MIAMI (CBSMiami) – The first groups of healthy passengers stuck on the Coral Princess cruise ship at Port Miami have been allowed to disembark and go home.
They boarded charter flights at Miami International Airport late Sunday night. The passengers were headed to California, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Passengers have been aboard the ship since March 5th.
New travel guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control require the cruise line to book charter flights or private ground transportation for those disembarking. They are not allowed to travel with others who were not on the ship.
Those that are disembarking the ship are required to wear a mask until they are home.
“We continue to work at the Port of Miami to offload passengers and crew and get them to their homes as quickly as possible, while also helping some very sick patients get the medical care they need,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Giménez.
Two passengers died on the ship.
On Saturday, six people were taken to the hospital, one died shortly after he arrived.
Sunday, eight more people were taken to the hospital.
The coronavirus-stricken ship with 1,020 passengers and 878 crew members had been in limbo for days off the Florida coast before it was allowed to dock on Saturday.
The ship had been on a South American cruise that was due to end March 19 in Buenos Aires. Since then, the ship encountered obstacles to docking because of various port closures and cancellation of airline flights.
Passengers self-isolated in their staterooms and meals have been delivered by room service. Crew members also remained in their quarters when they are not working.
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