Appeals court rules in favor of CDC, conditional sailing order stays in place for now

The US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit acted at the last minute, issuing its order on Saturday, the day before the CSO was set to become a non-binding 'consideration,' 'recommendation' or 'guideline' instead of a requirement.

Stays earlier ruling 

This stays District Court Judge Steven Merryday's June 18 ruling favoring Florida's request for preliminary injunction to immediately end the CSO.

Merryday had stayed his order until July 18 and gave the agency until July 2 to propose more limited cruise regulations to the court. The CDC didn't put forward alternatives but asked for more time and ultimately appealed when Merryday rejected its motion to stay his order beyond July 18.

2-1 vote, opinions to follow

One of the three appeals court judges dissented from the decision. Opinions are to follow.

As earlier reported here, a cruise operations expert told Seatrade Cruise News that whatever happens from a legal perspective, he expects the CDC-ordered policies will remain in place at the lines 'because the results have been positive so far, and keeping these policies in place will reassure the public cruising is safe. I don't see anything changing.'