Norwegian Cruise Line may flee Florida over state ban on "vaccine passport"

Norwegian Cruise Line could bypass Florida ports because of the state's new edict banning businesses from requiring patrons to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19.


The order signed Monday by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis conflicts with recent guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention letting cruise ships sail in U.S. waters again provided that 95% of passengers and 98% of crew are vaccinated against the disease.

"It is a classic state-versus-federal-government issue," Norwegian CEO Frank Del Rio told analysts in the company's earnings call on Thursday. "Lawyers believe that federal law applies and not state law, but I'm not a lawyer. And we hope that this doesn't become a legal football or a political football."