Cruise passengers still aboard ship off Panama

Four passengers have died aboard a cruise ship now anchored off the coast of Panama and two people aboard the ship have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the cruise line said Friday.

Holland America Line said in a post on its Facebook page that more than 130 people aboard the Zaandam had reported flu-like symptoms.

The ship was receiving medical supplies and medical personnel from another Holland America ship, the Rotterdam and the company planned to begin transferring healthy passengers to that ship.

The Zaandam departed Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 7.

The ship was trying to get to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after being denied permission to dock at its original destination of San Antonio, Chile a week ago.

The cruise line said no one had been off the ship since March 14 in Punta Arenas, Chile.

On March 22, when a number of passengers began reporting flu-like symptoms, the ship instituted protective measures, including telling everyone to self-isolate in their cabins, the cruise line said.

On Thursday, all passengers and crew received masks and instruction on how to use them.

There are four doctors and four nurses on the Zaandam, according to the statement.

The Rotterdam, which has two doctors and four nurses, rendezvoused with the Zaandam Thursday evening.

"Panama has given authorization to the ship's line to supply it with fuel, medicine, supplies, and food," said Panama's Maritime Authority Administrator Noriel Araúz.

The Zaandam had planned to pass through the Panama Canal en route to Florida, but after being inspected by Panamanian authorities, the request to use the canal was denied.

It was not immediately clear where either ship would go.

Holland America Line had announced March 17 that it was voluntarily suspending its cruise operations for 30 days "due to the continued port closures and travel restrictions surrounding COVID-19 and in an abundance of caution."

At that point, the company said none of its passengers or crew had tested positive for the virus.

The Seattle-based cruise line is owned by Miami-based Carnival Corp.