Published on Monday, March 29, 2021

Florida prepared to sue government to get cruise ships sailing again

Florida demands the CDC lifts the ban on cruise ships and it hasn't ruled out suing the federal government to get the industry up and running again.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody threatened to file a lawsuit if no action is taken to speed up a return of operations.

"The federal government has provided guidance to all other passenger transportation modes and other industries; however, it has failed to issue guidance for the cruise industry to assist in its recovery," the governor's office said.

"If there is one thing we've learned over the past year, it's that lockdowns don't work, and Floridians deserve the right to earn a living. The cruise industry is essential to our state's economy and keeping it shut down until November would be devastating," DeSantis said.

The Sunshine State has three of the world's busiest cruise ports and more than eight million passengers took a cruise out of Florida in 2019.

It is more than a year since the first no sail order was issued by the CDC.

"Let's get people back to the work. The health situation has changed," said Thomas Mazloum, president of Disney Cruise Line.

"Cruise lines are cruising very successfully outside the United States, proving that with the right protocols cruising is a very safe experience."