| FL takes aim at Celeb

FLORIDA Governor Ron DeSantis (pictured) has said Celebrity Cruises’ vaccine requirement “violates the spirit” of his emergency order, which prohibits businesses asking for proof of a vaccination as a condition of providing a service.

Celebrity intends to be the first line to offer cruises from the United States (CW 28 May), set to do so from Jun, but will require all passengers to be fully vaccinated.

That stipulation contravenes the “fundamental rights of Floridians – including the right to medical privacy,” according to DeSantis.

“The policy would also be a violation of Florida’s recently enacted law banning vaccine passports,” he said.

Celebrity is imposing the vaccination requirement in line with Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s (CDC) conditional return to service order, which stipulates cruise lines can operate without running test voyages if 95% of passengers and 98% of crew are vaccinated against coronavirus.

Despite the CDC’s guidance, Florida has warned it could fine a company US$5,000 for every person required to show proof of a vaccination.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has already voiced fears about Florida’s law, which could see cruise lines pull out of the state.