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Carnival Corp.’s Holland America Line said its Zaandam cruise ship has 40 guests and 47 crew with flu-like symptoms.

The company said Tuesday in an email that it deployed another ship carrying Covid-19 tests and other supplies to rendezvous with the vessel.

The two ships are set to meet off the coast of Panama on Thursday. Holland America plans to sail the Zaandam to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, arriving March 30. “However plans are still being finalized,” the cruise line said.

The company has told all 1,243 guests to stay in their staterooms. The ship has a crew of 586.

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Originally posted by markj:
I will never understand the desire to be a guest on a floating hotel petri dish .

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Four elderly passengers on board Holland America's MS Zaandam have died on the cruise ship that is stuck in limbo during the coronavirus pandemic.

The ship is currently carrying 138 people who have complained of flu-like symptoms, which are similar to coronavirus symptoms. Two people have tested positive for coronavirus.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and we are doing everything we can to support them during this difficult time," Holland America Line said of the four who had died of undisclosed causes in a statement shared by spokesperson Erik Elvejord.

Elvejord added that Holland America Line couldn't share whether those passengers had reported coronavirus symptoms due to privacy regulations.

Those on the ship who are sick include 53 passengers and 85 crew members. There are 1,243 passengers and 586 crew members on the ship, including 305 Americans.

quote:

Originally posted by markj:
I will never understand the desire to be a guest on a floating hotel.