“Two steps forward and one step back!”
That was the message from Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley after the company postponed the inaugural sailing of the its new ship Odyssey of the Seas after 8 crew members tested positive for COVID-19.
According to Bayley, the 8 crew members had all been vaccinated on June 4, but aren’t considered fully vaccinated until two weeks have passed. The positive cases were identified after the the vaccination was given. Six of the eight crew members are reported to be asymptomatic. Two are reported to have mild symptoms.
“To protect the remaining crew and prevent any further cases, we will have all crew quarantined for 14 days and continue with our routine testing,” Beyley said.
As a result, the inaugural sailing of Odyssey of the Seas from Haifa, Isreal will be postponed from July 31, 2021, from the previous July 3 sailing date. A simulation cruise, originally scheduled for late June, will also be rescheduled.
German cruise shipbuilder Meyer Werft delivered Odyssey of the Seas to Royal Caribbean back in March. It is the final ship in Royal Caribbeans five-ship Quantum class (the final two ships are technically the Quantum Ultra class), which first launched in 2013 with Quantum of the Seas (followed by Anthem of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas and Spectrum of the Seas).
Odyssey of the Seas comes in at 169,000 GT and is 347.1 meters long by 41.4 meters wide. It can accommodates 4,210 passengers.
For its inaugural sailing season, Odyssey of the Seas will be embarking from first-time homeport in Haifa, Israel on 3 and 7 night voyages in the Mediterranean, before heading to Fort Lauderdale, Florida in November.
Royal Caribbean’s first guests on board Odyssey of the Seas are required to be fully vaccinated, except for those under the age of 18. Are crew members are also required to be fully vaccinated.
Sign up for gCaptain’s newsletter and never miss an update
Essential maritime and offshore news, insights, and updates delivered daily straight to your inbox
Carnival Corp cut its annual profit forecast on Friday, as higher fuel costs pressure the cruise operator's margins amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Cruise operators face choppy waters as rising oil prices lift fuel costs, with analysts warning Carnival Corp CCL.N could take the biggest hit to its 2026 profit as it is the only major U.S. cruise line that does not hedge fuel.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has ordered three new cruise ships from Fincantieri—one each for Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises—with deliveries scheduled for 2036–2037. The deal secures valuable European shipyard capacity through 2037 and brings NCLH’s total orderbook to 17 vessels, supporting a projected 4% annual capacity growth through the next decade.
Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
