Florida Governor vs. CDC

Above, the Fort Lauderdale cruise ship terminal. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It appears that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is trying to use its "iron boot" to make the state of Florida comply with its regulations concerning the cruise ship industry and vaccinations. Gov. Ron DeSantis has issued an executive order banning the use of so-called Vaccine Passports.

TravelPulse reported:

As cruise lines prepare to return to service in the United States, there is a showdown brewing in Florida between Governor Ron DeSantis and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) over COVID-19 vaccinations.

Governor DeSantis signed an Executive Order in April banning businesses operating in the state from asking for proof that customers received a COVID-19 vaccination, a ruling with major implications on Florida’s cruise industry.

Travel advisors and legal experts weighed in on the ongoing battle.

“I firmly believe that the CDC will be able to override Florida Governor DeSantis on the vaccine requirement,” Florida-based travel advisor Scott Lara told TravelPulse. “While I appreciate the Governor resisting so-called Vaccine Passports, we must keep cruise passengers healthy.”

Earlier this week, the CDC approved Celebrity Cruises to become the first cruise line to set sail with paying passengers on board. The ship is scheduled to depart from Fort Lauderdale on June 26.

It will be interestng to see how this one turns out.

To read more, go here.