Japan is lifting a more than 2 1/2-year ban on international cruise ships that was imposed following a deadly coronavirus outbreak on the cruise ship Diamond Princess at the beginning of the pandemic.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The coronavirus pandemic left the passengers on MS Zandaam and MS Rotterdam stranded at sea, and now their fate is in the hands of Broward County commissioners. Holness decided they need more time to review the feasibility of a plan to allow the ships to dock at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday. The MS Zandaam, which has COVID-19 patients, departed from Buenos Aires on March 7. The bodies remain on the MS Zandaam, which has at least 180 people reporting COVID-19-like symptoms. The MS Rotterdam has 1,400 people on board who are not symptomatic.