Royal Caribbean Crew Tests Negative for Swine Flu

Royal Caribbean International said two crew members and a guest onboard Adventure of the Seas do not have swine flu, although the ship was turned away from Antigua and St. Lucia on June 10 and 11.

The company said the crew members and passenger experienced flu-like symptoms and were immediately isolated and treated, as is standard procedure regarding any suspected flu illness. The people were tested and the results came back June 11 that it was not H1N1, or swine flu.

“We have been closely monitoring the matter onboard, and have been coordinating all of our efforts with government health authorities,” Royal Caribbean said. “Like us, the government of St. Lucia and Antigua take all health matters seriously. In an abundance of caution, St. Lucia and Antigua requested that the ship not make its scheduled port calls.”

Dr. Art Diskin, chief medical officer for Royal Caribbean, said, “Although we recognize their concerns, we are disappointed and surprised that the governments of St. Lucia and Antigua did not let our guests disembark in their country. Our onboard health protocols are working well and these illnesses were treated quickly and effectively. We have decades of experience in treating guests and crew members with possible flu viruses and all these situations are treated with the same high level of seriousness.”

The ship departed San Juan on June 7 on a seven-night Southern Caribbean cruise. This sailing was originally scheduled to visit Bridgetown, Barbados; Castries, St. Lucia; St. Johns, Antigua; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and St. Croix, Virgin Islands.

Royal Caribbean said that it followed its Influenza Prevention and Response Plans, which its office of Medical and Public Health developed in coordination with the CDC and other health experts.