MIAMI (Legal Newsline) - Cruise lines are suing the Florida surgeon general for preventing them from asking for COVID-19 vaccination documentation from passengers.
Norwegian Cruise Line, Seven Seas Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises filed a federal complaint on July 13 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida against Scott A. Rivkees, M.D., the Florida state Surgeon General and Head of the Florida Department of Health.
According to the complaint, the cruises are suing as a last effort after the State of Florida has indicated that it is otherwise preventing them from safely and soundly resuming passenger cruise operations from Miami, starting August 15, 2021, in the way they have determined will be best for all concerned — with the benefit of documentation confirming that all of its passengers and crew have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Norwegian is set to resume sailing August 15, 2021, in a way that will be safe, sound, and consistent with governing law, particularly the Conditional Sailing Order administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Yet one anomalous, misguided intrusion threatens to spoil NCLH’s careful planning and force it to cancel or hobble upcoming cruises, the suit says.
The lawsuit seeks for the court to preliminary or permanent injunctive and allow for the cruise lines to set sail, in addition to attorney's fees and cost of suit. The plaintiffs are represented by John O'Sullivan.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida case number 1:21-cv-22492-KMW