The first cruise ship sailing out of North America since the coronavirus pandemic was declared last year encountered some troubled waters.
Cruise officials confirmed Thursday that two passengers aboard the Celebrity Millennium cruise tested positive for COVID-19, WTVJ reported.
The two guests, who were sharing a stateroom, are asymptomatic and currently in isolation, the Royal Caribbean Group said in a news release Thursday.
“Today, two guests sharing a stateroom onboard Celebrity Millennium tested positive for COVID-19 while conducting the required end-of-cruise testing,” the release stated. “The individuals are asymptomatic and currently in isolation and being monitored by our medical team. We are conducting contact tracing, expediting testing for all close contacts and closely monitoring the situation.
Passengers on Celebrity Millennium Cruise Test Positive for COVID-19 https://t.co/5Tdt7h5ICZ
— NBC 6 South Florida (@nbc6) June 10, 2021
The Celebrity Millennium was carrying only fully vaccinated passengers and crew, USA Today reported. All passengers were required to show proof of vaccination and the results of a negative COVID-19 test, 72 hours before leaving the Caribbean island of St. Maarten on Saturday, the newspaper reported.
The vessel is currently docked in Curaço, Fishman said. The ship will return to St. Maarten on Saturday to disembark, USA Today reported.
There are 600 passengers on the ship and 650 crew members, according to The New York Times.
The cruise sailed from Aruba earlier this week and will end its excursion in St. Maarten, according to WTVJ.
The major cruise lines are preparing to restart operations from United States ports this summer, The New York Times reported. Celebrity Edge is supposed to be the first ship to sail, leaving Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on June 26, the newspaper reported. For that cruise, all of the crew and 95% of its passengers are required to be fully vaccinated in accordance with guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Those plans could be delayed in Florida, which does not exempt the cruise lines from a new state law that bans businesses from requiring proof of immunization for passengers, the Times reported.
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