Some cruise lines’ restart marred by positive COVID-19 results

Cruise line resumption from US ports is off to a rough start, with Disney Cruise Line having to postpone its test cruise because of inconclusive COVID-19 test results, according to an article by the Orlandosentinel.com.

This comes as Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, a cruise line that sails exclusively to The Bahamas, delayed its test cruise after one of its vaccinated crew members tested positive for COVID-19, according to a wptv.com article.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires that cruise lines conduct test cruises with only volunteer passengers in order to ensure their COVID-19 safety protocols are robust.

In Disney’s case, the inconclusive results were enough to delay the test sailing.

Royal Caribbean International revealed in a press statement yesterday that its Freedom of the Seas vessel has received the CDC’s conditional sailing certificate and will set sail with revenue passengers this Friday.

“As the cruise industry’s first ship to receive approval and conduct a simulation cruise, Freedom successfully completed its simulation that departed on June 20 from PortMiami,” the statement said.

“Royal Caribbean is pursuing one of two pathways laid out by the CDC to get back to cruising. It requires that US-based ships conduct simulation cruises to test health and safety protocols if the cruise line expects to return to sailing with less than 95 percent fully vaccinated guests or crew.

“As a family brand, Royal Caribbean typically sees that children under the age of 12 make up 10 percent of our guests on board and today, they are ineligible for the vaccine. We are committed to continuing to deliver memorable family vacations and it is why we are conducting simulation sailings.

“As we set sail once again in the US, our crew will be fully vaccinated and our health protocols will include vaccination policies for all our guests.”

It was recently revealed that Royal Caribbean detected two COVID-19 positive minors aboard its Adventure of the Seas vessel which is home porting in Nassau.

The cruise line issued a statement on its vaccination policy yesterday, which explained that all guests 16 years and older will be required to be fully vaccinated when departing from all US ports except Florida. Beginning August 1, the age requirement for vaccinations will drop to 12.

Florida’s governor has contended that cruise lines cannot require passengers to be vaccinated and cannot ask the vaccination status of its passengers. 

However, for its passengers who might depart from Florida ports, Royal Caribbean said it strongly suggests vaccinations for cruise passengers.

“On cruises departing from Florida ports, all guests are strongly recommended to be fully vaccinated. Based on our guest surveys, we expect 90 percent of all our guests to be fully vaccinated. Guests eligible but not fully vaccinated or able to show proof of vaccination will be subject to testing and additional health protocols at their own expense. Children not eligible for vaccines will be subject to complimentary testing and health protocols.

“Vaccine requirements are one of the many layers that safeguard the well-being of our guests, crew and the communities we visit. Additional health and safety measures include our fully vaccinated crew, testing, the robust onboard ventilation system and enhanced cleaning.”

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/some-cruise-lines-restart-marred-by-positive-covid-19-results/