cruise lines

Global supply-chain issues last year helped push cargo traffic at Florida’s 16 seaports slightly ahead of pre-pandemic numbers.

A federal judge has temporarily blocked a Florida law that prevents cruise lines from requiring passengers to prove they’re vaccinated against COVID-19, saying the law appears unconstitutional and won’t likely hold up in court. The “vaccine passport” ban signed into law in May by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis fails to protect medical privacy or prevent […]

Pandemic restrictions on Florida-based cruise ships will remain in place after a federal appeals court temporarily blocked a previous ruling that sided with a Florida lawsuit challenging the regulations. The one-paragraph decision by a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was filed at 11:50 p.m. Saturday, just minutes before a Tampa […]

Norwegian Cruise Line is challenging a new Florida law that prevents cruise companies from requiring passengers to show proof of vaccination against the COVID-19 virus. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Miami federal court, contends that the law jeopardizes safe operation of cruise ships by increasing risk of contracting the virus. Norwegian intends to restart cruises […]

Disney Cruise Line is postponing its first test cruise since the pandemic brought the cruise industry to a standstill after a handful of participants had inconsistent test results for COVID-19, the company said Monday. The Disney Dream had been scheduled to set sail Tuesday from Port Canaveral with 300 employees who had volunteered for the […]

Royal Caribbean’s ‘Freedom of the Seas’ completed a simulated cruise, which tested COVID-19 safety protocols and returned to PortMiami Tuesday morning. The Freedom of the Seas, which conducted a two-night cruise with a stop at CocoCay in the Bahamas, arrived around 6 a.m. The ship had 650 employees and their guests onboard. As required by […]

The state of Florida has filed a lawsuit against the federal government to demand cruise ships be allowed to start sailing immediately, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday. DeSantis said the no-sail order is outdated and hurts the state as the industry generates billions for the economy and employs tens of thousands of Floridians. “We don’t […]

The Norwegian Cruise Line is seeking permission to resume trips from U.S. ports on July 4, requiring passengers and crew members to be vaccinated against COVID-19 at least two weeks before the trip. The Miami company said its precautions go well beyond steps taken by others in the travel and leisure industry that have already […]

As coronavirus cases grow, cruise lines are taking a hit. One Southwest Florida couple canceled their trip to the Bahamas because of the concern, and now they’re trying to get their money back. Michel Durocher and Normand Gamache were supposed to be on a cruise ship today, heading to Nassau and MSC Cruise Line’s private […]

The coronavirus outbreak has cost U.S. cruise lines nearly $750 million since January, according to company financial reports. A State Department travel warning to Americans this past weekend could further rock their boats. Shares of Carnival, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean have dropped 60% to 70% since January as passengers have canceled trips and cruise lines […]