Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Inc. has prevailed in a lawsuit filed by Florida against the company and its subsidiary, Norwegian Cruise Lines Ltd., for allegedly violating Florida’s Sunshine Law.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has won a lawsuit against Florida, which was filed by the company that owns the Florida Keys. The court ruled in favor of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings because it had been operating under the same name for more than 20 years without any legal issues.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings wins in its case against the state of Florida, receiving preliminary approval to sail from the state with fully vaccinated passengers and staff members. Before a cruise, any of the company’s three brands will be able to require evidence of immunization.
Norwegian Cruise Lines Have the Right to Demand Proof of Vaccination
It’s something Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) has been fighting for in recent months, and it’s finally won with a lawsuit filed on July 13 in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida against Florida’s Scott A. Rivkees, State Surgeon General.
The cruise line said that the vaccine passport restriction, which prevents the request for vaccination evidence, is preventing it from securely resuming cruise operations. Florida’s passport prohibition may result in a $5,000 punishment for any business that requests evidence of immunizations, including cruise companies.
Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock.com / Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock.com / Darryl Brooks / Shutterstock
Judge Williams granted a preliminary injunction in favor of the cruise line on August 8, paving the door for all three cruise companies, including Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, to require documentary evidence of vaccination status before boarding.
“Today, tomorrow, and forever, the health and safety of our passengers, crew, and the communities we visit is our first concern. It’s not just a slogan or a tagline; we mean it, and our dedication to these values is shown by the extent to which our Company has gone to provide the safest possible cruise experience from Florida. We want to sail from Miami, the Cruise Capital of the World, and other fabulous Florida ports, and we welcome today’s ruling that allows us to sail with 100 percent fully vaccinated guests and crew, which we believe is the safest and most prudent way to resume cruise operations amid this global pandemic,” said Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of Norweg. “As the global public health environment evolves, our science-based health and safety procedures, which include vaccinations as a cornerstone, enable us to offer what we think is the safest holiday experience for individuals who want to go back to their daily lives and explore the world once more.”
Photo credit: Shutterstock.com/ackats
The three cruise companies may now proceed with their plans to require evidence of immunization on cruises departing from Florida, just as they do in other states. The cruise line operates cruise ships with 100% completely immunized passengers and staff.
Carnival and Royal Caribbean are both operating with a small percentage of unvaccinated passengers and using alternate itineraries in accordance with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations.
“We are pleased that Judge Williams shared our view of the facts, law, and science and granted the Company’s motion for preliminary injunction, allowing us to operate cruises from Florida with fully vaccinated guests and crew,” said Daniel S. Farkas, executive vice president and general counsel of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.
As part of its SailSAFE health and safety program, Norwegian has put a lot of money into ensuring sure passengers and crew are safe while onboard. In collaboration with Royal Caribbean Group, it has the support of a health and scientific expert group. Now that the Delta variant is creating worry not only in the cruise industry but across the board, it’s more essential than ever to ensure that everyone on board is properly safeguarded. The ability to request evidence of immunization will become an essential element of the procedure.
Also see: Which Norwegian Cruise Line Ships Are Back in Service?
Norwegian Gem will be the first cruise ship to resume service from Florida on August 14. The ship will be stationed in Miami and will follow Norwegian Encore, which was the first ship in the fleet to begin service in the United States on August 7 out of Seattle, Washington.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Triumphs in Lawsuit Against Florida. Carnival Cruise Lines filed a lawsuit against the cruise line claiming that they violated their trademark on Carnival. The company also claimed that they were not given an opportunity to defend themselves before the case was brought to court. Reference: covid hits carnival cruise ship.
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