Carnival Vista returned to Galveston, Texas, Saturday, concluding a week-long cruise marked by a COVID-19 outbreak that affected 26 crew members and one passenger. The news was reported by the Belize Tourist Board Friday after the ship’s arrival in Belize City.

The tourist board said the ship had reported the cases before arrival and that all 27 people were vaccinated, had mild or no symptoms, were in isolation, and posed no threat to crew or frontline workers in Belize.

The Vista was carrying over 1,400 crew and nearly 3,000 passengers, of which 99.98% of the ship’s crew were vaccinated, as well as 96.5% of its passengers.

Carnival said in a statement Friday that it was managing “a small number of positive COVID cases,” but did not specify the number.

“We have managed the situation utilizing stringent health protocols which included placing those who tested positive in isolation and close contacts in quarantine,” the statement said.

The company said it had notified all passengers on the current trip and the prior one. It added Belize health officials had randomly tested 68 Vista passengers as they disembarked and all were negative.

The Belize Tourist Board said the ship was inspected by health officials, who verified that the measures put in place by Carnival were “meticulous and deemed highly effective (and) with this in mind, passengers (were) allowed to disembark in Belize and conduct shore excursions as per normal.”

The tourist board added, “With the stringent protocols, it is inevitable that COVID cases will be detected, but it is imperative that these situations are handled correctly to avoid further spread or unnecessary cancellations.”

The ship docked in Mexico’s Caribbean port of Cozumel Thursday.

Hector Sosa, spokesman for the health department in Mexico’s Quintana Roo state, said that they were advised well in advance of the ship’s arrival of the positive cases and authorities made sure they were isolated.

Other passengers were allowed to disembark in Cozumel, he said, observing, “It is not the first time it has happened. We have had three cruise ships where the same thing has happened.”

Nonetheless, he said their precautions have worked and not put anyone at risk.

Carnival is requiring passengers to be vaccinated, though there are exceptions for children and people with medical issues. The cruise line said in a statement Aug. 4 that passengers must wear a mask in certain indoor areas and provide a negative COVID test within three days of embarkment for cruises beginning Aug. 14.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on its website that it had investigated the Carnival Vista and the ship remains under observation.