DeSantis Admin Says Cruises Should End ‘Discriminatory’ Vaccine Mandate Policies

July 20, 2022 Updated 5:19 P.M. ET

TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – The DeSantis Administration said cruise lines should end the “ridiculous” policy of requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccinations.

The administration was asked about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announcement Monday that it stopped a program to monitor COVID-19 cases on cruise ships.

“Governor DeSantis started fighting vaccine mandates and passports more than a year ago, and it has been clear from the beginning that covid vaccines don’t stop the transmission of the virus. The cruise lines should end this ridiculous and discriminatory policy,” Governor DeSantis Press Secretary Christina Pushaw said.

Cruise companies like the Disney Cruise Line had opted into the CDC’s case monitoring program. The CDC will reportedly keep giving testing recommendations for cruise ship operators. Vessels will keep reporting cases to the agency.

Florida does not recommend testing asymptomatic individuals for covid, which applies to cruise ship passengers. This applies to cruise passengers and everyone else.

“In other words, the CDC was late to the game again, but it’s good to see they are finally following Florida’s lead,” Pushaw said. “There is no clinical benefit from mass surveillance testing.”

“The fact that covid cases have been occurring on cruise ships that mandated proof of vaccinations just illustrates how absurd the idea of a covid vaccine passport is,” Pushaw said.

Disney Cruise Line

The cruise line requires all vaccine-eligible guests to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Guests must provide a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than two days before setting sail. Guests ages four and under must provide a negative test.

American Queen Voyages

Guests are required to take a COVID-19 test when they check in or provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test within two days of embarkation.

COVID-19 vaccination is required for all guests.

Carnival

Carnival said they operate “vaccinated” cruises. Those cruises are available for guests who received the COVID-19 vaccine.

Royal Caribbean

All Royal Caribbean guests age 12 and older must present proof of full COVID-19 vaccination with the final dose of their vaccine administered at least 14 days before sailing. The cruise line does not require kids 11 or younger to be vaccinated but said some destinations will require guests age 5 and older to be vaccinated.