HUNDREDS of crew from Ruby Princess are set to leave the ship over the coming days and be flown home.

An initial 57 were taken off the cruise liner on Tuesday, marking the start of the process.

The ship is expected to sail for Manila in the Philippines in coming days with a skeleton crew.

“We are still on schedule for the ship to sail on Thursday,” Deputy Police Commissioner Gary Warboys told reporters this week.

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An initial two busloads of crew left Port Kembla on Tuesday morning and were taken to a hotel in Sydney before being flown home later this week.

ITF regional inspector Dean Summers has expressed concerns for those remaining on the ship.

The Ruby Princess has been linked with the spread of COVID-19 after infected passengers were allowed to disembark in Sydney.