Mobile Mayor Stimpson urges legislature to grant waiver on vaccine passports for cruise ship industry

Earlier this year, the Alabama Legislature passed a prohibition on so-called vaccine passports to receive services and goods from a government or private entity.

However, according to Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, it has created an obstacle for Carnival Cruise Lines’ return to the Port City.

Stimpson told APTV “Capitol Journal” host Don Dailey that it is his hope the Alabama Legislature will consider a waiver for cruise ships when it reconvenes for the 2022 regular session in January.

“From a cruise perspective, Carnival is very interested in coming back to Mobile,” he said. “We’ve had numerous conversations. Part of the challenge is from a national perspective, cruising is controlled by the federal government — by the CDC, by the Coast Guard, and so forth. Well, they require a vaccine passport. They have to know that you have been treated, and you know, Alabama does not allow that. So, we’ve actually asked for a waiver for cruising so that we can resume cruising. It’s scheduled to come back in January. We’re hopeful the legislature will address that issue. And if they do, I feel certain that Carnival will be back just as quickly as they can.”

@Jeff_Poor is a graduate of Auburn University and the University of South Alabama, the editor of Breitbart TV, a columnist for Mobile’s Lagniappe Weekly, and host of Mobile’s “The Jeff Poor Show” from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. on FM Talk 106.5.