Carnival Cruise (CCL) passenger’s onboard the Magic ship are reporting on social media that they were unable to disembark at Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday if they were unvaccinated.

According to a letter that was posted by one Carnival Cruise Magic guest, unvaccinated passengers were being denied entry into the Dominican Republic by officials due to a series of confirmed crew members who were infected with COVID-19.

The crewmembers were fully vaccinated, and most were showing mild or no symptoms of the virus, the letter from the cruise line said. Carnival said the infected crew was in insolation, and those in close contact were in quarantine.

According to Cruise Hive, the Magic ship arrived at Amber Cove on Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m., but was delayed for disembarkment as Dominican Republic officials had additional questions due to the crew COVID cases onboard.

After an appeal from the captain of the Magic, a decision from Dominican Republic authorities was reached requiring unvaccinated passengers to remain onboard the cruise ship, Porthole Cruise and Travel reported.

Vaccinated passengers could disembark the ship during the port of call, but there would be random COVID testing, and no beach visits would be allowed. However, shopping and pools would be accessible, the news outlet said.

John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line brand ambassador, told a Facebook follower who asked about the Amber Cove situation with the Magic ship, “I don’t have anything to say at the moment because this is still very much a fluid situation and I don’t have any details.

“Obviously we’re working very hard to rectify whatever the concern is and work with the port authority. We will let everybody know on board as soon as we can,” as reported by Cruise Hive.

Carnival allowed a small number of unvaccinated passengers on the Magic ship. They were offered an exemption to sail with the cruise line, Cruise Hive said.

The Magic ship was sailing on a five-day Eastern Caribbean cruise that departed Port Canaveral, Florida on Monday, with Amber Cove being the first port of call. The ship will return to Florida on Saturday.

As of Thursday at 2:15 p.m. EDT, shares of Carnival Cruise were trading at $24.14, up 63 cents, or 2.66%.

Carnival Cruise Line boat
A Carnival Cruise Line ship is pictured here. AFP/Mark RALSTON
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