LIMASSOL , Cyprus: Hundreds of mostly Syrian refugees rescued by a cruise liner in the Mediterranean agreed to disembark in Cyprus on Friday after a standoff triggered by their demand to go to Italy.

A total of 345 migrants were plucked by the cruise ship from a trawler in rough seas off the coast of Cyprus on Thursday.

About 700 cruise passengers disembarked from the Salamis Cruise Lines vessel at the port of Limassol, police said, but only 65 of those rescued initially left the ship on Thursday.

The situation was resolved shortly before dawn on Friday after hours of negotiations, said interior ministry official Marinos Papadopoulos.

“Everything went calmly,” he said.

Medical and government teams were on hand to assist the refugees at the port, where camp beds were set up for them.

They were “all in good health,” said Limassol harbor master George Ppouro.

Buses then ferried the refugees to a recently opened camp for migrants and asylum seekers not far from the capital Nicosia.

The refugees are staying in tents at the camp, which is equipped with bathrooms and kitchens, Cyprus Red Cross director Takis Neophytou told AFP.

“According to our government they are not considered as illegal. They are free to go,” said Neophytou, adding that some of the refugees had relatives in Cyprus.

He said the Red Cross was providing food, clothes and toys for the children, while some refugees were asking for mobile phone chargers.

The Red Cross official said the refugees had come from Syria and had paid $5,000 each (3,900 euros) each for a passage to Italy.

“But the captain (of the trawler) abandoned them in the middle of the ocean (and) a heavy storm. They were left on their own on the boat,” said Neophytou.

He said there were 60 women and 52 children among the refugees.