Norwegian sees Caribbean as cruise option if Florida hurdles persist

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Norwegian said that the Caribbean could be an alternative for its operations should they be forced to comply with a Florida law that refuses mandatory vaccinations. A measure contrary to a federal directive that conditions the reactivation of cruise ships in U.S. ports to the vaccination of both crew and passengers.

Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, assured Thursday that they could move their operations to other states or countries, including the Caribbean.

“We hope this does not become a legal or political game,” Del Rio told Wall Street analysts during a conference call to discuss the company’s quarterly profits, according to specialized media.

Del Rio stressed that attorneys believe that federal law applies, in this case the federal Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) guidelines to restart navigation in the U.S., and not the state law.

The executive of the shipping company, based in Florida, a state home to three of the world’s largest cruise ports – Miami, Canaveral and Everglades – also said that he does not believe it will be possible to set sail as of next July, given the time it takes to get a ship ready.

The CDC announced Wednesday that it will allow cruise ships to conduct test trips with volunteer passengers, in an update to the Shipping Condition Ordinance (CSO).

The industry, which has been paralyzed for over a year because of the pandemic, plans to resume cruises beginning next July. This will require the vaccination of 98% of its crew and 95% of its passengers.

According to the executive, Norwegian plans to start with a 100% vaccination requirement for cruise passengers.

In the event that Florida should be prevented from complying with this requirement, Del Rio said that “cruise ships have engines, propellers and rudders” and there are other states from which they can operate or “we can operate from the Caribbean … we certainly hope it doesn’t come to that.”

On the other hand, the Florida government last week authorized the vaccination of people who are not residents in the state, but who are “providing goods and services that benefit Florida residents or benefit the many visitors to the state,” such as ship crews.

According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), which represents 95% of the companies with ocean cruise liners, between March and September 2020 these companies posted overall losses of US$77 billion, US$23 billion in wages and 518,000 jobs.

In Miami-Dade County alone, cruise activity produces some US$7 billion a year and employs, directly and indirectly, some 40,000 people, in addition to supporting other economic sectors.