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Alaska joins Florida in suing the CDC over cruise shutdown

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Gov. Mike Dunleavy wants to end the 'destructive policies' of the CDC's 'arbitrary decision' to stop cruise ships, placing Alaska businesses and communities 'in jeopardy'
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy is making good on his threat to sue the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over the cruise shutdown.

On Tuesday, Dunleavy said Alaska has joined Florida in legal action to end the 'destructive policies' of the CDC's 'arbitrary decision' to stop cruise ships, placing Alaska businesses and communities 'in jeopardy.'

The weekend before last, Dunleavy signaled Alaska was considering filing suit 'if we don't get a positive dialogue going this week.'

$3bn loss per season

Alaska claims losses of more than $3bn each season the cruise industry is shut down.

Florida filed suit against the US government, Department of Health and Human Services and CDC on April 8, calling for the immediate lifting of the conditional sailing order and allowing cruises to restart 'with reasonable safety protocols.'

The complaint is here

Canada cruise ban another hurdle

Even if this legal action were successful, or should the CDC of its own accord allow cruises in the coming months, Alaska still faces the hurdle of Canada's cruise ship ban. Without an international stop, foreign-flag vessels would be in violation of the US Passenger Vessel Services Act.