Princess Cruises' coronavirus-hit Grand Princess will dock in California's Port of Oakland at some point today after sitting miles offshore since Wednesday, the Carnival Corp brand has confirmed.

The company said 3,500-plus passengers will disembark the 107,500-gt, 1998-built passengership in a"multiple day process" that will first remove persons needing most acute care.

The US Coast Guard will dispatch California Health & Human Services (HHS) teams to help with medical triage, screening and interviews.