Due to a COVID-19 outbreak among crew members, Royal Caribbean has postponed the departure of its new cruise ship

Cruise giant Royal Caribbean has postponed its maiden voyage on its new ship because eight members of its crew have tested positive for COVID-19.

The Odyssey of the Seas was scheduled to depart on a six to eight-night trip to the Western and Southern Caribbean from July 3-31. By this time, the company had virtually sold four cruise ships. Due to excessive caution, as defined by company spokesperson Lyan Sierra-Caro, They decided to postpone the departure of the cruise ship with passengers until July 31.

The company had also organized a test trip on the Odyssey of the Seas, for the end of June, which will also be reprogrammed for a later date.

To those who had purchased races on this cruise for the month of July, You will be offered alternative travel dates or your money will be refunded, the company confirmed.

The Odyssey vessel has a crew of 1400 people. All were vaccinated on June 4. Routinely, the company continued to test for COVID among its crew – who, while not interacting with passengers, work on ships. On June 18, the vaccines are considered to give you full protection two weeks after inoculation. But two days earlier, during the routine check-up, eight employees tested positive for the coronavirus.

Of the eight crew members with COVID-19, the company reported six are asymptomatic, while the other two have mild symptoms. Immediately, those eight people were in isolation – as they receive medical checks from medics aboard the cruise ship – and the rest of the crew will be in quarantine for the next 14 days. Once this period is over, they will be tested for COVID once a week for control.

“Although it is a disappointment, we make the right decision by prioritizing the health and well-being of our employees and passengersRoyal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley said in a message via social network Twitter, explaining the situation.

This isn’t the first time Odyssey of the Seas debuts is reported. The maiden voyage was originally scheduled to depart June 2 from the port of Haifa, Israel. Due to the war in the region, the company changed its plans and moved the tour to the Caribbean.

Seven other ships of the company are expected to resume commercial activity this summer, from ports in Florida and Texas.

AIt is still unclear whether the company will require proof of vaccination, to ensure that 95% of passengers are immune to COVID 19 – as required by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) -, or if they will let each passenger be responsible for themselves, as suggested by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, which prohibited any company from requesting proof of vaccination in its state.

At present, as communicated on the cruise line’s website, Royal Caribbean suggests its clients to be vaccinated, although this is not an exclusive requirement. They are offering discounts for those who voluntarily present their vaccination record, and they will consider that the one who does not present it is not vaccinated, requiring them to wear masks at all times in the public areas of the ship.

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