In this file photo, the cruise ship Norwegian Gem leaves the port of Miami on April 14, 2020 in Miami Beach, Florida. The Norwegian gem’s first trip after a pandemic break is scheduled to start on August 15 from Miami. Cliff Hawkins / Getty Images Hide caption

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In this file photo, the cruise ship Norwegian Gem leaves the port of Miami on April 14, 2020 in Miami Beach, Florida. The Norwegian gem’s first trip after a pandemic break is scheduled to start on August 15 from Miami.

Cliff Hawkins / Getty Images

Norwegian Cruise Line may require passengers to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination before boarding any of their Florida ships, a federal judge ruled.

US District Judge Kathleen Williams’ decision in Miami to grant Norwegian’s application for an injunction comes despite state law passed in May that fines the company for proof of such vaccinations.

The law, advocated by Governor Ron DeSantis, fines $ 5,000 per violation for asking customers to prove they have been vaccinated against the coronavirus.

In its ruling, Williams said Norwegian is likely to succeed in a lawsuit arguing that Florida’s so-called “vaccine passport” ban is public health and violates the cruise line’s First Amendment rights.

Williams’ decision also allows Norwegian to continue its first trip from Miami since the pandemic largely disrupted the cruise industry in March 2020. Norwegian Cruise Lines is one of several companies that sail from ports in Florida.

Frank Del Rio, President and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, said in a statement on Sundaythat the company welcomes Williams’ decision. He said it “enables us to sail with guests and crew members 100% fully vaccinated, which we believe is the safest and most prudent way to resume cruise operations amid this global pandemic.”

Confirmed coronavirus cases and hospital stays in Florida are at an all time high how the delta variant sloshes around the nation and the world. As of Sunday, about 1 in 4 Florida hospital beds had a COVID-19 patient in them.

Florida hospitals fill up as COVID-19 cases hit an all-time high

Even so, DeSantis is keep fighting more far-reaching coronavirus restrictions such as mask requirements.

Norwegian said it is implementing a 100 percent vaccination rule for guests and crew in every port it sails from around the world.

The company relies on “robust, science-based health and safety protocols” with vaccines as the “cornerstone” to provide travelers with the safest experience that Norwegian believes is the safest.

Despite the ongoing global pandemic and the recent surge in Florida, the state of Norway banned its vaccine documentation rule. The company filed its lawsuit against Florida’s General Surgeon and the head of the state’s Department of Health in July after failing to reach an agreement with officials about vaccine needs.

Neither the surgeon general nor the Florida Department of Health issued a statement regarding the judge’s verdict on Sunday.

To date, the business interruption during the pandemic has cost Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, which operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands, more than $ 6 billion, the company claims in court documents.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s first voyage from Florida With the pandemic disrupting business last year, Miami is slated to leave on August 15th.