The first Caribbean cruise to launch after the no-sail order was lifted has already seen several cases of COVID-19 on board just days after departing Barbados.
On Wednesday afternoon, the captain of the SeaDream Yacht Club’s SeaDream 1 announced that one passenger on board the ship had tested positive. By that evening, there were at least five positive cases of COVID-19, though SeaDream would not confirm the exact number. According to Business Insider, all 53 passengers were ordered to quarantine in their cabins while the ship headed back to Barbados.
While the captain did not update all of the positive passengers, it was confirmed that the initial passenger who tested positive had “felt ill.”
“The ship’s medical staff has tested all crew members, and all tests have come back negative. SeaDream is currently retesting all guests,” SeaDream said in a statement. Company officials are awaiting approval from the Barbados government to disembark guests. Aside from the 53 passengers, there are also 66 crew members on board.
All passengers of the cruise were required to test negative within days of boarding, then again once they boarded. They also underwent a pulse oxidation test and were required to sanitize themselves and their luggage.
While the CDC lifted the no-sail order on October 31st, most major cruise lines have declined to sail until at least next year. Cruise ships saw some of the early clusters of positive coronavirus cases, resulting in travel being suspended since March.
