'Aussie, Aussie, Aussie': Australian Passengers Cheer as They Disembark Diamond Princess

Australian passengers were thrilled to disembark the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Yokohama, Japan, on February 19, after being held for 14 days in quarantine as a result of a coronavirus outbreak which infected 531 people onboard.

Sydneysider Vicki Presland filmed this footage of her last moments on the ship with partner Chris. The two can be seen leaving their cabin and making their way down to the ground level for final processing. Cheery officials wave them goodbye as they exit the vessel through a tarped tunnel to the shouts of: “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie”, from fellow passengers.

After a final exchange with authorities, the couple were then taken to Haneda airport and flown to Howard Springs, just outside of Darwin, to spend a further 14 days in quarantine before being allowed home.

“Finally we’re getting off this ship,” Chris can be heard saying in the video.

The outbreak of COVID-19 aboard the Diamond Princess was started by a guest from Hong Kong who travelled on the ship for five days and disembarked on January 25. Of the 2,666 guests and 1,045 crew members aboard the ship, there were 531 cases of the virus, according to an update from Japanese health officials on February 19. Credit: Vicki Presland via Storyful