Passengers from a virus-hit cruise ship and its sister vessel, also struck with a handful of cases, started heading home Friday from Florida, after being stranded at sea for days.
The Zaandam, operated by Holland America Line, began its stranger-than-fiction journey on March 7 in Buenos Aires -- before international restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus were in full force.
It was meant to dock two weeks later in Chile, but when passengers aboard fell ill, several countries refused to let the ship dock.
The Rotterdam came to its aid at sea, and the two vessels finally docked at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday -- with dozens of sick people aboard, and four dead.
"We have made history," said the captain of the Rotterdam, Bas Van Dreumel, in a message sent to AFP by a passenger.
"Some of you have a long journey ahead, some of you have already arrived home here in Florida. (...) You made me a better captain and you made me a better man."
"It made me feel proud of our country."
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