The fast-growing legal sports betting industry is extending its reach to the middle of the ocean.

In a potentially ominous message for Florida’s cruise-ship industry, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday that people should avoid cruise travel “regardless of vaccination status” because of the spread of COVID-19.

Coronavirus outbreaks are disrupting travel across the country.

Governor Ron DeSantis has been a champion of restarting cruises on one hand, and the main proponent of not allowing proof of vaccinations for cruises or anything else.

On the eve of a court hearing, Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office pushed back Wednesday in a fight with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about restrictions on cruise ships during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A U.S. district judge has ordered mediation in Florida’s lawsuit challenging federal restrictions that have idled the cruise ship industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state of Florida filed a lawsuit against the federal government last week to resume cruise operations in the United States.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As the new coronavirus spreads across the globe, with tens of thousands affected, some cruise ship passengers are growing in concern. There have been no reports of confirmed cases on Florida cruise ships and they’re running as scheduled, but some future vacationers are worried about going out to sea. Meanwhile, more than 300 American cruise ship passengers were being quarantined at military bases in California and Texas on Monday after arriving from Japan on charter flights overnight. “It’s important to the cruise ships to make sure the ships are clean so people have a great time on their vacation,” he added. “If to really read the fine print to see what’s covered and what’s not.”Jacksonville has one cruise ship that sails from JaxPort: the Carnival Ecstasy.