The State of Florida and Group of Cruise Operations Sues U.S. Health Authorities
Florida | April 9, 2021
The state of Florida, a hub of cruise operations, has sued U.S. health authorities to force the restart of cruise sailings, which haven’t been allowed out of the U.S. for more than a year since the coronavirus pandemic brought voyages to a halt.
The move is the latest escalation in the clash between the cruise industry as well as its allies and the government over how to resume voyages. As authorities ease broad travel guidelines, large cruise operators in the U.S. remain dormant. The lawsuit was filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court in Tampa, Fla., against the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Health and Human Services, their leaders and the U.S. government.
“We don’t believe the federal government has the right to mothball a major industry for over a year,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, said at a news conference. “There’s really just no end in sight because whatever [federal authorities] do next, it’s probably going to be so cumbersome that the cruise lines aren’t even going to be able to sail.”….
(Excerpt from The Wall Street Journal)