Norwegian Cruise Line filed suit in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida trying to prove that Florida’s rules are invalid. As Wall Street Journal informed, the company challenges the state’s barring of businesses from requiring proof of Covid-19 vaccination.
Norwegian Cruise Line requires full vaccinations for all passengers as well as crew members, for initial sailings through Oct. 31. The company may be fined as much as USD 5,000 for each passenger affected, if that policy maintained in Florida.
The company is not interested in removing Florida from its ports of call, because of possible huge losses. The cancellation of itineraries for the Norwegian Gem, which will depart from Miami, could result in about USD 4 million in lost revenue per a cruise.
However, the Florida governor’s office claimed, that such policy of the cruise operator discriminated against children and people who can’t be vaccinated. Norwegian Cruise Line, in turn, said the potential spread of the highly contagious Delta variant is another reason for the decision to require full Covid-19 vaccinations.
Other cruise operators such as Royal Caribbean Group and Carnival Cruise Line operating in the same area have been forced to accommodate Florida rules and do not require vaccinations, but strongly recommend it.