The threat from the Sunshine State followed Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signing a law that prohibits businesses from requiring COVID-19 vaccine passports. However, this has put cruise lines at odds with federal health guidance that mandates passengers' vaccination status be verified.

According to reports, Florida could fine cruise lines $5,000 per customer in case they flout the vaccine passport law – which will come into effect on July 1. DeSantis earlier justified his decision to sign the bill on May 3. He said last month: "In Florida, your personal choice regarding vaccinations will be protected. [No] business or government entity will be able to deny you services based on your decision."

On the other hand, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that cruise lines would be allowed to sail again in July after more than a year. However, they would only be permitted to do so if 98 percent of crew members and 95 percent of passengers are vaccinated against COVID-19. With vaccine passports the only way to accurately verify vaccination status, cruise lines risk violating Florida law in the process.

Christina Pushaw, press secretary for the Florida governor, said in an email to Travel Weekly that the CDC's guidance for cruise lines was "coercive." She continued that the public health agency "has no legal authority to set any sort of requirement to cruise."

Pushaw elaborated: "[The] CDC went on record admitting that the federal government chose not to make a legal requirement for vaccine passports. Now, [it provides] coercive guidance in the absence of any federal law or congressional authorization. In short, the CDC is pushing cruise ships to violate Florida law in order to comply with … 'guidance' that is not legally binding."