A Bermuda-flagged cruise ship is diverting to the island to drop off a sick passenger and a sick crew member.

The Bermuda Maritime Operations Centre duty officer said the Crown Princess was expected off the East End at 10pm today.

Both patients are to be taken ashore by pilot boat and transferred to the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

The duty officer said: “For patient confidentiality reasons we are unable to disclose medical reason for disembarkation.”

The ship was headed to Funchal, Madeira, from Fort Lauderdale in Florida.

The duty officer added that the ship would continue its passage once the medical transfer was completed.