The State of Florida’s ongoing battle with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in regard to cruise industry guidelines has come to a head.
Following heated statements from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis — including referring to the CDC’s “No-Sail Order” as “baseless” — a federal judge has today ruled in favor of the state, and thrown out the CDC’s cruise ship guidelines in Florida.
A Tampa federal judge gave a win to Florida and Governor Ron DeSantis, Friday, tossing out COVID-19 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) cruise ship guidelines, which the State of Florida argued were effectively banning cruises from running.
Judge Steven Merryday granted a preliminary injunction, blocking the CDC’s Conditional Sailing Order (CSO), which mandated that cruise ships implement certain COVID protocols before being allowed to sail.
It is important to note that, according to CBS 12, the State of Florida’s lawsuit against the CDC regarding its general COVID-19 rules will continue — this ruling specifically pertains to the CDC’s Conditional Sailing Order (CSO), which lays out a framework for cruise operators, including Disney Cruise Line, to return to sailing in the United States.
At this time, Disney has a test cruise to the Bahamas scheduled on the Disney Dream out of Port Canaveral this month. These simulated cruises are required by the CSO in order for crew members to familiarize themselves with pandemic-era health and safety protocols.
Presently, all cruises on the Disney Cruise Line fleet — the Disney Dream, the Disney Fantasy, the Disney Magic, and the Disney Wonder — have been suspended through July 2021 at the earliest.
Disney has yet to comment on today’s cruise industry court ruling in Florida. Visit the official Disney Cruise Line website for the latest sailing itineraries and updates regarding every Disney Cruise Line ship.
What do you think about the federal ruling in Florida today?