FORT LAUDERDALE — Holland America Line’s Zaandam and Rotterdam have both docked at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, with the first groups of passengers transported to Fort Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport for flights home.

Some 247 Canadians were among the 2,700 passengers and crew onboard the two ships.

Critically ill passengers were transferred to ******* hospitals.

Earlier this week Holland America President Orlando Ashford released an op-ed piece asking state and federal authorities to allow the ships to dock, calling the situation a humanitarian ******.

More ships are still at sea as borders have closed and entry restrictions have tightened amid the coronaries ********. One of the ships, Princess Cruises’ Coral Princess, is currently at sea and scheduled to arrive in Ft. Lauderdale on April 4. The ship has reported a higher-than-average number of passengers with flu-like symptoms.