The $400 million Bullsbrook quarantine facility in WA, which has been empty for four years, will now house four Australian citizens, one permanent resident, and one New Zealander evacuated from the MC Hondius.
They were among the last passengers to disembark after the ship reached port at Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
Three passengers have died after travelling on the ship, with several more suspected or confirmed cases of hantavirus.
Monash University infectious diseases expert Allen Cheng said facilities like the one in Bullsbrook were important to have, particularly in the context of the hantavirus outbreak.
He said while such facilities were rarely needed, they are "crucial during pandemics" as a way for Australia to protect itself from larger outbreaks.
Professor Cheng stressed the necessity of quarantine to prevent person-to-person spread, particularly on close-contact settings like cruise ships.
The virus, which causes serious lung complications and has a long 42-day incubation period, complicates outbreak control.
UQ infectious diseases expert Paul Griffin predicts that quarantine facility needs will likely rise due to climate change increasing human-animal contact.
"It is anticipated that new and emerging infectious diseases and the rate of their emergence is probably going to increase, even more, over time and so it makes sense to have the capacity to respond accordingly," Professor Griffin told AAP.
He said hantaviruses had been around since the 1970s, with more than 40 different variations and 20 of them able to infect humans.
Previously, the virus was thought to spread to humans only from animals, via urine, faeces, or saliva, distinguishing this outbreak.
Returning travellers are expected to arrive in Perth by week's end after a 48-hour quarantine in the Netherlands.
None of the passengers are reportedly displaying virus symptoms.
Upon landing at RAAF Base Pearce, they will be securely moved to the federal government managed facility, established during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The group will stay at the facility for a minimum of three weeks, then the federal government will decide on future arrangements.
The World Health Organisation advises 42 days of home or facility quarantine for high-risk hantavirus contacts following last exposure.
Health Minister Mark Butler told the ABC the quarantine requirements were the strongest of any country taking passengers back from the cruise ship.
The MV Hondius had been carrying 147 passengers and crew from 23 countries and departed from Argentina on April 1.
10°C