- Cruise lines looking to operate out of Florida are adhering to the state’s firm vaccine passport ban.
- Vaccinated and unvaccinated guests sailing out of Florida could have different cruising experiences.
- Unvaccinated guests aboard Royal Caribbean and Carnival’s cruises will face more costs and onboard restrictions.
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Cruise lines have found a way around Florida’s firm vaccine passport ban, but that doesn’t mean unvaccinated passengers should expect equal treatment aboard cruises sailing out of the Sunshine State.
It’ll actually be the opposite: unlike their vaccinated counterparts, unvaccinated guests aboard Carnival and Royal Caribbean’s Florida cruises will have to pay for travel insurance and COVID-19 tests, but will still be barred from select areas of the ships.
In April, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order banning vaccine passports and Florida businesses from requiring said proof of vaccination. Shortly after, the state passed a law officially banning vaccine passports.
Any company violating the ban could be fined $5,000 per customer.
Frank Del Rio — president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) — has already threatened to pull…