Florida docking plan unclear for ill-fated cruise ships; governor fears strain on health system

[essentialsaltes]

Passengers from an ill-fated South American cruise are anxious to disembark once they reach Florida, but Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state's health care resources are already stretched too thin to take on another ship's coronavirus caseload. The U.S. Coast Guard said Tuesday that the decision would be punted to Washington if authorities can't agree.

The governor said he had been in contact with the White House about diverting them.

“We cannot afford to have people who are not even Floridians dumped into South Florida using up those valuable resources,” DeSantis told Fox News on Monday.

“This ship has been turned away from several countries already," [Broward County Sheriff] Tony said. "We are in some very, very critical circumstances where we as a county are going to have to determine are we willing to take on this responsibility.”

“Florida continues to receive flights from New York, and it allowed spring break gatherings to go on as planned. Why turn their backs on us?" Gabaroni said.

The Zaandam originally departed from Buenos Aires on March 7 — a day before the U.S. State Department advised to avoid cruise travel and before any substantial restrictions were in place in Florida. DeSantis declared a state of emergency in the state two days later.

The ship had been scheduled to stop in San Antonio, Chile, and then depart on another 20-day cruise to Fort Lauderdale in early April. But beginning March 15, the Zaandam was denied entry by port after port.

Passenger Emily Spindler Brazell, of Tappahannock, Virginia, said they've been treated to extravagant meals, wine and unlimited phone calls, but have had to isolate in their rooms.

“The captain said something like, ‘This is not a trip anymore. This is not a cruise. This is a humanitarian mission,’" she said.

 

[essentialsaltes]

President Trump Tuesday urged Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to allow passengers from a Holland America cruise ship to dock in the state a day after the governor said that would be a “mistake.”

“They’re dying on the ship,” Trump said during a White House briefing. Four people have died on the ship as of Tuesday evening. Trump said he planned to call DeSantis, according to Reuters. “I’m going to do what’s right, not only for us but for humanity.”

Trump’s comments contrast with earlier in the month when he said the Grand Princess, another stricken ship off the coast of California, shouldn’t be allowed to dock because he didn’t want the number of coronavirus cases in the U.S. to go up, according to Reuters.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Coast Guard Tells Cruise Ships With COVID-19 Cases To Stay Away From U.S. Ports

The U.S. Coast Guard is telling foreign-flagged cruise ships to be prepared to care for people with COVID-19 for an "indefinite period of time" at sea or to seek help from countries other than the U.S., citing a health care system that is being overwhelmed. The instructions are in a new safety bulletin that took effect this week along the southern Atlantic coast, including Florida – which is reporting more than 6,700 coronavirus cases, as of Tuesday evening.

Foreign-flagged ships are the norm in the cruise industry. By registering ships in the Bahamas, Panama and other countries, cruise companies can avoid U.S. taxes as well as employment and environmental laws. But now, the Coast Guard is telling those companies that their ships should seek medical care in the countries where they are registered, rather than rely on the U.S.

The Coast Guard memo was first reported by the Miami Herald, which gives this accounting of the current situation off the Florida shore:

"Seventeen ships are lined up at Port Miami and Port Everglades, with more than a dozen others hovering miles offshore. Most have only crew aboard, but several still carrying passengers are steaming toward South Florida ports. In SEC filings Tuesday, Carnival said it has more than 6,000 passengers still at sea. New sailings were halted by all major lines on March 13."

News of the Coast Guard bulletin emerged as a Carnival-owned Holland America seeks a port for the Zaandam, a cruise ship on which four people have died and nearly 200 people were sickened by suspected COVID-19. The company wants the ship to dock in Fort Lauderdale; several countries have denied permission for the ship to dock and disembark passengers.

 

[Ana the Ist]

Passengers from an ill-fated South American cruise are anxious to disembark once they reach Florida, but Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state's health care resources are already stretched too thin to take on another ship's coronavirus caseload. The U.S. Coast Guard said Tuesday that the decision would be punted to Washington if authorities can't agree.

The governor said he had been in contact with the White House about diverting them.

“We cannot afford to have people who are not even Floridians dumped into South Florida using up those valuable resources,” DeSantis told Fox News on Monday.

“This ship has been turned away from several countries already," [Broward County Sheriff] Tony said. "We are in some very, very critical circumstances where we as a county are going to have to determine are we willing to take on this responsibility.”

“Florida continues to receive flights from New York, and it allowed spring break gatherings to go on as planned. Why turn their backs on us?" Gabaroni said.

The Zaandam originally departed from Buenos Aires on March 7 — a day before the U.S. State Department advised to avoid cruise travel and before any substantial restrictions were in place in Florida. DeSantis declared a state of emergency in the state two days later.

The ship had been scheduled to stop in San Antonio, Chile, and then depart on another 20-day cruise to Fort Lauderdale in early April. But beginning March 15, the Zaandam was denied entry by port after port.

Passenger Emily Spindler Brazell, of Tappahannock, Virginia, said they've been treated to extravagant meals, wine and unlimited phone calls, but have had to isolate in their rooms.

“The captain said something like, ‘This is not a trip anymore. This is not a cruise. This is a humanitarian mission,’" she said.

I wonder what future commercials for cruises will be like.

 

[essentialsaltes]

I wonder what future commercials for cruises will be like.

I'm actually considering the opportunities for deals in 2021.

 

[Ana the Ist]

I'm actually considering the opportunities for deals in 2021.

"Carnival Cruise...You'll Probably Step On Dry Land Again"

 

[loveofourlord]

i can imagine cruise ships buying their own island and saying, "We have our own island in case there is a pandemic."

 

[variant]

I wonder what future commercials for cruises will be like.

I'm guessing less crowded.

 

[Kessa]

What sort of person gets on a cruise ship three months into a pandemic? There were issues with ships like the Diamond Princess being quarantined back in February! I don't agree with DeSantis on much, but I would also recommend turning away the ship. These people were foolish and careless, and others who have been diligent shouldn't be expected to absorb the cost of medical care or include them in the rationing of it. Unless they've been at sea for more than three months, they knew better than to embark on a floating petri dish, and unfortunately will now have to live with the decision. States like Florida are in enough trouble due to failure of strict limitations on beach access and no clear statewide sheltering mandates. They don't need dozens or hundreds of newly infected people coming in using what limited resources are available. We've known this disease was dangerous since January. It is everyone's responsibility to protect themselves and personal accountability is important here. There is a very limited supply of medical equipment and essential resources. These should be used for those who had no choice but risk exposure due to being essential workers, and shouldn't be wasted on the irresponsible who didn't have to endanger themselves in this way. It is mean, but this is a pandemic. In war time, you can't save those who don't want to save themselves.

 

[Goonie]

I sure hope the rest of the country is paying attention to the mess he's making in Florida.

His underlying personality is just as diabolically narcissistic and controlling as Trump's but he is shrewder and cagier and was astute enough not to pile up all the crimes and misdemeanors and sexual indiscretions and tax fraud that Trump did.

And that is scary. Because if America would vote for someone diabolically narcissistic and controlling who had all Trump's baggage, how easy it would be for them to go to the polls, check their brains at the door, and vote for someone who didn't.

As for WDW, it is probably the biggest cash cow Florida has. A tourism magnet. Upping the already high costs for nuisance taxes will hurt Florida's tourism industry. And if he wanted to raise taxes on WDW without doing so on similar industries, it would be unconsitutional.

WDW fans can get their Mickey fix in LA, Shanghai, Tokyo, France...

And the 2023 award for resurrecting a dead thread goes to.....(almost certainly to AV).

 

[Pommer]

And the 2023 award for resurrecting a dead thread goes to.....(almost certainly to AV).

Now, I know that airlines have policies and procedures in place to ferry an unalive “passenger” (as cargo), to get one’s body to its final final destination, but do cruise lines do “burial at sea” for them what might want that?

 

[Desk trauma]

Now, I know that airlines have policies and procedures in place to ferry an unalive “passenger” (as cargo), to get one’s body to its final final destination, but do cruise lines do “burial at sea” for them what might want that?

Yes but only for cremains in biodegradable urns.