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“Cruise industry essential to state’s economy” DeSantis calls CDC to lift cruise line restrictions

Today, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held a roundtable discussion in Port Canaveral that included top cruise executives, industry vendors, and state leaders in a collective call to lift the CDC’s restrictions on the U.S. cruise industry.

Last October, the CDC lifted its no-sail order on U.S. cruise ships after the Trump Administration blocked an order from the CDC to keep cruise ships docked until February of 2021.

But American cruise ships are still sitting empty at Florida ports.

“We have people flying on airplanes, they’re on buses, hotels, restaurants, theme parks, casinos, bars, you name it. But somehow the cruise is viewed as differently,” Desantis said.

The roundtable follows the Governor’s recommendation earlier this month that Florida’s seaports receive $258.2 million out of the state’s share of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, to account for the losses accrued due to the CDC’s no-sail order.

In addition to billions in lost revenue, cruise lines were not eligible for stimulus funds because most are incorporated overseas.

“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”, DeSantis said.

As the top cruise departure port in the country, Florida’s economy has a direct connection to the cruise industry. A September 2020 report from the Federal Maritime Commission estimated that during the first 6 months of the pandemic, losses in Florida due to the cruise industry shutdown totaled $3.2 billion in economic activity, including 49,500 jobs paying $2.3 billion in wages.

“The rationale for keeping U.S. cruises shuttered through the foreseeable future is based on outdated data and guidelines put in place before we had a COVID-19 vaccine,” said Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody.

Moody said she and others are considering legal action but did not elaborate on the specifics of that plan.

Top cruise leaders at today’s roundtable today say cruises have resumed in the Caribbean, Europe, the Mediterranean, Australia and Asia successfully and it is time for U.S. to do the same.

Christine Duffy, President of Carnival Cruise Lines, says the company is prepared to bring back furloughed employees but needs direction from the CDC.

“We can be prepared. But we cannot just turn around the next day and start cruising. We need direction to be ready.”

Samantha Mathers

Samantha Mathers, Action News Jax

Samantha Mathers is a digital reporter and content creator for Action News Jax.