On Monday, the Observer first reported that it was an expectant mother who had suffered a medical emergency and was awaiting evacuation from the ship.

The ship had been in Haitian waters awaiting permission from the Jamaican Government to enter the country's territorial waters as it tried to repatriate the woman and more than 1,000 of her colleagues who had been stranded on the high seas for weeks after the country's borders were ordered closed to incoming passenger traffic on March 24 amid the global spread of the novel coronavirus.

At that time, the Observer inquired about the status of the woman and was told by Errol Greene, regional director of the Western Regional Health Authority, that she was being looked after by Cornwall Regional Hospital's senior medical officer and a matron at the pier.

This was followed by a statement by Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Sunday — as reports circulated that the ship would dock on Monday — that if the ship entered Jamaican waters without first receiving clearance it would not be in the spirit of the good relations Jamaica has had with Royal Caribbean over the years.

While speaking at Monday's virtual press briefing from Jamaica House in St Andrew, the prime minister said the Government had been in dialogue with Royal Caribbean since April 21 about repatriating the 1,044 Jamaicans who were spread across several of the cruise line's vessels.