Florida’s GOP governor has prohibited businesses from asking patrons if they’ve been vaccinated.
Norwegian Cruise Lines says it won’t do business there.
The CDC, a federal agency in the forefront of the U.S. response to the Covid-19 pandemic, won’t allow cruise lines to operate unless at least 98% of crew members and 95% of passengers have been vaccinated. That edict may save Florida’s cruise business — or destroy it.
Save it, if courts rule the federal mandate overrides Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order, by invoking what lawyers call “federal preemption” (read more about it here). That makes sense, because cruise ships operate on the high seas, call at foreign ports, and maritime regulation is largely a federal prerogative.
Destroy it, if courts rule for the state, because cruise lines can’t comply with both the CDC and DeSantis’ order, and will choose not to run afoul of federal authorities. As Norwegian’s CEO told CNN, if “we can’t operate in the state of Florida … then there are other states … and we can operate from the Caribbean … a ship that otherwise would have gone to Florida.”
Read story here. Related: A Florida concert promoter is charging $1,000 for tickets, but offering discounted $18 tickets to people who voluntarily provide proof of vaccination. Cute. That’s gonna be interesting, as he appears to be complying with the letter of the executive order. Story here.
Photo: The Norwegian Sky, shown here docked in Jacksonville, Florida, is — or was — permanently homeported in Florida.
