Norwegian Cruise Line has disembarked its first fully vaccinated cruise out of Miami, just days after its parent company won a legal battle against the state of Florida to do just that.
A US federal judge on 9 August granted Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings a preliminary injunction that overturns a state law forbidding cruise lines from requiring passengers and crew to show written proof of vaccination before boarding cruiseships.
The Frank Del Rio-led cruise major asked US District Judge Kathleen Williams on 6 August to block the bill, which governor Ron DeSantis enacted in May, on the grounds that it jeopardised the health and safety of crew members on ships operating out of Florida.
Williams ruled in favour of the cruise line on 8 August, allowing Norwegian to require written proof of vaccination before cruises out of Miami resumed on Sunday on the 2,394-berth Norwegian Gem (built 2007).
The ship left Miami's new NCL Terminal for a week-long voyage to the Caribbean with calls to Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico; Roatan, Honduras; and Harvest Caye, the company's private resort in Belize.
"After many months, we are ready to deliver a safe and memorable experience for our guests at every step of their cruise journey," Norwegian president Harry Sommer said.
The new NCL Terminal
“Today is even more special as it is the first time we are relaunching from our hometown and from the new NCL Terminal at Port Miami."
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings announced its plans to build the 17,466-square-metre terminal in March 2018 at the annual Seatrade Cruise Global conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The cruise line has already held fully vaccinated voyages from Athens on 25 July on the 2,882-passenger Norwegian Jade (built 2006) and from Seattle on 7 August on the 3,998-passenger Norwegian Encore (built 2019).
The Norwegian Gem is scheduled to hold week-long voyages to the Caribbean and four-day cruises to the Bahamas until 17 October before repositioning to New York for five to 11-night trips to the Bahamas, Caribbean and Bermuda.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, Royal Caribbean International did not allow several passengers to board the 4,180-berth Ovation of the Seas (built 2016) in Seattle because they did not receive Covid-19 vaccines.
As of 1 August, the company’s vaccination policy requires all passengers departing from US ports — except Florida — to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Younger passengers who are not yet eligible for vaccination must show proof of a negative Covid-19 test.
