The Short Answer: Most Passengers Eventually Disembarked, But the Process Was Chaotic and Took Weeks
When cruise ships were prevented from docking during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, passengers did eventually leave the ships—but not when ready, and not all at once. Some ships sat at sea or at anchor for days or weeks while governments, port authorities, and cruise lines negotiated where people could go. The experience varied dramatically depending on which ship you were on, which country's waters you were in, and what your citizenship was.
The most famous case involved the Diamond Princess, which docked in Yokohama, Japan in February 2020 with 3,711 people aboard. Passengers were quarantined on the ship for two weeks while authorities tested everyone. After that period, healthy passengers were allowed to disembark in stages, though some remained longer due to positive test results. Other ships, like the Grand Princess off California and the Ruby Princess off Australia, faced similar delays and confusion about where passengers could legally go.
Key Takeaways
- The Diamond Princess in Japan held passengers for a two-week quarantine starting in February 2020, after which most were allowed to leave in stages over several days.
- Ships anchored off California and Australia faced port closures and had to negotiate with multiple government agencies before passengers could disembark.
- Passengers who were citizens of the country where the ship was anchored generally left first, while foreign nationals sometimes waited longer for their own governments to arrange transportation.
- Cruise lines provided food, medical care, and communication while ships waited, though conditions grew strained as quarantines extended beyond a few days.
- The exact timeline and process depended on the ship's location, local government policy, and whether passengers showed COVID-19 symptoms.
The Diamond Princess Quarantine in Japan
The Diamond Princess became the first major test case when it arrived in Yokohama on February 3, 2020, with a confirmed COVID-19 case aboard. Japanese health authorities ordered all 3,711 passengers and crew to remain on the ship while testing took place. The quarantine lasted 14 days, during which the ship became a floating testing site. Passengers were confined to their cabins for most of that time, with meals delivered to their doors.
After the quarantine period ended on February 19, passengers began disembarking in groups. Japanese citizens and permanent residents left first, followed by foreign nationals. The process took several days because authorities tested people before they left and monitored those who showed symptoms. Some passengers who tested positive remained on the ship in isolation for additional weeks. By early March, most of the Diamond Princess passengers had left, though the ship itself remained under quarantine protocols.
Ships Anchored Off California and Australia
The Grand Princess, carrying 3,533 people, arrived off the coast of San Francisco in early March 2020 but was not allowed to dock when ready. California Governor Gavin Newsom and federal officials debated whether the ship could land, citing concerns about the state's hospital capacity. The ship anchored offshore for several days while authorities conducted testing. Eventually, the ship was permitted to dock in Oakland, and passengers disembarked over two days starting March 9.
The Ruby Princess in Australia faced a different problem: it docked in Sydney on March 8 without proper health screening, and passengers were allowed to leave freely. This decision later became controversial when many passengers tested positive for COVID-19 in the following weeks. The ship itself became a focus of investigation, but by that time most passengers had already gone home.
Other ships anchored off various ports worldwide faced similar negotiations. The Zaandam, carrying 1,243 people, was denied entry to multiple ports in Central and South America before eventually being allowed to dock in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after a two-week odyssey at sea. Each situation depended on local government decisions about whether ports could safely accept the ships.
How Governments Decided Who Could Leave
Port authorities and national governments made the actual decisions about disembarkation, not the cruise lines. In most cases, citizens of the country where the ship was anchored had priority to leave. Foreign nationals often faced longer waits because their home governments had to arrange transportation or coordinate with local authorities.
Some countries, like the United States, eventually sent charter flights to bring their citizens home from ships anchored in foreign ports. Other countries worked with cruise lines to arrange transportation directly. The process was slow because authorities wanted to test people before they left and track where they went afterward. A passenger who tested positive typically remained on the ship in isolation, sometimes for weeks after others had left.
Living Conditions During Extended Waits
Cruise lines continued to provide food, water, medical care, and basic services while ships waited at anchor or dock. However, conditions deteriorated as quarantines extended beyond the original estimates. Passengers reported running out of fresh food, limited access to outdoor deck space, and frustration with communication from the cruise line and authorities. Mental health became a concern for people confined to small cabins for extended periods.
Crew members faced even harsher conditions in many cases. They were often confined to smaller crew quarters and had fewer resources than passengers. Some crew members remained on ships for months after passengers left, waiting for their own repatriation flights home. The cruise lines eventually faced lawsuits from both passengers and crew over conditions during the quarantines.
What Happened to Crew Members
Crew members were typically the last to leave ships, sometimes weeks or months after passengers had disembarked. Many crew members were foreign nationals working on contract, and their home countries were slow to arrange repatriation. Some ships became essentially floating dormitories for skeleton crews waiting for flights home. The International Maritime Organization eventually issued guidance on crew changes, but the process remained slow and difficult throughout 2020 and into 2021.
Cruise lines faced criticism for not prioritizing crew repatriation and for the conditions crew members endured while waiting. Some crew members reported being unable to leave their cabins except for brief periods, limited communication with family, and uncertainty about when they would go home. The situation highlighted how cruise ship workers, who come from dozens of countries, depend on complex international coordination that broke down during the pandemic.
Timeline Variations by Ship and Location
| Ship | Location | Arrival Date | Disembarkation Start Date | Days at Anchor/Dock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond Princess | Yokohama, Japan | February 3, 2020 | February 19, 2020 | 16 days |
| Grand Princess | Oakland, California | March 5, 2020 | March 9, 2020 | 4 days |
| Ruby Princess | Sydney, Australia | March 8, 2020 | March 8, 2020 | Same day (no quarantine) |
| Zaandam | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | March 7, 2020 | March 21, 2020 | 14 days |
Frequently Asked Questions
Were passengers forced to stay on ships against their will?
Technically, yes—government health authorities issued quarantine orders that prevented people from leaving. However, this was a public health measure, not a punishment. Passengers were not locked in their cabins; they could move around the ship and access services. The restriction was meant to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to the general population while authorities tested everyone.
Did cruise lines have to pay for food and lodging while ships waited?
Yes. Cruise lines continued to provide all services included in the ticket price—food, lodging, and basic medical care—while ships were quarantined or waiting to dock. However, passengers did not receive refunds for the disrupted voyage. Some cruise lines later offered future cruise credits or partial refunds after facing lawsuits.
What happened to people who tested positive for COVID-19?
Passengers and crew who tested positive were isolated in separate cabins on the ship and monitored by medical staff. They remained on the ship until they tested negative or recovered, which sometimes took weeks. Some were eventually transferred to hospitals on land for more intensive care.
Did all cruise lines handle disembarkation the same way?
No. The process depended on which government had jurisdiction over the port where the ship was located. Japanese authorities managed the Diamond Princess differently than California authorities managed the Grand Princess. Cruise lines had to follow local health orders, which varied significantly by country and region.
How long did it take for crew members to go home?
Crew repatriation took much longer than passenger disembarkation—sometimes weeks or months. Many crew members remained on ships through the summer of 2020 waiting for their home countries to arrange flights. The process was complicated by international travel restrictions and the need to coordinate with multiple governments.