Three U.S. tourists have died at a resort in the Bahamas after falling ill, officials of the Atlantic island nation confirmed, and another was airlifted to a hospital for treatment.

Acting Prime Minister Chester Cooper issued a statement Friday saying that police are investigating and the cause of death was unknown, though foul play “is not suspected.”

Their identities were not initially made public.

The health minister, Dr. Michael Darville, told Eyewitness News Bahamas on Saturday that some hotel guests went to a clinic Thursday with nausea and vomiting, and were treated, and left. Three were later found dead. A fourth was flown to a hospital in New Providence.

He said the environmental health scientists, physicians and others were investigating to ensure there was not a public health hazard.

“We feel that what we are seeing is an isolated case associated in a particular area,” he said, adding that investigators are doing toxicology and blood tests to help determine the cause of the illness.

The head of communications for the prime minister's office, Latrae L. Rahming, tweeted that the deaths occurred at Sandals Emerald Bay in Exuma.

In a statement to People Magazine, a representative for Sandals confirmed the deaths and said the company was “actively working to support both the investigation as well as the guests’ families in every way possible.”

Additional reporting by The Associated Press.

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Three Americans found dead at a Sandals resort on the Bahamas' Great Exuma island on May 6 died due to carbon monoxide poisoning, local authorities said Tuesday."At this juncture of the investigation, we can officially confirm that all three of the victims died as a result of asphyxiation due to carbon monoxide poisoning," the Royal Bahamas Police Force announced in a news release. "This matter remains under active investigation."No signs of trauma were found on the bodies, police previously told CNN, and Bahamian acting Prime Minister Chester Cooper had said foul play was not suspected. Police would not comment beyond the cause of death for all three U.S. citizens in the latest news release.The Americans -- Michael Phillips, 68, and his wife, Robbie Phillips, 65, from Tennessee, and Vincent Paul Chiarella, 64, from Florida -- died over the course of one evening. Chiarella's wife, Donnis, 65, was airlifted to the nation's capital of Nassau for further treatment before being transferred to Florida.The two couples had reported feeling ill the night prior and were seen by medical staff, Bahamas Police Commissioner Paul Rolle said in May, and had eaten at different locations.Staff discovered the couples in separate villas the following morning and alerted police.Sandals Resorts said in a statement to CNN at the time, "Nothing is more important to Sandals Resorts than the safety of our guests," and expressed "deep sadness" confirming the deaths.

Authorities in the Bahamas have revealed what caused the deaths of three Americans at a resort in May.

The Associated Press reported that carbon monoxide poisoning killed a Tennessee couple and a man from Florida.

Royal Bahamas Police Force Commissioner Paul Rolle identified the victims as 68-year-old Michael Phillips, his wife 65-year-old Robbie Phillips and 64-year-old Vincent Chiarella.

According to the AP, Chiarella's wife, Donnis, was airlifted to a hospital in Nassau before being transported to a hospital in Miami.

The news outlet reported that they were staying next to each other in separate villas in the same building at the Sandals Emerald Bay resort on Great Exuma Island.

It's unknown if there were carbon monoxide detectors in the villas, and if they were working or not, according to the AP.

The news outlet reported that the night before their bodies were discovered, police said all four went to a doctor and complained of feeling ill.

MIAMI —

The cruise industry is one step closer to offering voyages out of U.S. ports as Royal Caribbean has launched a trial cruise out of PortMiami.

This marks the first time a cruise ship set sail out of a U.S. port in 15 months, when the pandemic shut down the entire industry.

Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas left the port around 7 p.m. Friday for a two-day simulated voyage to the Bahamas.

Company representatives say this trip, made up of all volunteer employee passengers, is a way to test out all of the company's new health and safety measures created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

All of those volunteers are vaccinated and a CDC representative is on board.

On Sunday, Royal Caribbean employees shared what was going through their minds before setting sail.

“I needed to get out. I’m vaccinated. I’ve been very healthy, thank God," said Delilah Herrera. "I just need to get out and see my friends and see my work family."

The cruise line says they encourage passengers to get vaccinated, but it’s not mandatory. However, company representatives say they believe they have enough protocols in place to keep everyone safe.

"We do strongly recommend all the guests to be vaccinated, as for sure for those who are eligible, but we have measures in place to keep the crews safe," said Captain Patrick Dahlgren, senior VP of global marine operations for Royal Caribbean.

Unvaccinated passengers will be required to pay for COVID-19 testing if they set sail with Royal Caribbean.

While a federal judge sided with the state of Florida late last week, declaring the CDC can’t enforce COVID-19 restrictions of any kind on cruises and granting a temporary injunction, Royal Caribbean still appears to be following the CDC's COVID-19 guidelines.

Per the CDC's guidelines, the cruise line would not have been required to conduct a trial cruise if they had a vaccine mandate for passengers.

The federal judge has ordered both the state and the CDC to return to mediation to try to work out a solution.

Meanwhile, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line's Grand Classica is expected to have its own two-day simulated voyage out of the Port of Palm Beach starting this Friday.

Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line expects to resume its passenger cruises starting July 2.