News & Updates

CDC says the Conditional Sailing Order remains in effect until Nov 1

March 25, 2021

A statement from the CDC was reported by CNN as follows:

On October 30, 2020, CDC issued a Framework for Conditional Sailing Order (CSO) that remains in effect until November 1, 2021. Returning to passenger cruising is a phased approach to mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19. Details for the next phase of the CSO are currently under interagency review.

This CSO was published in the Federal Register on November 4, 2020.

Statement from the Florida Ports Council:

The Florida Ports Council is disappointed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) lack of action to formalize a clear path forward for cruise passenger travel. While other modes of passenger travel, such as air, rail, and even passenger ferries, have been able to resume operations using identified federal COVID-19 protocols, the cruise passenger travel industry has not been provided guidelines to even begin the implementation of resumption.

The shutdown of cruise passenger travel has negatively impacted the lives of the many Floridians who serve the tourism industry, including employees of hotels, restaurants, transportation services, and small businesses that cater to travelers. Decreased passenger activity due to the pandemic is estimated to have cost the state 169,000 jobs and nearly $23 billion in economic activity just through 2020. These losses will continue into 2021 as the passenger vessel industry remains suspended by the CDC.

Our ports remain in a state of readiness, prepared to work with state and federal partners and the CDC to ensure every precaution is taken to keep Florida citizens and cruise passengers safe and healthy when the time comes to sail again.