SeaDream Yacht Club has decided to cancel all of its sailings for the rest of the year after a number of passengers tested positive for Covid-19 on board SeaDream 1 in the Caribbean.

The luxury cruise line was the first to resume sailing in the Caribbean this winter with a seven-night sailing departing from Barbados on November 7. 

The itinerary was cut short when seven guests and two crew members tested positive for the virus and the vessel returned to Barbados with passengers and non-essential crew quarantined in the cabins. 

A statement on the line’s website said: “SeaDream has decided to cancel sailing for the remainder of 2020 after positive Covid-19 test results. 

“Multiple negative PCR tests were required before the guests boarded, but this was not sufficient to prevent Covid-19 onboard. 

“SeaDream successfully operated more than 20 sailings during the pandemic without any cases and it further improvements were made to protocols before the Barbados season [sic]. 

“The company will now spend time to evaluate and see if it is possible to operate and have a high degree of certainty of not getting Covid. 

“7 guests and 2 crew members have tested positive for Covid-19 by Barbados health authorities.”

SeaDream 1 repositioned to the Caribbean in October following a successful summer season in Norway.

The 112-passenger ship was meant to sail 22 week-long cruises from Bridgetown, Barbados throughout the winter, ending with an eight day sailing on April 3.

Guests were expected to get a test prior to flying to Barbados, with an additional test prior to embarkation. 

Speaking about the onboard procedures and protocols during a webinar with agents and past guests in September, SeaDream executives said embarkation would be staggered, social distancing would be observed onboard and “common sense will be expected” from guests.