Tag Archives: Coronavirus

Florida Wins Court Case Against CDC to Lift Conditional Sail Order

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Celebrity Edge entering Fort Lauderdale for the first time.

The State of Florida has prevailed in its injunction against the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to lift the Conditional Sail Order (CSO) that has been restricting the cruise industry since October 2020.

A court essentially ruled in favour of Florida that the CSO exceeds the CDC’s “statutory and regulatory authority.”

Florida’s motion for a preliminary injunction is now granted and the CDC is now preliminarily enjoined from enforcing the CSO against a cruise ship arriving in, within, or departing from a port in Florida. The injunction stays until July 18, at which time the CSO will only stay as a non-binding consideration, recommendation or guideline.

The court also noted the CDC may propose a “narrower injunction” no later than July 2. Both parties are also being ordered back to the mediation table.

The case was brought forward by Governor Ron DeSantis earlier this year with Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody.

“Today’s ruling is a victory for Floridians whose livelihoods depend on the cruise industry,” said Moody in a statement. “The federal government does not have the authority to single out and lockdown an entire industry indefinitely.”

Royal Caribbean to Temporarily Stop Hiring Indian Crew

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Royal Caribbean International has made the decision to immediately suspend incoming crew movement from India, according to a letter sent from the company and report by Crew Center. The letter was later obtained by Cruise Industry News.

The company said it was “based on various reasons and related to recently announced travel restrictions and complexities with crew movement to and from India,” where COVID-19 cases continue to rise.

Those crew members who are currently at hotels pending joining a ship, or are currently en route (already flying) will also be notified and accommodation will be provided to them under quarantine guidelines untll further notice, according to the cruise line.

Indian crew have confirmed that their assignments have been cancelled due to developing travel restrictions.

“It’s not the way we want to operate but it is the reality of quick changes we need to make based on different reasons that are often unplanned or beyond our direct control,” Royal told crew members that saw their assignments cancelled.

No Delays to Royal Caribbean’s Odyssey Despite COVID-19 Issue Aboard

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“We anticipate that there will be no delay to Odyssey’s arrival into Israel,” said Royal Caribbean International in a statement on Monday following the news that workers aboard the ship had tested positive for COVID-19.

The new ship is due to sail a summer program from Haifa, with fully vaccinated Israeli guests aboard.

“The shipyard workers and crew onboard Odyssey of the Seas are currently preparing the ship for sea trials. They are being tested daily and at this time there are no positive cases onboard the ship,” the company said.

It was reported last week there were positive COVID-19 cases aboard the new Odyssey of the Seas with the ship docked in Bremerhaven for her final touches ahead of sea trials.

German news outlets now report that five employees on the ship tested positive for COVID-19 and have since been disembarked and put into quarantine.