(CNN) A cruise ship scheduled to arrive in Florida this week has reported at least 189 people are suffering flu-like symptoms on board.

Holland America's Zaandam began transiting the Panama Canal late Sunday night after being docked off the coast of Panama for several days. The boat and its occupants have been in limbo for weeks awaiting permission to disembark after several South American ports denied the ship's entry.

Holland America's MS Zaandam transiting the Panama Canal. pic.twitter.com/ifmc5ZL14A — The Panama Canal (@thepanamacanal) March 30, 2020

Zaandam and another Holland America ship, the Rotterdam, are traversing the canal "under extraordinary conditions and for humanitarian reasons," a statement from the Panama Canal said Sunday.

Passengers not experiencing symptoms were transferred from the Zaandam to the Rotterdam Saturday, Holland America said in a statement.

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