Brits trapped on board a coronavirus cruise ship off the coast of California are set to be flown home tomorrow.
More than 140 UK nationals had been left marooned on the Grand Princess as 19 crew members and two passengers tested positive for COVID-19.
But after the ship docked today in at a disused harbour in Oakland near San Francisco, US officials were planning to fly them back overnight tomorrow.
The British passengers should land on Wednesday morning in the UK if the flight goes ahead.
A spokesperson for the Foreign and Commonwealth office said: "We continue to work closely with the US authorities to repatriate British nationals on board the Grand Princess.
Follow our coronavirus live blog for the latest updates
"The US is currently planning for a flight to leave tomorrow evening, returning to the UK on Wednesday afternoon."
The Grand Princess, carrying more than 3,500 passengers and crew, was yesterday met by specialist teams covered head to toe in protective gear when it docked after days circling at sea
Fences were erected at an 11-acre site at the Port of Oakland, as authorities readied flights and buses to take the 2,421 passengers to US military bases or their home countries for a 14-day quarantine.
The ship, linked to California's first death from COVID-19 from an earlier voyage to Mexico, will leave with the remaining 1,094 crew, who are mostly foreign nationals, quarantined onboard.
It is expected the process will take up to three days.
Passenger Karen Schwart, of Denver, said: "Everyone was hollering and clapping as we entered the harbour."
However, Laurie Miller, of San Jose, called the process an "absolute circus".
Brit Margaret Bartlett, from Burnley, Lancs, spoke of the tense conditions on board claiming "stir-crazy" passengers fought over "rotten" food".
The 77-year-old said she had been confined to her cabin, which has no balcony.
"The food is rotten and terrible, and we have to fight for it," she said.
"It is not good enough.
"We are going stir crazy stuck in the cabin.
"It is a bit depressing when we saw land, and it was sunny, and we couldn't get out."
Mrs Barlett said a passenger who was staying ten cabins away from her on board the ship had died.
Officials have confirmed at least one person, a 71-year-old man, died of coronavirus last week after his time onboard the cruise.
Mrs Barlett added she had feared being stuck on board as Americans are taken off.
"We are hoping something will get done," she said. "It is terrible."
