Cruises return from Florida and Texas 1:05
(CNN) -
Two passengers aboard the first major ocean cruise to host Americans since the pandemic halted the industry have tested positive for COVID-19 in required tests at the end of the journey, the cruise line reported Thursday.
The two guests, who shared a stateroom on the seven-day Celebrity Millennium cruise from St. Maarten, are asymptomatic, isolated and are being monitored by a medical team, Celebrity Cruise Lines said in a press release.
"We do contact tracing, expediting testing for all close contacts and keeping a close eye on the situation," the press release said.
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They assure that passengers proved to be vaccinated
The ship set sail on Saturday "with fully vaccinated crew and guests and following comprehensive protocols that align with our destination partners and exceed CDC guidelines to protect the health and safety of our guests," the statement explained.
So-called "post-vaccination" coronavirus cases, in which people become infected later, are expected.
Such cases result in milder COVID-19 disease than in unvaccinated people, a study by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published this week shows.
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Fully vaccinated people are more than 90% protected against infection.
Partially vaccinated people are 81% less likely to become infected than those who have not been inoculated, according to the ongoing study of essential workers who received the Pfizer / BioNTech or Moderna vaccine.
Those in the study who contracted infections after one or two doses had 40% less virus in their bodies and 58% less likely to have a fever.
They even spent two days less hospitalized than unvaccinated COVID-19 patients.
Cruises return from Florida and Texas 1:05
Guests had to show negative tests for covid-19
All passengers aboard the Celebrity Millennium cruise ship, with stops at the ports of Barbados, Aruba and Curaçao, were required to show proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of leaving St. Maarten on Saturday. according to the statement.
Approximately 500 passengers were on board, with more than 95% fully vaccinated.
Children who were not yet able to receive vaccines were required to test negative for COVID-19.
Details of the vaccinations of the two COVID-19-positive passengers were not immediately known.
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"This situation demonstrates that our rigorous health and safety protocols work to protect our crew, guests and the communities we visit," the press release reported.
Royal Caribbean Group, the parent company of Celebrity Cruise Lines, said Monday that returning to Barbados "for the first time in more than a year is really special."
"All necessary steps have been taken to ensure that we protect the health and safety of our guests, crew and residents of this precious destination and we are grateful," his post on Twitter said.
CNN's Maggie Fox contributed to this report.
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