MIAMI — Frank Del Rio, CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, is lambasting the Florida government’s decision to appeal a federal court judge’s recent ruling that paves the way to allow Florida businesses to ask customers for proof of COVID vaccination.

Speaking to Yahoo Finance, Del Rio said: “It’s beyond bizarre. It’s shameful.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis banned vaccine passports in April 2021. The move set off a chain of legal back-and-forth.

In the Aug. 8 preliminary injunction, the federal judge temporarily blocked Miami’s controversial ‘vaccine passport ban’. NCL is currently the only cruise line in Miami and the state of Florida to offer 100% fully vaccinated cruises. Norwegian Gem sailed out of Miami on Aug. 15.

Speaking about how the government at all levels and political stripes has handled the pandemic, Del Rio said: “Our leadership has failed us. Can you imagine if 700,000 people died of anything other than COVID, the outrage that there would be, what government would do to stop that? And this government, whether we’re talking about local, state or federal – and I’m not talking Republicans, I’m not talking Democrats, I’m talking government.”

Del Rio added: “I mean, come on, give it up. This is a pandemic we are talking about, people are dying every day, Florida now is the epicentre of the epicentre. What does it take for common sense to rule?