RCI-Royal Caribbean canceled Spectrum of the Seas ship's "Ocean Getaway" (cruise to nowhere scheduled for October 21, 2021, from Hong Kong) after late on Thursday, October 22, a crew member onboard was suspected to have COVID during routine testing.
According to RCI, the male crew (40-year-old, fully vaccinated in April & May 2021, asymptomatic) was tested on October 19 and came back positive ("a low viral load for COVID"). Under the Hong Kong Health Department's health & safety measures, he was classified as a re-positive overseas case.
The authorities prevented Spectrum OTS from departing the Port's Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, after 1000 guests (of ~1200 booked to sail, had already boarded the ship before the 4-night voyage was canceled.
Royal Caribbean has informed passengers booked on the ship's October 21 sailing about the cancelation.
RCI will provide the following offering to guests impacted by the cancelation:
- Free cancelation, 100% refund on paid fare and taxes & fees
- Transportation subsidy of HK$100 per passenger
- An extra FCC (Future Cruise Credit) to use on the next choice of Spectrum's cruise-to nowhere.
On October 22, RCI released another statement that the crew had proved to be false-positive after he was tested again in a public hospital in accordance with the local COVID rules. The latest test results were negative, he was not infected, Royal Caribbean said. However, the Hong Kong authorities still define the results as positive.
For other Spectrum of the Seas accidents and incidents see the ship's CruiseMinus page.