A couple of weeks ago, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to update its guidelines for the cruise industry - which has been shut down since the beginning of the pandemic.
Hundreds of jobs and millions of dollars have been lost in Florida as a result.
DeSantis and cruise industry executives pointed to an increase in vaccinations, laid out plans for getting back on the water safely, and asked to return to business as early as this summer.
"The CDC hasn’t updated any of its findings with current data to justify the lockdown of this industry," said DeSantis.
Now, the agency has. But, the updated guidelines might not be what the industry wanted to hear.
The CDC calls for increasing - from weekly to daily - reporting of COVID-19 cases and illness. The agency also wants routine testing for crew members.
And, before returning to operations with passengers, the CDC is also mandating simulated voyages first - to let the crew and port workers practice new procedures before sailing with passengers.
In a statement, the Cruise Lines International Association called the update "disappointing... unduly burdensome, largely unworkable."
