48 test positive for COVID on world’s biggest cruise ship

(CNN) — Despite stringent measures expected to support water cruises COVID-free, relation Royal Caribbean says astatine slightest 48 radical connected committee 1 of its ships that docked successful Miami astatine the play person tested affirmative for the virus.

The Symphony of the Seas, the world’s biggest cruise ship, was carrying much than 6,000 passengers and unit connected a week-long travel astir the Caribbean erstwhile a impermanent tested positive, prompting wider interaction tracing, according to Royal Caribbean.

Cruise ships had been touted arsenic the 1 of the “safest” vacations available back successful summertime 2021 erstwhile the cruise manufacture restarted successful the US with caller COVID protocols, pursuing an extended pandemic shutdown.

The Symphony of the Seas  was carrying 6,091 passengers and unit members. In a statement, Royal Caribbean said that a impermanent tested affirmative during the voyage, and consequent cases were detected pursuing interaction tracing.

It said 95% connected committee were afloat vaccinated. Of the radical who’ve since tested positive, 98% were afloat vaccinated. It’s not yet known whether the highly infectious Omicron variant of coronavirus, presently spreading rapidly astir the world, was liable for the cases detected.

Royal Caribbean rules dictate that each travelers connected committee a vessel aged 12 and supra indispensable beryllium afloat vaccinated, and trial antagonistic earlier departure. The cruise enactment says it “strongly recommends” guests person a booster dose anterior to sailing, but this is not presently mandated.

Crew members are besides required to beryllium afloat vaccinated and trial “at slightest erstwhile a week.”

Unvaccinated children connected committee Symphony of the Seas were required to amusement a antagonistic PCR, and besides trial antagonistic astatine the terminal pre-departure.

‘Mild symptoms’

Royal Caribbean says it besides implements further wellness and information measures, specified arsenic enhanced cleaning. On US-based cruises, masks are present required to beryllium worn successful indoor nationalist areas — this argumentation was precocious updated to widen mask-wearing requirements for afloat vaccinated passengers.

“Each idiosyncratic rapidly went into quarantine,” reads a Royal Caribbean connection connected the Symphony of the Seas outbreak. “Everyone who tested affirmative were asymptomatic oregon had mild symptoms, and we continuously monitored their health.”

Symphony of the Seas departed from Miami, Florida connected Dec. 11, stopping astatine Caribbean ports St. Maarten and St. Thomas, arsenic good arsenic Royal Caribbean’s backstage island, called CocoCay.

The cruise enactment says successful its connection that it disembarked six affirmative cases earlier successful the cruise, portion the different affirmative travelers disembarked connected Dec. 18, erstwhile the voyage came to an end.

The cruise enactment added that Symphony of the Seas’ aboriginal voyages weren’t impacted.

Earlier successful December, a spate of affirmative COVID cases were reported on committee Norwegian Cruise Line vessel Breakaway, which was traveling retired of New Orleans.