New Order Could Allow Vaccine Passports for Cruise Lines

As Disney Cruise Lines were finally able set sail yesterday, there may now be changes on the horizon. Would you show a vaccine passport to cruise?

Vaccine Passport

What exactly is a vaccine passport? It is documentation that proves someone has received the COVID-19 vaccine. Various governments, industries, and businesses have discussed making them a requirement to travel, do business, etc.

Back in March of 2021, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida issued an executive order banning those passports. He said that the idea of proving your vaccination status is “completely unacceptable.”

This would extend to Theme Parks and even the cruises lines that depart from ports in Florida. You can check out the health and safety protocols for the first sailings of the Disney Cruise Line HERE.

A new change may be on the horizon for the cruise line industries regarding the use of vaccine passports.

Could Vaccine Passports be Required?

According to Reuters, the Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. called into question the ban on vaccine passports. This cruise line stated that the absence of vaccine passports could be detrimental to the health and safety of all passengers aboard their cruise line.

On August 8, 2021, District Judge Kathleen Williams signed a preliminary order that now allows the Norwegian Cruise Line to require a vaccine passport from each guest.

Norwegian Cruise Line will resume sailings from their Miami port on August 15, 2021. If the Norwegian Cruise line had required a vaccine passport against the current law, they would have been fined $5,000 for each Guest. Undoubtedly those fines would have cost in the millions per cruise.

With this current win for the Norwegian Cruise Line, we now have to wonder if will the Disney Cruise Line begin to require a vaccine passport for upcoming cruises as well.

On August 8, 2021, District Judge Kathleen Williams signed a preliminary order that now allows the Norwegian Cruise Line to require a vaccine passport from each guest.

Do you think the Disney Cruise Line will require a vaccine passport for future sailings? Would this affect your decision to enjoy a Disney Cruise? Do you have an upcoming Disney cruise planned? Share your thoughts with us on our Facebook Page.