Federal judge sides with Norwegian Cruise Line in battle with Florida over vaccine passports

A federal judge sided with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings in a battle with Florida over vaccine passports Sunday night, and ordered the cruise lines to request a preliminary injunction blocking a state law that prohibits companies from demanding proof of vaccination.

In a nearly 60-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams stated that Florida provides no valid evidence, factual or legal evidence for its ban on vaccine passports.

Amid myriad, rapidly evolving quarantine and testing requirements, there is one constant that makes cruise line customers easier access to advertised ports of call: Documentary proof of vaccination will expedite passengers entry to virtually any country and port that claimants intend to sail, Williams wrote.

Background: Governor Ron DeSantis, who has consistently fought coronavirus restrictions such as face mask mandates, signed an executive order in April banning vaccine passports. The Florida legislature also passed a measure that blesses the order and fines companies that violate the ban.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings filed a lawsuit against Florida in mid-July. The cruise line has a ship ready to sail out of Miami on August 15.

This is just one of several lawsuits the governor is currently pursuing over cruise ships. Florida is in another legal battle with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over its cruise directive.

What’s next: The legal battle between the state and Norwegian could drag on. Peter Patterson, who represents State and State Surgeon General Scott Rivkees, hinted during a court hearing Friday that Florida could take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.