8 crew members aboard RCI-Royal Caribbean’s ship Odyssey of the Seas tested COVID-positive, chief executive Michael Bayley wrote in a Facebook post late on Tuesday, June 15.
The company will delay Odyssey of the Seas' inaugural voyage to July 31 from July 3. Bayley added a simulation cruise, scheduled for late June will also have to be rescheduled.
“All 1,400 crew onboard Odyssey of the Seas were vaccinated on June 4th and will be considered fully vaccinated on June 18. The positive cases were identified after the vaccination was given and before they were fully effective,” Bailey said.
“The eight crew members, six of whom are asymptomatic and two with mild symptoms, were quarantined and are being closely monitored by our medical team.”
The news comes after 2 passengers tested positive on one of Royal Caribbean’s Celebrity sailings last week.
The Miami-based Royal Caribbean docked Odyssey of the Seas at Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades, Florida) on June 10. The liner is the cruise line’s first Quantum Ultra Class ship that will be using the Broward County location as her homeport.
Odyssey of The Seas will sail on 6- and 8-night Caribbean cruises through 2022. The German-built vessel was scheduled to set sail in fall 2020 but was delayed due to the pandemic.
All Royal Caribbean crew will be vaccinated against COVID-19, and the company said passengers were strongly recommended to be fully vaccinated. Those who are not vaccinated or are unable to verify they are vaccinated will have to undergo testing and follow other protocols "announced at a later date," the cruise company said.
Royal Caribbean said 90% of guests booking with them were either vaccinated or planning to get vaccinated in time for their trip.
For more Odyssey of the Seas accidents and incidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.