ASTA Backs Legal Action to Put Cruises Back at Sea

The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) has thrown its support to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ announcement that the State of Florida has filed a lawsuit against the CDC to remove restrictions on cruise travel. 

On Thursday, Governor DeSantis announced that the state had filed a lawsuit in federal district court against the Biden Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), citing what it calls "an unlawful" "Conditional Sailing" Order (COS) that's prevented the cruise industry from restarting voyages from Florida ports. 

Zane Kerby, president, and CEO of ASTA, said in a statement the CDC has taken little substantive action and maintains that cruising cannot be resumed safely, despite more than 170 million vaccines administered, falling infection and mortality rates in most states. 

According to ASTA, 150,000 American travel advisors are the worldwide sales channel for the cruise industry.  

Kerby said recent cruise protocols have been effective, as seen in both Asia and Europe, where cruising has already resumed, noting that out of 400,000 passengers, there have been only 50 cases of on-board infection, an exceedingly low rate, and zero fatalities. 

He also pointed to the CDC’s recent announcement that those who have been vaccinated are at low risk to spread infection and can resume domestic travel as long as they adhere to social distancing and masking protocols. 

Source: Travel Market Report