Federal Judge Grants Norwegian Cruise Line Preliminary Injunction to Require COVID Vaccine

A federal judge granted Norwegian Cruise Line a preliminary injunction blocking a Florida law that prevents businesses from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams issued a 60-page ruling Sunday that allows the cruise line to demand vaccine documentation from passengers and employees ahead of Aug. 15, the date when Norwegian ships will set sail from Miami for the first time post-pandemic.

“Amid myriad, rapidly-changing requirements regarding quarantining and testing, there is one constant that facilitates cruise line customers’ access to advertised ports of call: documentary proof of vaccination will expedite passengers’ entry into virtually every single country and port where Plaintiffs intend to sail,” Williams wrote.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order in April barring vaccine passports. Norwegian sued the state in July, arguing that the prohibition on vaccine documentation violates the First Amendment by interfering in communication between a business and its customers.

Norwegian could face up to a $5,000 fine per each violation of the vaccine passport ban, which went into effect July 1.

“We want nothing more than to sail from Miami, the Cruise Capital of the World, and from the other fabulous Florida ports and we welcome today’s ruling that allows us to sail with 100% 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 chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

Florida COVID cases have spiked dramatically in the last few weeks. The state reported a record 23,903 cases on Friday, Aug. 6.

Topics Legislation