Crystal Cruises included a Miami leg to its all-Bahamas itinerary yesterday, now allowing cruise passengers to experience a US port of call and offering a third boarding point for passengers on the predominantly Bahamas-focused cruise, in the midst of a U-turn in Florida’s ban against cruise lines asking for passengers’ vaccination status.
ABC News reported yesterday that a federal judge has decided that cruise lines can ask for the vaccination status of passengers and has temporarily blocked Florida’s law.
The article explains that Norwegian Cruise Line, which championed the fight to ask for passengers’ vaccination status, contends that unvaccinated travelers on cruise ships represent a public health hazard and could cause a “super spreader” event.
As of this month, some cruise lines are requiring that passengers as young as 12 be vaccinated in order to board a cruise.
Crystal announced last month that it would add Miami as a port of call and embarkation point for passengers, explaining that Miami provides more flight options for its cruise passengers.
Crystal began using Nassau’s cruise port as a home port on its seven-night Bahamas itinerary early last month, because US ports remained largely closed to cruise traffic due to COVID-19 pandemic. However, ports, including Miami, began to open in earnest last month and cruising has picked up pace since then.
As ports began to reopen to cruise travel, Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis mandated that cruise lines cannot ask the vaccination status of passengers. Cruise lines have fought against the state of Florida for weeks now, hoping to be able to mandate that their passengers are vaccinated. Crystal said in a July release that it will recommend that passengers are fully vaccinated but will not require it because of Florida’s law.
Passengers embarking Crystal’s ship from its Nassau home port are required to be vaccinated. Both vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers now require a negative test to enter The Bahamas.
Crystal Cruises President Jack Anderson said there continues to be “terrific response” to its Bahamas itinerary.
“By adding Port of Miami, we are giving travelers another convenient way to join these popular Bahamas cruises that provide vacation escapes both close to home and yet a world away, with amazing outdoor options from snorkeling and diving to eco-tours and deep-sea fishing, to just relaxing on some of the world’s most beautiful beaches,” Anderson said.
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source https://thenassauguardian.com/judge-overturns-florida-no-ask-vaccination-rule-as-crystal-cruises-adds-miami-stop/
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