Alaska withdraws from Florida's CDC cruise lawsuit

The reason stated in a filing is that Alaska is subject to the Alaska Tourism Recpvery Act. This requires that cruise ships visiting the state during 2021 must obtain a conditional sailing certificate from the CDC and abide by all conditions of it.

At the time of its motion to intervene in the Florida lawsuit, the CDC had yet to approve any port agreements for Alaska or issue any conditional sailing certificates for Alaska-bound vessels.

Changed circumstances

But in an affadavit this week the CDC stated it has approved port agreements for four Alaska ports, in addition to the Port of Seattle, that conditional sailing certificates have been issued for five ships sailing from Seattle on Alaska-bound cruises, and that an additional vessel scheduled for Alaska-bound cruises has been approved for a simulated voyage out of Seattle.

Given these changed circumstances, Alaska withdrew its pending motion for permissive intervention in Florida's case.

Still disagrees with CDC's legal position

'Alaska remains firm in its disagreement with the CDC’s legal position, and reserves the right to request leave to file briefs of amicus curie in support of Florida both in this [US District] Court and in the 11th Circuit, as appropriate,' the state's attorney general said in filing.

US District Court in Tampa is hearing the case, with Judge Steven Merryday this week denying CDC's motion to stay his order lifting the CSO on July  18. The agency is expected to appeal via the 11th Circuit.