Gladys Berejiklian apologised on Monday for the suffering caused by "horrible mistakes" made by NSW authorities which led to the spread of the virus across Australia and overseas.

Her apology comes following damning findings by a special commission of inquiry into the ill-fated cruise which was released on Friday.

Commissioner of the inquiry Bret Walker slammed the "inexcusable", "inexplicable" and "unjustifiable" errors made by health authorities before and after the cruise passengers disembarked.

Wellington couple Jayson O'Brien and Sue Smith were in a group of nine people on board the Ruby Princess, with the couple and Ms Smith's two adult children all contracting the virus.

"At one stage the coffin was ready for me," Mr O'Brien said.

"They called my partner in and they said if he doesn't get any better we'll lose him."

Mr O'Brien spent nine days on a ventilator in ICU at Dubbo Hospital and another nine days in a ward before he was discharged amid a song and standing ovation.

Despite how desperately ill Mr O'Brien was with the virus, the couple say they have accepted the premier's apology.

"That was a great thing of hers that she apologised and I accepted that apology. She's a brave woman," he said.

The couple are are among a number of Central West residents who are part of an upcoming class action into the cruise.

"Someone is culpable, someone has to take responsibility," Mr O'Brien said.

"I want to know the truth. I want to know why they allowed 28 people on that ship to die, that's 28 families in misery.

"I want to know who is responsible."

While many others on the cruise are still suffering side-effects from the virus, Mr O'Brien is not.

"My immunity must be OK. I'm back to normal, 100 per cent," he said.

The report did not recommend any disciplinary action be taken following the handling of this cruise and its passengers.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard and chief medical officer Dr Kerry Chant also apologised for the errors made.

The special commission of inquiry revealed the Ruby Princess outbreak infected 663 passengers and led to 28 deaths, including 20 in Australia and eight in the United States.