DeSantis pushes back on CDC’s ‘baseless’ no-sail order for cruise ships

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Friday blasted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), calling its most recent guidelines on pausing commercial cruises until November “baseless.”

DeSantis, during a round table meeting highlighting the importance of the cruise industry to Florida’s economy, called for the CDC to reevaluate its no-sail order, which the agency has stated should remain in place through November of this year.

“The cruise industry is essential to our state’s economy and keeping it shut down until November would be devastating to the men and women who rely on the cruise lines to provide for themselves and their families,” the Florida governor said. “I urge the CDC to immediately rescind this baseless no-sail order to allow Floridians in this industry to get back to work.” 

Florida’s revenue losses from the shutdown of the cruise industry during the first six months of the coronavirus pandemic totaled nearly $3.2 billion and resulted in the loss of almost 49,500 jobs, according to a September 2020 report from the Federal Maritime Commission, Fox News reported.

While the CDC announced on Wednesday that its no-sail order will remain in place through Nov. 1, despite the request of the Cruise Lines International Association for the order to be lifted sooner, the agency did state that it is revising its current guidelines for cruising.

“Returning to passenger cruising is a phased approach to mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19. Details for the next phase of the CSO are currently under interagency review,” the agency told Fox News.