Posted on 07/18/2021 1:51:51 PM PDT by Capt. Tom
A panel of judges of the U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals last night ruled in favor of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s position in its ongoing legal battle with the state of Florida over the agency’s right to impose COVID-19 regulations on the cruise ship industry.
Yesterday’s decision stays Federal District Judge Steven Merryday’s previously June 19 injunction order against the CDC, which would have prevented the public health agency from enforcing its Conditional Sail Order (CSO) in Florida. This would have rendered the comprehensive framework of regulations set out in the CSO, intended to steer the safe restart of cruise ship operations, mere recommendations for cruise lines to follow, rather than requirements.
USA Today reported that the panel’s two-to-one vote was handed down Saturday night only minutes before midnight—just before Florida’s injunction against the CDC was set to go into effect.
Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis first filed a lawsuit against the CDC back in April over what he called the “unlawful” shutdown of the cruise sector amid COVID-19, arguing that the federal agency had overstepped its authority and angry at the prospect of losing state revenues generated by the multi-billion-dollar cruise industry as the summer season approached.
He also issued an executive order creating a law that prohibits Florida businesses, including cruise lines, from requesting evidence of vaccination from their customers. This forced multiple major cruise lines, which had originally announced that they would require all eligible passengers to be vaccinated prior to sailing when cruises restarted, to alter their rules for Florida departures.
That is, except for Norwegian Cruise Line, which declared that it would transfer its operations out of Florida if DeSantis persisted in his efforts to cripple the CDC’s Conditional Sail Order. Norwegian had actually filed court papers in support of the CDC’s rules, which were developed in close cooperation with major cruise lines. And, only days ago, Norwegian actually filed its own lawsuit against Florida to retake the right to require that eligible passengers be fully vaccinated when it resumes operations in August.
The CDC lodged its appeal against Merryday’s injunction against its framework for the safe restart of cruise operations on July 6, defending the CSO and saying, "It does not shut down the cruise industry but instead provides a sensible, flexible framework for reopening, based on the best available scientific evidence." It argued, “undisputed evidence shows that unregulated cruise ship operations would exacerbate the spread of COVID-19 and that the harm to the public that would result from such operations cannot be undone.”
The agency also warned against the potential dangers of DeSantis’ new law forbidding cruise lines to request proof of vaccination, explaining: “Cruise ships are uniquely situated to spread COVID-19, due in part to their close quarters for passengers and crew for prolonged periods, and stops at foreign ports that risk introducing new variants of Covid-19 into the U.S."
Hospitalized?
I’m sure it’s great
Physical limitations and aversion to crowded places are kinda my problem with them. Same goes for the reason I haven’t flown for 35 years
But that’s just me
I hope your next voyage is immensely enjoyable...and mask free
I would expect the Cruise lines are not going to take your word you had covid.
If you are hospitalized for covid there will be a record for them to see. -Tom
Thanks for posting this info. We are cruisers & love the memories of all the fun we’ve had over the years.
I agree.
Keep in mind the boarding process on a cruise ship involves processing documents of thousands of passengers in 4-5 hours.
A vaccine document examination will only take a minute or 2.
To examine hospital & medical records of recovery from covid will require much longer time. That is what makes it impractical for more than 5% of passengers.
My country’s government, all three branches, disgusts me.
Well thank you and others that have said basically the same thing.
Cruising will continue, eventually, but things will be different; as they will be different in everybody's lives ashore.
I'm always on the lookout for a declared Chapter 11, bankruptcy. That doesn't mean the Cruise line would go out of business - just keep the creditors at bay while they reorganize, ,downsize, and try to get back on their feet
Sometimes the creditors don't give them that chance and force them to shut down and pay up. That has happened to about 6 smaller cruise lines.
I don't see the lines making enough money in 2021 to pay all their bills, and pay off the Billions of borrowed money. I believe they will try to borrow more money or...?? -Tom
Like anything else; if you know what you are doing; a good deal can be found. We do not live by the ocean (Utah) so sailing options here are limited. Sailing on the Great Salt Lake is not popular- for a reason
Now if we lived down in your area; totally different world view. Hope to retire and buy a nice home outside KSC and work part time there, and travel a bit. Vacationstogo.com is our poison of choice for picking cruises at steep discounts. When you consider the cost of room, food, travel and entertainment- cruises are quite a bargain
There was an article in Bloomberg recently. Royal Caribbean followed DeSantis demands and allowed unvaccinated to board. But their ability to use the facilities were limited. They were restricted to one floor of the dining room, had to sit in their own section in the theater, were forbidden to use inside pools, the casino, most of the specialty restaurants, and the disco. Their ship ID/payment card was punched to show they were not vaccinated. Hope they enjoyed the trip.
Not let them on would be my guess.
Another take on the CDC/Fla. court decision. -Tom
Not let them on would be my guess.
Another deep analysis by DoodleDawg
What do you think they'll do with them?
According to recent stories, people who have COVID and not been vaccinated who take a Royal Caribbean cruise would be banned from the casino and most specialty restaurants. They will have to wear a mask when not on deck, will be restricted to one floor in the main diningroom, one section of the theater for shows, and may or may not be allowed off the ship in ports - that is up to the country in question. The reason I know this is that the cruise line has said that is how they are handling non-vaccinated passengers. Have a nice trip.
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