Royal Caribbean International has postponed the inaugural sailings of its newest cruise ship after eight crew members received positive coronavirus test results.
The employees underwent routine testing.
A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean says The Odyssey of the Seas' initial sailings from July 3 to July 31, are being cancelled as a precaution.
All 1,400 crew members on Odyssey were vaccinated on June 4, but the positive cases were found before the vaccines would be considered fully effective June 18.
Of the eight crew members who tested positive, six are asymptomatic and two have mild symptoms.
They were quarantined and are being monitored by Royal Caribbean's medical team.
The cruise line plans to continue weekly routine COVID-19 testing.
Last week, Senior Strategist in the Tourism Ministry Delano Seiveright confirmed that an increasing number of Jamaicans are being recalled on cruise ships.
He said one of the requirements is for crew members to be fully inoculated against COVID-19.
However, Mr. Seiveright said there was no further update on when cruise ships will return to Jamaica.
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