This came after it cancelled a four-night trip on the same ship last week following a crew member’s positive Covid-19 results for residual coronavirus from his infection in July.

The cruise has been slapped with a 21-day suspension, even though the man’s other samples came back negative. All 1,250 other fully vaccinated crew members also tested negative.

Royal Caribbean announced on Monday that all affected guests will receive a full refund for their paid cruise fare and pre-cruise purchases, including taxes and fees.

Meanwhile, Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee said in a World Health Organization Western Pacific regional meeting on Monday that Hong Kong had “zero infections” for the past couple months, and there were no unknown source infections for the majority of the time.

She said more infectious mutant Covid-19 variants are circulating worldwide so SAR authorities will heighten their alertness to guard against a possible fifth wave of local outbreaks.