MIAMI (WSVN) - A cruise ship that spent several days docked at PortMiami has departed from South Florida with more than a dozen international passengers on board.
The Coral Princess set sail on Thursday evening after most healthy passengers disembarked to head home.
In a statement, a Princess Cruises spokesperson said, “Despite continued efforts through diplomatic channels, current travel restrictions by home countries will prevent homeward travel for 13 international guests, and local authorities will not authorize the use of local hotels.”
As a result, those 13 passengers have joined the Coral Princess crew in a self-imposed quarantine on the ship.
Additional staff was brought aboard to support those under quarantine, officials said.
Those passengers who were allowed to disembark boarded charter flights at Miami International Airport bound for South America, Europe and other destinations.
The Princess Cruises ship arrived in Miami last weekend with several sick people on board. Cruise lines officials said three people on board died from complications due to COVID-19, and two dozen others were treated at area hospitals.
The passengers and crew members will remain in self-isolation at sea to monitor for possible symptoms and reduce the chance of spreading the virus.
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