Just when cruises are back, Royal Caribbean announced that it is going to postpone its inaugural sailings. 8 crew members tested positive for COVID19 during a routine test on June 10. This was six days after the Odyssey of the Sea arrived in the US.
The Odyssey of the Seas was set to sail on a six and an eight-night trip to Southern and Western Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale next month. A total of four sailings have been canceled due to this event. Royal Caribbean announced that the Odyssey of the Seas will debut on July 31 instead.
Recently Vaccinated
When the ship arrived in the US, 1,400 crew members hadn’t been vaccinated. However, they received their vaccine as soon as the ship arrived in the US.
Royal Caribbean announced in a statement that “All crew that tested positive are in good health and being monitored by our onboard medical team”.
There were new no cases since June 10. According to the cruise line, they are going to have the entire crew of the Odyssey of the Seas on quarantine for 14 days calling it “an abundance of caution”.
Operating Without a Vaccine Mandate
Royal Caribbean plans to operate without requiring their guests to get vaccinated. The cruise line even scheduled ships for simulated voyages.
In a statement, Royal Caribbean said that “We are reaching out to affected guests and travel partners to assist with their options”. The statement added that “This was an unexpected but necessary decision to make, and we are committed to doing the right thing for everyone’s well-being”.
This isn’t the first time that the Odyssey of the Seas has been delayed. The ship was originally scheduled to sail in 2020 but its construction was delayed due to the COVID19 pandemic. Earlier this year, Royal Caribbean also announced that the Odyssey of the Seas will make its debut in Israel. Unfortunately, the violence between Palestine and Israel erupted prompting Royal Caribbean to find a different location.
