Cruise curtailed due to passenger with Covid-19

The “cruise to nowhere” was forced to return to Singapore’s port after a passenger tested positive.

Singapore.- Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas has been forced to return to port due to a passenger testing positive for Covid-19.

The maiden service had only just run days earlier. The curtailed trip was only the second journey. The ship had made it to day three of its four-day sailing when an 83-year-old Singaporean man tested positive for Covid-19.

The vessel began its return immediately. The man, as well as all passengers and crew who came into close contact with him, have been put into isolation. There were 1,680 guests and 1,148 crew members on the sailing.

Director of cruise at the Singapore Tourism Board, Annie Chiang, told press: “Those close contacts have since tested negative following PCR testing and further contact tracing is ongoing. All onboard leisure activities also ceased immediately and passengers were asked to stay in their cabins”.

Royal Caribbean’s managing director for Asia Pacific, Angie Stephen, said: “Those who are not close contacts of the confirmed case will be allowed to debark and take a rapid antigen test as per original procedure.

“They can then go home and will be advised to monitor their health for the next 14 days. After that, all guests will take a polymerase chain reaction test with the expense borne by Royal Caribbean.”