Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Is Crafting An Exemption For Cruise Lines To His ‘Vaccine Passport’ Ban

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

They will come to some sort of accommodation.  Cruiselines employ tons of people in Florida and are a major part of the state's economy.  I really don't care about the details.  I just want to cruise again!

[harkinmr]

4 hours ago, Dwight1 said:

That would be reasonable - cruises visit foreign ports and I’m pretty sure all those ports will require proof vaccination to enter and roam around without quarantine and restrictions. So in the terminal anyone can be there, but on the entry to the ship the sea pass required to board a Vaccination record will be required to get issued. 

Hmmm.  So according to the good Governor, the cruise lines can’t request verification of vaccine status online or in the terminal (totally wrong by the way) but can request it once on the ship.  That should prove to be quite the challenge. They let everyone on, but then check vaccine status and toss people off. Sounds like fun!

Edited May 30, 2021 by harkinmr

[MamaFej]

6 minutes ago, Denny01 said:

I guess here in Florida, purchasing and using a fake vaccine card won’t be against the law since requiring/using a real one is illegal, so using a fake one is no big deal.  Now isn’t that just a lovely thought….well, I wouldn’t use the word ‘thought’ connected with what my lovely Fla government is doing. 

 

Den

I knew that requiring one was illegal, but didn't realize that using one was. Does that mean that Floridians are not eligible for free Krispy Kreme donuts? 

 

So sad.

I've had three so far, in two states, which is more donuts than I had in the previous several years. 

[harkinmr]

2 hours ago, cscurlock said:

What happens on the inside of the ship can only only be regulated by the federal government unless their is a danger to the state in some way even at port.   The only exception to the rule is with alcohol sales which is laid out in the constitution specifically for foreign flagged ships.  Anything before the gangway is under state control.  Anything after that the congress makes the rules.  This is specifically laid out in previous litigation and the commerce clause.  So if the requirement to board the vessel comes from inside the ship the state has zero authority and cant interfere or it would go against separation of powers i.e. unconstitutional.  This is something that should have been fairly obvious for someone who went to an Ivy league school.

It is not absolutely true that anything before the gangway is under state control. There are local, state and federal authorities over the port and terminal areas. 

[deliver42]

I don't care who is blinking. Common sense has to prevail.

[CHEZMARYLOU]

We all know how politicians need to save face.  Sounds like a way out.

[graphicguy]

1 hour ago, cscurlock said:

I don't think many people will try it and if they did the penalty would be severe, permanent ban, and maybe being sued if the ship has to turn around or alter itinerary.  What does the contract say happens if you are caught lying about your medical records?

Yeah….not being allowed to board, losing your entire cruise fare, probably being banned from cruising at least on the cruise line that caught you, and then being prosecuted for counterfeiting the CDC’s Vaccine ID, which is a Federal Offense (not a State Offense)….sure…...that would be worth trying.  

 

Someone will try.  And, the first person caught will have the opportunity to be newsworthy.

 

Sounds fun!!!!!!!

Edited May 31, 2021 by graphicguy

[rkacruiser]

29 minutes ago, deliver42 said:

I don't care who is blinking. Common sense has to prevail.

 

Common sense is in very short supply in the United States of America.  Or, have you not noticed? 

 

27 minutes ago, CHEZMARYLOU said:

We all know how politicians need to save face.  Sounds like a way out.

 

Absolutely.  Some entity had to blink if cruising from Florida will soon resume.  

[cscurlock]

50 minutes ago, harkinmr said:

It is not absolutely true that anything before the gangway is under state control. There are local, state and federal authorities over the port and terminal areas. 

Yeah sorry after the gangway ends.

[ipeeinthepool]

Some of us have been telling everyone this was going to happen for several days.  Do you believe Pee now?

[kearney]

1 hour ago, MamaFej said:

 

I'm going to give my fellow humans the benefit of the doubt and postulate that the vast, vast majority of Covid vaccine documents presented will be genuine. Cruiselines could choose to randomly spot check a small percentage of cards (like schools do for reduced preice or free lunch applications). 

 

If the lot number matches the shot location and date that lot was administered, it's "Have a nice cruise." If not, "Buh bye."

 

If someone onboard became symptomatic, check their document. After verifying the lot number matches the location and the date the location administered that lot (as a good fake would) contact the adminisering agency and make sure that the person is in their records. If they are, "Bummer, I guess you're one of the small percentage for whom it didn't work as well. Let's treat your symptoms and keep you away from others until you no longer test positive." If they aren't: release the full power of whatever the consequences are upon them. 

 

It would take some effort, but it would certainly not be impossible, with a miniscule number of possible exceptions. I've made sure that my information is verifiable, and I'm thinking that most other cruisers would as well, especially if the consequences were made clear upfront. 

I had thought that if you put something in the contract that indicates that if you develop symptoms and the cruise line finds out that you have not actually been vaccinated... you pay for medical coverage, any quarantine and transportation home perhaps an added fine...plus ban from future cruises. At least that way there is some deterrent. That way you only have to confirm if someone develops symptoms. That way you don't have to present proof of vaccination... just confirm that you have. Of course someone could be on the ship unvaccinated and not get sick...but then is that really a problem. It is the unvaccinated that are the ones at risk... far more than the vaccinated

[cscurlock]

14 minutes ago, kearney said:

I had thought that if you put something in the contract that indicates that if you develop symptoms and the cruise line finds out that you have not actually been vaccinated... you pay for medical coverage, any quarantine and transportation home perhaps an added fine...plus ban from future cruises. At least that way there is some deterrent. That way you only have to confirm if someone develops symptoms. That way you don't have to present proof of vaccination... just confirm that you have. Of course someone could be on the ship unvaccinated and not get sick...but then is that really a problem. It is the unvaccinated that are the ones at risk... far more than the vaccinated

It could technically be a real problem if there are multiple unvaccinated infections, lets says a family reunion where the threshold of turning the ship around is met and they have to go back to port.  I know its a big stretch but if that did happen it would ruin the trip.  Lets hope all those things are a deterrent enough.  I am curious who would they subpoena to determine if that person was really vaccinated?

[iamaqt2]

6 minutes ago, cscurlock said:

It could technically be a real problem if there are multiple unvaccinated infections, lets says a family reunion where the threshold of turning the ship around is met and they have to go back to port.  I know its a big stretch but if that did happen it would ruin the trip.  Lets hope all those things are a deterrent enough.  I am curious who would they subpoena to determine if that person was really vaccinated?

State Health Departments are keeping track of who is vaccinated.  Washington state actually has a database that tracks all vaccines given to residents.  You can register for an account and see what vaccines you've received.  AFAIK not all states have this, but your public health dept. would be able to provide it to you.
It lists the date you received the vaccine, which brand you received and the lot number.  I'm planning on printing that record out and providing it instead of the white card.

[kearney]

7 minutes ago, cscurlock said:

It could technically be a real problem if there are multiple unvaccinated infections, lets says a family reunion where the threshold of turning the ship around is met and they have to go back to port.  I know its a big stretch but if that did happen it would ruin the trip.  Lets hope all those things are a deterrent enough.  I am curious who would they subpoena to determine if that person was really vaccinated?

No idea... just trying to come up with ideas... I was thinking if someone got sick onboard don't doctors want to check your medical history before prescribing treatment... anyway that was my thought process. When I see a specialist... I usually provide my primary care doctors name to make sure he gets the information.. I thought it might work in reverse..as well...

[iamaqt2]

Posting an example from my mobile version as the desktop version lists the lot numbers.  No sense providing that info to the cheaters.  And yes I've been jabbed a LOT.  I work in healthcare and like to travel.

[wrk2cruise]

12 minutes ago, iamaqt2 said:

I'm planning on printing that record out and providing it instead of the white card.

 

I'd be careful to bring the form of verification that the cruise line requires.  It appears the vast majority of people in the US have the white card.  I'd stick with that myself but have the other form if required for backup

[iamaqt2]

3 minutes ago, wrk2cruise said:

 

I'd be careful to bring the form of verification that the cruise line requires.  It appears the vast majority of people in the US have the white card.  I'd stick with that myself but have the other form if required for backup

Oh absolutely.. just making sure I have good documentation.

[Oville]

1 hour ago, ipeeinthepool said:

Some of us have been telling everyone this was going to happen for several days.  Do you believe Pee now?

I assume you mean you and some Florida news outlets, as well as WAPO and others.  It will be interesting to see how the Gov gets out of this mess smelling like a rose.  

[iamaqt2]

5 minutes ago, Oville said:

I assume you mean you and some Florida news outlets, as well as WAPO and others.  It will be interesting to see how the Gov gets out of this mess smelling like a rose.  

The easy answer is he won't.  He's been going around for the last few days adamantly swearing that the cruise lines won't sail with vaccine mandates without a 5000 dollar fine for each passenger.

Now he's negotiating behind the scenes to get cruises going and unvaccinated adults and teens aren't getting near a ship.

[Blauelini]

4 hours ago, cscurlock said:

Someone posted something they received in the mail regarding the July cruises for Celebrity and it seems that they will require you to upload the vaccine requirement when you online check in or earlier.  If you don't then your cruise is cancelled and refunded.  

What are they wanting you to upload?  A copy of your CDC vax card? I

[cscurlock]

Just now, Blauelini said:

What are they wanting you to upload?  A copy of your CDC vax card? I

I am assuming that is what it is.  Maybe they have some type of validation tool available.

[MacMarauder]

Great news and I give DeSantis credit for doing the right thing. 

[Blauelini]

Just now, cscurlock said:

I am assuming that is what it is.  Maybe they have some type of validation tool available.

Validation tool will only work if every single place that is administrating vaccinations upload your info into a state database.  I doubt that is happening. 

[iamaqt2]

Just now, MacMarauder said:

Great news and I give DeSantis credit for doing the right thing. 

What right thing?  Publicly stating he won't budge on the vaccine mandate while making backdoor deals with the cruise lines? 

[iamaqt2]

Just now, Blauelini said:

Validation tool will only work if every single place that is administrating vaccinations upload your info into a state database.  I doubt that is happening. 

It is happening.  That is how the states know what percentage of population is vaccinated.  Every person vaccinated fills out a consent form.  That info is then provided to the states Dept of Health.