A cruise line that not long ago had a COVID false alarm is responding today to the real thing.
Royal Caribbean International said that about 1-in-20 passengers – it did not disclose how many other than to say “less than 0.6%” – tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday aboard its Quantum of the Seas vessel. That prompted it to cancel sailings scheduled for today and Thursday and promise full refunds or credit to booked guests.
“A limited percentage (less than .6%) of the onboard community on the 27 Jan. sailing tested positive for COVID-19. They were identified during routine weekly testing conducted by the cruise line for the well-being of its guests, crew and Singapore’s community,” its statement today read.
Fully vaccinated passengers were immediately isolated with close contacts quarantined and tested, added the cruise line. The ship will still undergo “deep cleaning and disinfection” despite everyone being asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic.
Those who booked the cruise today will receive a full refund and voucher to travel with them again while those who booked for Thursday will receive either a full refund or a 125% credit.
In December 2020, the cruise line docked back to Singapore ahead of schedule after an 83-year-old Singaporean passenger tested positive for the coronavirus. Close contacts were identified and isolated while the rest disembarked the ship 12 hours later.
A day later, however, the Health Ministry said the man tested negative four times and rescinded the quarantine orders of his close contacts.
Singapore has seen a rise in cases since the start of the year, shooting up to close to 4,500 yesterday. The nation has reported a total of 348,330 infections and 854 deaths since the start of the outbreak.
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