Aussies on horror Florida cruises set to fly home

The 133 Australians whose South American cruises turned into ordeals after two passengers died from coronavirus, could soon be flying home, after their ships were allowed to dock in Florida.

Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne said an evacuation flight had been arranged for the Australians who were on Holland America's Zaandam and Rotterdam cruise liners.

The passengers will fly from Florida to the US west coast and then could be back in Australia on another flight "within 24 to 48 hours".

The Zaandam and Rotterdam docked at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday afternoon after initially being blocked by South American countries and Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis.

"The passengers will be able to disembark," Ms Payne told ABC News Breakfast.

"That will be done with a very timely evacuation flight to the west coast of the US and from there back to Australia."

Once the passengers arrive in Australia they will undergo a 14-day quarantine.

The 133 Australians were among more than 1200 passengers on the two cruise ships.

Four elderly passengers died, including two from COVID-19, while 97 passengers and 136 crew on both ships displayed "influenza-like symptoms", the cruise company said.

At least nine passengers tested positive for COVID-19.

Passengers could not leave the ship since March 14 and had to self-isolate in their rooms since March 22.

Mr DeSantis initially refused to allow the two ships to dock because he did not want sick passengers "dumped" in his state.

The Republican governor changed his mind on Thursday after US President Donald Trump said the passengers should be treated better.