MS Zaandam

On 7 March 2020 Zaandam departed Buenos Aires, Argentina, sailing for San Antonio, Chile with 1,243 passengers and 586 crew.[12][13] By 14 March, 13 passengers and over 100 crew members had fallen ill with "flu-like symptoms.".[14] She became stranded off the coast of Chile after being denied entry. By 24 March, the vessel was sailing for Port Everglades, a cruise-liner port in Florida, United States. The number of sick people aboard had risen to 77.[15] Holland America dispatched sister ship Rotterdam to aid the ship by bringing supplies, additional medical staff, and COVID-19 tests, and also with the intention of transferring healthy passengers onto Rotterdam.[12]

On 27 March, Zaandam was denied transit through the Panama Canal due to the number of sick people on board.[16] Four passengers died while waiting for permission to transit the Panama Canal with the number of sick aboard climbing to 148.[12] On 28 March 2020, Zaandam and Rotterdam were cleared by the Panama Department of Health to transit the Panama Canal.[17] Some passengers from Zaandam transferred to the Rotterdam.[18][19][20] Rotterdam followed Zaandam through the Panama Canal on her way to Port Everglades, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. At that time, the crew of Zaandam included four physicians and four nurses while Rotterdam's roster included two physicians and four nurses.[21]

By 31 March 2020, the number reported as being "ill" had increased to 193.[22] Rotterdam had taken almost 1,400 symptom-free people from Zaandam, leaving 450 passengers and 602 crew members on her sister ship.[23]

As of 30 March 2020, Holland America had not received permission to dock either vessel at Fort Lauderdale as planned. Associated Press reported that the city's mayor, Dean Trantalis, "said he didn't want the ship to dock near his city, at least without extensive precautions."[24][25] The Florida state governor was also hesitant to accept Zaandam at Fort Lauderdale, and declined to make a decision on 31 March 2020. The president of Holland America made a public plea for acceptance of the ship and expressed concern that various ports in several countries had been reluctant to provide provisions and medical supplies.[26]

In a 30 March press conference, the state governor suggested that the best solution might be to send medical assistance to the ship.[27] On 1 April, the governor announced that only residents of Florida could disembark when the ship arrived. 190 passengers and crew reported "flu-like" symptoms and eight had tested positive for COVID-19.[28]

US President Donald Trump said on 1 April 2020 that "we have to help the people" [on the ships] and that discussions were under way with Canada and the United Kingdom about them "arranging flights to retrieve their citizens from the ship." After the ship was allowed to dock, nine passengers were taken to local hospitals, but 45 others who were ill were required to remain on board, receiving medical care, until they fully met "the CDC guidelines for being fit to travel." Crew from both ship were not permitted to disembark.[29] The cruise line sought to arrange for passengers from other countries to leave Florida on chartered aircraft.[30]

By 4 April, "14 critically ill people" were admitted to local hospitals, while the others were allowed to disembark when flights to their destinations were available.[31]

A fourth person, one of the crew, died in hospital on 10 April.[3]