Join our crew and become one of the 105,000 members that receive our newsletter.

SEA-DREAM_2 Cruise-shi

SeaDream Cancels 2020 Cruising Retrun After COVID-19 Outbreak

Reuters
Total Views: 965
November 17, 2020

Cruise Ship SeaDream II underway near Bitter End / Virgin Gorda. Photo by Peter Thomas via Marine Traffic.

By Nora Buli (Reuters) – Norwegian-owned cruise-ship operator SeaDream Yacht Club has canceled all sailing for the remainder of 2020 after positive COVID-19 test results onboard one of its cruises, it said on Tuesday, dealing a fresh blow to the cruise industry.

The decision follows an outbreak of the novel coronavirus aboard a voyage of its SeaDream I vessel in the Caribbean last week.

“7 guests and 2 crew members have tested positive for Covid-19 by Barbados health authorities,” SeaDream said in a statement.

Requirements for multiple negative PCR tests from guests before boarding had not been sufficient to prevent COVID-19 onboard, it said.

“The company will now spend time to evaluate and see if it is possible to operate and have a high degree of certainty of not getting COVID,” it said.

SeaDream Yacht Club said in September it planned to become the first luxury cruise operator to resume sailing in the West Indies, with 22 voyages planned from Nov. 7 onwards.

By contrast, most U.S. cruise operators have suspended their operations until the end of 2020, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) said on Nov. 3.

Related Book: A Man and His Ship: America’s Greatest Naval Architect and His Quest to Build the S.S. United States by Steven Ujifusa 

Cruise ships were home to some of the earliest clusters of infections of the novel coronavirus as it spread globally early this year, shutting down much of the cruise industry.

SeaDream Yacht Club, founded by Norwegian investor Atle Brynestad, operates two luxury vessels, each with a capacity of up to 112 passengers.

(Reporting by Nora Buli Editing by Robert Birsel, Reuters)

Weekly Insights from the Helm

Dive into a sea of information with our meticulously curated weekly “Dispatch” email. It’s more than just a newsletter; it’s your personal maritime briefing.

Sign Up
Back to Main
polygon icon polygon icon

Why Join gCaptain Club?

Be Informed: Stay updated with the latest maritime news and trends.

Connect: Network with a community of maritime professionals and enthusiasts.

Gain Insights: Receive exclusive content and personal perspectives from our CEO.

Sign Up
close

JOIN OUR CREW

Maritime and offshore news trusted by our 105,000 members delivered daily straight to your inbox.

Join Our Crew

Join the 104,015 members that receive our newsletter.