A Florida court rules that Norwegian Cruise Line can now mandate proof of vaccination.

Norwegian Cruise Line, along with its luxury sister brands Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, is permitted to require passengers to provide vaccination proof to board, following a judge's preliminary injunction issued on Sunday.

Since the announcement of cruise lines resuming operations from the U.S., Norwegian Cruise Line stands out as the only brand committed to achieving a 100% vaccination rate for both crew and passengers.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis complicated this goal when he issued an executive order in early May, prohibiting businesses in Florida from requiring customers to show proof of vaccination to enter or receive services.

A law imposing a $5,000 penalty per incident compelled cruise lines in Florida to make vaccination proof optional for passengers at the terminal.

Some cruise lines, like Royal Caribbean, have introduced perks -- vaccinated-only areas where those immunized can remove their masks -- to encourage cruisers to present their vaccination status.

On July 13, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH), which includes Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, sued Florida's Surgeon General Scott Rivkees, seeking an injunction against the law, stating that without the ability to uphold its vaccination policy, it would have to either cancel all Florida departures or permit unvaccinated guests, both of which would lead to serious financial and reputational damage.

On August 6, both sides presented their arguments to U.S. District Judge Kathleen M. Williams, who granted the preliminary injunction on August 8.

Official records indicate that while NCLH submitted considerable unchallenged evidence demonstrating likely financial and reputational losses without an injunction, [Florida] did not provide any evidence of potential harms from granting the injunction. Furthermore, NCLH argued that public health would be at risk if it had to abandon its vaccination mandate, yet [Florida] could not identify any public advantage in continuing the enforcement of the Statute.

NCLH argued that the legislation violates its First Amendment rights by hindering the company's ability to implement necessary regulations aboard its ships.

NCLH stated, "This ruling enables us to operate at the highest safety standards with full vaccination for all guests and crew sailing from Florida ports."

Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of NCLH, emphasized, "The health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we serve is our utmost priority now and always. This isn’t just a slogan; we truly stand by it, and our dedication to these values is evident in the extensive measures we've taken to ensure the safest cruise experience from Florida."

Just a day before the ruling, Norwegian Encore marked NCL's first departure from a U.S. port in almost 18 months. The company's first cruise from Florida is scheduled to set sail from Miami on August 15 aboard Norwegian Gem.

By mandating full vaccination for all passengers, the line effectively excludes children under 12 from sailing on NCL ships, as they are currently ineligible for the vaccine. However, exceptions will be made for certain medical or religious reasons.