Holland America Line is awaiting permission to disembark guests from Zaandam and Rotterdam in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

It has been confirmed that four people, including one British man, have died on Zaandam, which arrived at the boundary of US waters today (Wednesday 1 April), followed by its sister ship, Rotterdam.

The cruise line has received support from president Donald Trump to help resolve this “humanitarian plight”, but remains in talks with the port in Broward County, which has not yet given the ships clearance to enter US waters.

Holland America Line has called for “compassion and reason in the review and approval of our disembarkation plan by Florida officials”.

In its latest statement, the cruise line said: “We remain fully engaged with the Broward Unified Command and other governmental and embassy authorities to resolve this humanitarian situation and get the nearly 1,200 well guests home immediately who are fit for travel per guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“Both ships are scheduled to arrive at the boundary of U.S. waters by early tomorrow morning and will remain outside U.S. waters while awaiting clearance to enter.

“Guests fit for travel per the CDC would transfer straight from the ship to flights for onward travel home, the majority on charter flights.

“Out of an abundance of caution, these guests will be transported in coaches that will be sanitised, with limited person-to-person contact and while wearing masks.

“These provisions well exceed what the CDC have advised is necessary for their travel. Guests have not left the ship since March 14 and have self-isolated in their staterooms since March 22.

“The approximately 45 guests who still have mild illness and are unfit to travel at this time will continue to isolate on board until recovered. Disembarkation would be at a later date to be determined and only after they have recovered and are in alignment with CDC guidelines for being fit to travel.

“For the estimated less than ten people who need immediate critical care shoreside, we have secured approval from a local health system partner that they will accept them for treatment.

“This small number is the only group that will require any support from medical resources in Broward County and is necessary to prevent further harm to their health.”

Since 22 March, 97 guests (83 on Zaandam/14 on Rotterdam) and 136 crew on Zaandam have had influenza-like symptoms.

There are 808 guests and 583 crew on Rotterdam. On Zaandam, there are 442 guests and 603 crew.

Holland America Line has suspended its global cruise operations for 30 days in light of the coronavirus outbreak and is ending its current cruises as quickly as possible.

At the time the suspension was announced, Zaandam was sailing a South America cruise that began in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 7 March that was originally scheduled to end at San Antonio, Chile, on 21 March. Attempts were made and denied to disembark guests in Chile on 15 March and in other ports along its route to the U.S.

On 21 March, Zaandam was originally scheduled to begin a 20-day South America and Panama Canal cruise from San Antonio, Chile, and end in Fort Lauderdale on April 7. On 30 March, an additional 30-day extension of cruise cancellations was announced, including departures through 14 May.

Visit hollandamerica.com for the latest updates.