London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jul 09, 2025

Passenger tests positive for coronavirius on first Caribbean cruise to resume sailing

Passenger tests positive for coronavirius on first Caribbean cruise to resume sailing

A passenger aboard the SeaDream Yacht Club’s SeaDream 1 tested positive for COVID-19 on a preliminary basis Wednesday after taking a rapid test.

An attempt by SeaDream Yacht Club to provide a COVID-19 free cruise for passengers this week didn't go as planned.

SeaDream 1 was the first vessel to set sail in the Caribbean Saturday after a prolonged pause in operations due to the pandemic. A few days into the trip, a passenger has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to The Points Guy.

The passenger tested positive on a preliminary basis after taking a rapid test on Wednesday, prompting the ship to make an immediate return to Barbados, the outlet reported.

The captain of the vessel announced the results of the rapid test over the intercom just before noon while the ship was anchored in the Grenadines and told passengers to return to their cabins for isolation. Nonessential crew members were also told to isolate, according to the outlet.

Industry experts applauded the company's efforts in deploying onboard safety protocols to keep passengers safe.

"There is a dual focus on limiting the risk of onboard exposure and containing any positive cases to eliminate the potential for onboard transmission," Colleen McDaniel, editor-in-chief of Cruise Critic, told FOX Business.

The ship, with 53 passengers and 66 crew members, had set sail for the first time on Saturday, marking what was supposed to be a pivotal moment for an industry hit hard by the pandemic.

Cruise lines canceled sailings in Asia when the outbreak was mostly limited there, but bookings dropped and cancellations rose just about everywhere as the virus spread. In mid-March, the CDC ordered cruise ships to stop sailing to U.S. ports after several vessels reported outbreaks onboard.

Although the CDC's order only stretched through Oct. 31, and the agency has since outlined conditions for the resumptions of sailings, dozens of cruise lines have extended their pause through the end of the year due to the spike in COVID-19 cases around the globe.

In its latest notice, the CDC reiterated that there is an "increased risk of COVID-19 on cruise ships" and a "careful approach" is needed to resume operations.

Cruise Lines International Association, the industry's trade group, said the pause in operations is to help members "prepare for the implementation of extensive measures to address COVID-19 safety" under guidance from public health experts.

"Those learnings will be paramount to a more robust return to service, particularly here in the U.S." she said. "The primary focus of cruise lines continues to be the safety of their guests, crew members and the communities they visit across the globe."

For now, all "eyes are on cruises that are currently sailing," McDaniel said.

Prior to embarking on the journey, passengers on SeaDream had to test negative for COVID-19 several days in advance of boarding and on the day of boarding in order to create a COVID-free “bubble” on the ship, according to The Points Guy.

After Wednesday's announcement, all the ship’s crew and passengers were tested again for COVID-19. By Wednesday evening, all of the crew members had tested negative, the outlet reported.

McDaniel noted that while this is encouraging news, "what’s still to be determined is whether there is any onboard transmission."

Representatives for SeaDream did not respond to FOX Business' request for comment.

Comments

Oh ya 5 year ago
A floating petri dish with a virus? Say it is not so. I guess more and more cruise ships heading to the breakers. About the only way cruse lines will get people is to offer free liquor and then the virus can take care of the drunks

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
×