Key West voters deliver a blow to cruise lines with big-ship ban
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
Is the era of big-ship cruising to Key West, Florida, coming to an end?
It’s looking more likely after Tuesday’s election.
Residents of the laid-back island town in the Straits of Florida on Tuesday voted to approve three referendums that will ban most cruise ships operated by major lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line, from visiting.
For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG’s new cruise newsletter.
One of the referendums prohibits cruise ships with more than 1,300 passengers from docking in Key West. That would affect even the smallest ships from Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line.
A second referendum limits the number of daily cruise ship visitors to 1,500.
A final referendum gives docking priority to cruise lines that have the best health and environmental records.
Related: The best credit cards for booking cruises
The referendums passed by wide margins ranging from 60% to 81%.
The referendums are binding but are expected to be challenged in court.
A spokesperson for the main trade group for the cruise industry, the Cruise Lines International Association, told The Points Guy on Wednesday that the association would not put out a statement about the vote.
Tapping into residents’ worries about the COVID-19 outbreak, a political action committee that pushed for the referendums’ passage, the Key West Committee for Safer Cleaner Ships, promoted them as a way to keep Key West safe and healthy. The group pointed to the many COVID-19 outbreaks on cruise ships earlier this year and noted that Key West only has one hospital and seven ICU beds for the entire community.
Unless overturned by the courts, the referendums could have a profound impact on cruising to Key West, which draws close to 1 million cruisers a year.
Related: 8 great hotels to book in Key West using points
Still, it won’t bring cruising to Key West to an end. While the fleets of big lines such as Royal Caribbean lack vessels that are designed to carry fewer than 1,300 passengers, there are many small-ship cruise lines and luxury lines that operate ships under that threshold.
Upscale line Oceania Cruises, which sometimes sends ships to Key West, for instance, has six vessels that carry from 688 to 1,250 passengers.
Crystal Cruises, Seabourn, Silversea and Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd Cruises are four more lines that sometimes send ships to Key West that would not be affected by the ban. They all operate vessels that carry fewer than 1,300 passengers.
The effect of the referendums, if they are allowed to stand, will be to transform Key West into a small-ship cruise destination that mostly caters to upscale vessels.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- 15 ways cruisers waste money
- 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
- What to pack for your first cruise
Featured image of a Disney ship docked in Key West by Ullstein Bild/Getty Images
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
Earn 90,000 bonus miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card in the first three months of card membership. Offer ends 11/10/2021.
With Status Boost™, earn 10,000 Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, up to two times per year getting you closer to Medallion Status. Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels, 2X Miles at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets and earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. Terms Apply.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles and 10,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer expires 11/10/2021.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. *Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $75 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®.
- Enjoy an exclusive rate of $39 per person per visit to enter the Delta Sky Club® for you and up to two guests when traveling on a Delta flight.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.