Cruise ships, their passengers and crews, have been proven to be a significant vector for the deadly COVID 19 virus. The Diamond Princess and now the evolving Grand Princess saga demonstrate that cruise ships in particular are spreading COVID 19 through crew, passengers, and at multiple locations. This is a threat to national security.

The Federal government must use its emergency powers to ban all cruise ship departures from American ports until the COVID 19 crisis has passed. The cruise lines are not demonstrating good judgement and have no uniform policy. Passengers are not offered an easy way to cancel or postpone cruises without monetary penalty. The cruise lines are continuing to embark and debark passengers globally when tourism must be put aside in the name of global security.