cruise ships

A U.S. District Judge is scheduled to hear arguments Friday in Norwegian’s request for a preliminary injunction against the vaccine-passport ban.

Just as cruising out of Florida's ports restarts, the state leads the nation in COVID-19 cases, causing concerns that ships will be docked once again.

It's part of a $250 million package Gov. Ron DeSantis announced will go to Florida's ports.

Attorneys for the state say U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams should turn down Norwegian Cruise Line’s request for a preliminary injunction against the vaccine-passport ban.

The state suggested the CDC was in contempt of court based on a letter the CDC sent to the cruise industry after the appeals court reversal.

But the recovery is expected to take longer for the multibillion-dollar passenger cruise industry.

It reversed an earlier decision and is a win for Gov. Ron DeSantis, who said the CDC overstepped its authority by restricting the cruise industry.

Gov. Ron DeSantis promised to go as high as the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse an appellate panel order issued late Saturday that sided with the CDC.

The temporary stay keeps in place the CDC regulations regarding Florida-based cruise ships in place, while the agency appeals a Tampa federal judge's June decision.

Norwegian says its legal action is a "last resort." Meantime, Carnival will start requiring unvaccinated people older than 12 in Florida to buy travel insurance and emergency medical evacuation coverage.

The request comes after U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday refused to put on hold his June 18 ruling that the CDC had overstepped its legal authority in placing restrictions on the cruise industry.

It would have include 300 employees who had volunteered for the “simulation” cruise.