The situation with COVID-19 develops, and rules regarding masks, vaccines, and more continue to change.
Health and Safety Signage at Disneyland
We’ve shared details about a law that was passed in Florida banning businesses from requiring guests to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to serve them. But, now we’ve got a development on how that situation may be changing when it comes to cruises.
Previously, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed an executive order banning vaccine passports in the State. This was then turned into a law that was passed by the Florida legislature and signed by the Governor, making the terms permanent.
The law prevents Florida businesses from requiring guests to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to serve them. This has become an issue of contention when it comes to cruise lines seeking to set sail from Florida due to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines regarding the return to sailing.
Disney Cruise Line
Essentially, if a cruise line seeks to have one of its ships take paying passengers out into the water again, the CDC guidelines note that they should (1) require at least 95% of their passengers to be vaccinated, and require at least 98% of their crew members to be vaccinated; or (2) they must complete a simulation/test sailing phase.
Keep in mind that Florida did sue the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention seeking to block the vaccination requirements and ultimately a federal court ruled that the CDC cannot enforce its conditional framework for the return to sailing, but the regulations can be used as guidelines. According to PBS, “all cruise lines operating in Florida have agreed to keep following the CDC’s instructions on a voluntary basis.”
Disney Cruise
But now one federal judge has weighed in on the issue of vaccination passports when it comes to cruises leaving from Florida. According to WFTV, on Sunday a federal judge weighed in favor of Norwegian Cruise Line and will allow the cruise line to require guests to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination for cruises leaving out of Florida. The judge issued the preliminary injunction despite Florida’s law banning vaccine passports.
©Norwegian Cruise Line
A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings stated, “Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is pleased to report that today Judge Williams ruled in our favor granting a preliminary injunction which paves the way for the Company’s three brands to require documentation confirming a guest’s vaccination status prior to boarding. This order will now allow the Company to operate in the safest way possible with 100% vaccination of all guests and crew when sailing from Florida ports...The Company’s first sailing from Florida is scheduled on August 15, 2021 on Norwegian Gem departing from Miami.”
©Norwegian Cruise Line
According to PBS, a spokesperson for Governor DeSantis said the state will appeal the federal Judge’s ruling.
We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more updates on this situation and let you know what we find.
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While destination countries can require the vaccine, cruise ships should not. What is the difference between going to the ball park and a cruise ship, living in your neighborhood apartment or living on a cruise for a week, staying in a hotel for a week or a cruise for a week. All present closeness to others.
Cruise lines or any other business should ask for proof of vaccinating . People should of have gotten the shot long time ago . That’s why we are having the problem s today . I got the shot when it was available to my family . It was free and to help us and the state we live . I was happy to receive it I am 60 years old and it was necessary in my mind .
GREAT NEWS!!!!
This is violation of the HIPPA act. If they can’t tell you if someone is even in the hospital how can they require you to tell weither you have had the shot or not.
This was the ruling I was waiting for. Glad the judge has some sense.
You need proof of vaccines to leave the country all the time. Get your shots, it’s not hard.
And for those of you screaming “HIPAA violation” (and yes, it’s 1 P, 2 As) if you actually knew anything about it, it only applies to your medical providers and your health insurance company. There is literally nothing in there that says a non-healthcare private entity isn’t allowed to request proof of vaccination status.
This is great news! I believe ALL businesses should require it.
This is not a violation of HIPPA. I am an attorney, but you can easily Google this: HIPPA only prevents your health care provider from turning over information against your will. It does not prevent individuals from exercising their freedom to voluntarily share their health care information – so they can go to school, or go on a cruise, for example.
As for John Hoffman Jr.’s comment, he is right that all of those things are similar. They should all require proof of vaccination as long as it appears that vaccination is good for society. Based upon what we know at the moment, one should not be allowed to participate in society if they choose to not get vaccinated. Choosing to not get vaccinated is an antisocial choice, just like choosing to rob a bank or to assault others. In all societies, those who act in ways contrary to the best interests of the society are either cast out or rehabilitated. Society breaks down, otherwise.