COVID-19 passports

Another cruise ship is planning to restart service out of Tampa Bay. And they're planning to ask for proof of vaccination.

The Florida Department of Health filed a notice last week that said the fines would begin on Sept. 16.

The rule applies to Central Floridians sailing out of Port Canaveral despite a statewide ban on vaccine passports.

Passengers 12 and older must complete a health questionnaire before boarding, with separate protocols onboard for people who are unvaccinated.

The administration disagrees with the ruling by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams and will take the case to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

A U.S. district judge granted the preliminary injunction in a lawsuit challenging the state’s “vaccine passport” ban, which was signed into law in May by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

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

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.

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.

Department of Justice attorneys filed a notice of taking the case to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after a federal district judge issued a preliminary injunction against CDC cruise orders.