News reports in early April 2020 indicated that the ship, with 1,020 passengers and 878 crew, with some suffering flu-like symptoms, was hoping to be allowed to dock at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to allow passengers to disembark. A news item on 2 April 2020 stated that "Passengers have been confined to their rooms...when the company noticed a higher than normal number of flu-like cases on board." Reports then specified that "out of 13 passengers and crew tested for COVID-19 on board the Coral Princess, 12 were positive." Officials in Broward County, Florida said that a plan was not yet in place to handle the situation. The ship had departed San Antonio, Chile on 5 March 2020, when the cruise line was still in full operation, and was not allowed to disembark passengers at Buenos Aires on 19 and 20 March. Passengers were in full lockdown as the vessel approached Florida.