If you’ve been following the ongoing saga between the State of Florida and the U.S. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding cruise operations, you will be interested to know that the drama may have finally come to an end after Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was asked to take action.
Yesterday, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody (R) petitioned Justice Thomas, who handles matters pertaining to Florida and the surrounding states. Per The Hill:
…[Moody’s 31-page brief] argued that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) limits exceed the agency’s authority under federal law.
“The statute grants the CDC limited powers to enact traditional quarantine measures,” the brief states. “It does not permit the agency to remake the entire cruise-ship industry.”
However, the Supreme Court took any action, a U.S. appeals court ruled yesterday that cruise operators can, in fact, resume normal operations in Florida effective immediately. NBC News reported:
The decision was a win for the state, which filed a lawsuit arguing that restrictions imposed by the Centers for Disease Control made it very difficult for the industry to get going again, after it was shut down for nearly 16 months.
The decision applies only to ships leaving from or arriving at Florida ports.
NBC also pointed out that cruise operators, like Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean, did not join Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s fight against the CDC:
The federal government said the rules were necessary with the United States in the midst of a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic that included several deadly outbreaks clustered on cruise ships, “These experiences demonstrated that cruise ships are uniquely suited to spread COVID-19, likely due to their close quarters for passengers and crew for prolonged periods.”
Now is not the time to put the rules on hold, as the government works with the industry to get it going again, the Justice Department argued — noting that the cruise industry did not join Florida’s lawsuit.
This is important to keep in mind if you intend to take a cruise vacation anytime in the near future — your cruise operator is likely to have various COVID-19 related health and safety measures in place for the safety of both crew members and passengers.
Disney Cruise Line passengers should familiarize themselves with Disney’s health and safety protocols before booking a cruise itinerary. Key points include that COVID-19 vaccinations will not be required, but testing will, and all Guests age 2 and over will be required to wear approved face coverings unless actively eating or drinking.
Next year, Disney Cruise Line is set for one of its biggest years ever with the debut of its first Triton Class cruise, ship, the Disney Wish. She will take her maiden voyage in June 2022.
The Wish will be the fifth ship in the DCL fleet, joining the Disney Dream, the Disney Fantasy, the Disney Magic, and the Disney Wonder.
Are you hoping to set sail with Disney Cruise Line again soon?
Let the expert team at Academy Travel help you plan your next magical Disney Cruise Line vacation. Whether you have a future cruise credit or you want to book a brand new itinerary, they can help you visit Castaway Cay in the Bahamas, Mexico, Europe, or any other DCL destination worldwide.
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Credit: Disney
