The 133 Australians whose South American cruises turned into ordeals after two passengers died from coronavirus will soon be flying home, after their ships were allowed to dock in Florida.
Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne said an evacuation flight had been arranged for the Australians who were on Holland America's Zaandam and Rotterdam cruise liners.
The passengers will fly from Florida to the US west coast and then could be back in Australia on another flight "within 24 to 48 hours".
The Zaandam and Rotterdam docked at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday afternoon after initially being blocked by South American countries and Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis.
"The passengers will be able to disembark," Senator Payne told ABC News Breakfast.
"That will be done with a very timely evacuation flight to the west coast of the US and from there back to Australia."
Once the passengers arrive in Australia they will undergo a 14-day quarantine.
Holland America's Zaandam cruise ship heads into Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale Source: AAP
The 133 Australians were among more than 1,200 passengers on the two cruise ships
Four elderly passengers died, including two from COVID-19, while 97 passengers and 136 crew on both ships displayed "influenza-like symptoms", the cruise company said.
At least nine passengers tested positive for COVID-19.
Passengers could not leave the ship since 14 March and had to self-isolate in their rooms since 22 March.
Mr DeSantis initially refused to allow the two ships to dock because he did not want sick passengers "dumped" in his state.
The Republican governor changed his mind on Thursday after US President Donald Trump said the passengers should be treated better.
"They're dying on the ship," Mr Trump said at Wednesday's White House press conference.
"I'm going to do what's right, not only for us but for humanity."
Passengers leaving the ships will be transported in coaches to airports with limited person-to-person contact and while wearing masks, Holland America said in a statement.
The Zaandam embarked on a South America cruise from Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 7 March and was originally scheduled to end in Chile on 21 March.
Attempts were made and denied to disembark passengers in Chile on 15 March and in other ports along its route to the US.
The Zaandam was allowed to sail through the Panama Canal into the Caribbean on Sunday.
Passengers who passed a medical screening were moved onto sister ship, the Rotterdam.
There were 808 guests and 583 crew on the Rotterdam and 442 guests and 603 crew on the Zaandam.
