this month we wrote about Florida Governor Ron DeSantis legal steps to get cruising from Florida and other U.S. ports restarted with reasonable safety protocols. We also wrote about the legislation that banned Florida businesses for requiring proof of vaccination in order to provide services. We commented that he was sending mixed signals in our blog post Vaccination Role in Cruise Restart. 

Just one day after jubilant celebration by Celebrity Cruises, and the entire cruise industry, as the first CDC approval from resumption of sailing from U.S. ports occurred, Florida and Governor DeSantis are again in the spotlight. According to a spokesperson from the governor's office, "Requiring customers to show proof of immunization violates the spirit of the governor’s Emergency Order 21-81, which prohibits vaccine passports and protects the fundamental rights of Floridians – including the right to medical privacy." 

Governor DeSantis office indicated that under the new law, which takes effect on July 1, businesses can be fined up to $5,000 per violation. The only exemption in the law is for licensed healthcare providers.

Celebrity Cruises intends to move forward with plans to begin sailing with fully vaccinated crew and passengers as required by CDC to bypass test cruise phase of the recovery plan. Protocols are being finalized between the line and the CDC. We can imagine that the conflict with the Florida law is also being addressed. 

CDC and the cruise lines have one goal in mind - keeping the crew, passengers, and ports visited safe and healthy via the protocols being introduced. It would be a shame if this Florida law introduces another setback for the suffering cruise industry. Stay tuned for developments on this and other cruise industry news.

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