Cruise lines threaten to leave Florida over vaccine passport ban

TAMPA, Fla. - Fallout continues from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ ban on vaccine passports with Norwegian Cruise Lines’ CEO threatening to leave the state if the company can’t do vaccination checks.

The governor’s office did not respond to our request for comment on the matter and neither did Norwegian Cruises.  All signs point to the CDC allowing cruises to start up again in the U.S. this July. But Thursday Norwegian’s CEO said during an earnings call that they may leave Florida if they can’t require vaccination proof to sail.

"The thing that I believe all cruise lines want to avoid at all costs is a repeat of even a small amount of contagion on the ships," said Dr. Jay Wolfson, USF Health professor of public health and a lawyer.