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By Malika Kallenga and Andy Rose
(CNN) - Florida's new law prohibiting businesses from asking whether employees or customers have been vaccinated against Covid-19 may take a toll on its cruise business.
The CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. said Thursday it could cause the company to suspend Florida departures and move its ships elsewhere.
But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it will not allow cruise lines to resume normal operations unless at least 98% of crew members and 95% of passengers have been vaccinated.
TOURISM & CRUISES
DeSantis ban on vaccine proof may send one company’s cruise
ships out of Florida
BY TAYLOR DOLVEN| TDOLVEN@MIAMIHERALD.COM
If Florida won’t allow Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings to
require proof of COVID-19 vaccination for passengers and crew, the company’s
CEO says it will take its ships elsewhere.
CEO Frank Del Rio made the threat during an earnings call
Thursday, just days after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill passed by the
Republican-controlled state Legislature that bans businesses, schools and
government entities in Florida from asking anyone to provide proof of a
COVID-19 vaccination.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is the world’s third largest
cruise company, parent to cruise brands Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises
and Regent Seven Seas. Miami-Dade County spent $263 million building a terminal
for Norwegian at PortMiami that finished construction last year.
“At the end of the day, cruise ships have motors, propellers
and rudders, and God forbid we can’t operate in the state of Florida for
whatever reason, then there are other states that we do operate from. And we
can operate from the Caribbean for ships that otherwise would’ve gone to
Florida,” Del Rio said.
Del Rio reiterated the company’s commitment to guarantee
that everyone on its cruise ships will be vaccinated when cruises restart in
the U.S. Competitors Royal Caribbean Group and Carnival Corporation will
require 100 percent vaccination for upcoming cruises in other countries like
the United Kingdom and Israel but have not yet announced whether U.S. cruises
will have the same requirement.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can’t
require 100 percent vaccination and is leaving that decision to cruise
companies. The agency recommends that all crew members, passengers and port
workers be vaccinated. It is allowing cruise ships that prove at least 98
percent of its crew and 95 percent of its passengers are vaccinated to skip
test cruises and proceed directly to revenue cruises. The thresholds allow for
those with medical conditions preventing vaccination or religious objections, a
spokesperson said.
The CDC is waiting for cruise companies to submit agreements
with local ports and health authorities before they can begin test cruises;
revenue cruises can resume if the company meets the vaccination thresholds. As
of Thursday, the CDC has not received any agreements, a spokesperson said.
During the Thursday call with Wall Street analysts, Del Rio
said the company has been communicating with Gov. DeSantis’ office. At a press
conference last month announcing his lawsuit against the CDC, DeSantis said he
would object to cruise companies requiring vaccinations.
Sources: CNN, MIAMI HERALD
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