Coronavirus cruise ship Ovation of the Seas advised federal authorities it had 13 sick passengers on board – including three with high temperatures – prior to docking at Circular Quay on March 18.

But in near-identical circumstances to that of ill-fated Carnival Australia vessel Ruby Princess, the Royal Caribbean-owned Ovation ship was waived through Sydney Heads by Border Force and NSW Health officials, its passengers allowed to disembark without check.

Days earlier, the crew told passengers it was Border Force, not NSW Health, that advised them they did not need to self-isolate nor enter quarantine.

So far 98 passengers from the Ovation of the Seas have tested positive to COVID-19.

One of those – a 72-year-old man – has died.

File image of Ovation of the Seas. Credit: JOEL CARRETT / AAPIMAGE

The Ovation of the Seas was on a route from Sydney to New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, but altered course after Prime Minister Scott Morrison closed the borders and ordered cruise ships to return.

On March 16 – to loud cheers – crew members made an annoucement to passengers from the bridge.

“In conference with ABF, or the Australian Border Force today, we have the confirmation that none of our guests will be required to self-isolate or anything of that sort,” the crew announced.

“We have a full clean bill of health so to speak.

“Whether you are international or going back home in Australia, you will walk off and go home at your leisure.”

Chevron Right Icon ‘We have a full clean bill of health so to speak.’

According to records from the federal Department of Agriculture, the final human health report from the ship prior to docking stated that 13 people had shown signs of illness in the past 14 days.

“The symptoms declared by the vessel included three persons with temperature over 38 degrees Celsius, eight persons with muscle aches, diarrhea, severe headaches or vomiting,” the health report stated.

Images obtained by 7NEWS show thousands of passengers tightly packed together as they disembarked the ship at Circular Quay.

Crew members of the cruise ship Ovation of the Seas walking past the Sydney Opera House after disembarking from the ship on March 21. Credit: JAMES GOURLEY / AAPIMAGE

At least one passenger was told by a crew member as he left the ship: “This is one hundred per cent sure, and you can go to the medical centre and speak with the doctor, there’s not any (COVID-19) cases at all.”

Passengers did not receive advice from NSW Health to self-isolate or quarantine until days later.

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A spokesperson from the Department of Agriculture said: “Officers within NSW Health have direct access to the Maritime Arrivals Reporting System, and communicate with cruise vessels directly about their human health status prior to arrival.”7NEWS has asked NSW Police if the Ovation of the Seas will be subject to investigation.