Royal Caribbean International has postponed one of its first voyages from the US since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic after eight crew members tested positive for the virus, the company’s chief executive said.
The maiden voyage of the Odyssey of the Seas was set to sail from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on July 3 but has now been rescheduled for July 31.
“While disappointing, this is the right decision for the health and well-being of our crew and guests,” CEO Michael Bayley said Tuesday on Facebook.
Bayley said all 1,400 crew members aboard the liner were vaccinated on June 4, but the outbreak occurred during the two-week period before the shots are considered to be fully effective.
“The eight crew members, six of whom were asymptomatic and two with mild symptoms, were quarantined and are being closely monitored by our medical team,” he said.
The delay comes days after two passengers tested positive on the Celebrity Millennium, which is part of Celebrity Cruises owned by the Royal Caribbean Group.
The fully vaccinated ship, which had departed from the Caribbean island of St. Maarten on June 5, was the first major cruise line with paying customers to sail from North America since the pandemic.