Royal Caribbean International is postponing the inaugural sailing of its newest cruise ship after eight crew members received positive COVID-19 test results during routine testing.

The Odyssey of the Seas initial sailings, which the cruise line had laid out as six- and eight-night Southern and Western Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from July 3 to July 31, are being postponed out of an abundance of caution, according to a Facebook post from Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley. A test cruise originally slated to leave in late June will also be rescheduled. 

Those who had planned to sail with the ship “will be notified and given several options to consider,” Bayley said. 

Ready to set sail? Royal Caribbean announces summer cruises from Texas, Florida ports

Previously: Israel unrest leads Royal Caribbean to cancel Odyssey of the Seas June through October sailings from Haifa

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.

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