The latest update in the cruise industry’s prolonged effort to restart operations? Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is suing Florida’s surgeon general over the state’s policy of barring businesses from requiring customers to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
According to a state law that was approved in May, businesses that make customers provide such proof could face fines of up to $5,000 per violation.
The rule creates major challenges for NCL and other cruise lines that are just beginning to restart operations from the U.S. while complying with stringent conditions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for resuming sailing.
As of July 13, Norwegian has asked the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida to throw out the state’s ban on vaccine proof, saying it prevents the line from safely resuming trips. The court filing argues that the law violates the First Amendment by blocking communications between a business and its customers, in addition to other claims.
Currently, NCL plans to restart cruises out of Florida on Aug. 15, with vaccine mandates in place. The line has said that the state’s law impedes its ability to prevent the spread of COVID-19 onboard the cruise, and as a result, it could be forced to cancel its upcoming cruises.
Other cruise lines have recently begun sailing from Florida, and have found workarounds to the state’s law. Royal Caribbean Cruises and Carnival Cruises, for instance, are requiring that unvaccinated passengers follow added safety protocols and purchase travel insurance that specifically covers COVID-19-related costs.
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Norwegian Cruise Line
