A BRIDGWATER couple are among more than 3,000 people on lockdown over coronavirus fears on a cruise ship being held off the coast of San Francisco, California.

Neil and Victoria Hanlon, who come from Durleigh in Bridgwater, are among 142 Britons on the Grand Princess, one of the world's largest cruise ships, currently being held off the Californian coast.

The ship is on lockdown after a 71-year-old man who sailed on the Grand Princess to Mexico died of coronavirus.

The man from Sacramento had underlying health conditions, officials say.

Neil and Victoria had set sail on The Grand Princess on a cruise to Hawaii to celebrate Victoria's 50th birthday.

Bridgwater Mercury:

Speaking from the ship, Mr Hanlon said: "We are now on lockdown and confined to our cabins. It all started about two days ago when you had to double and treble sanitize everywhere.

"You could not touch anything - salt and pepper were poured for you and sugar put in your tea for you.

"Then it stepped up and we were told you had to be a minimum of one metre apart from everyone when walking about, and the communal areas were closed off."

Mr Hanlon said the passengers were then told to go to their staterooms.

"Since then the helicopters arrived to bring testing kits- these were done and taken back to California," he said.

Mr Hanlon said the couple had started to feel increasingly suppressed and repressed as the lockdown continued into Monday (March 9).

Bridgwater Mercury:

"It feels like we are in a prison in these four walls.

"There is no exercise whatsoever – we haven’t had the chance to go up on the deck or anything to walk around – it is getting quite tough now."

Although the couple do not have the virus, they have been told to stay on the ship.

Mr Hanlon said there were increasing concerns over hygiene as the situation dragged on.

"There is no sanitization whatsoever, all the food has been handed to us by the staff. The staff seem to be the majority of the ones that have the problems has 19 of them tested positive, so it would be good if we could have some sanitizer before we actually pick up the trays from them."

Mr Hanlon also said the couple felt let down by the UK government over the lack of updates , and said from talking to other passengers from the balconies that the mood on the ship in general was low, with people feeling let down and angry.


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The captain told passengers that they would be docking in the Port of Oakland, but that disembarkment could take several days, while the crew will remain quarantined and treated aboard the ship.

Bridgwater Mercury:

While there are plans for US residents, the captain said the information he was given did not include any details about what would happen to passengers from other countries.

Mr Hanlon said they had had an email from the Government saying efforts were being made to try and get Britons a flight home, but added that it sounded like it might not be until the end of the week.

Princess Cruises confirmed that the disembarkation of guests onboard Grand Princess has already begun.

A spokesman for Princess Cruises said: "The safety, health and well-being of our guests and crew is always our top priority, and we continue to make every effort to ensure they are safe and comfortable while they remain onboard.

"The crew are continuing to ensure that all guest are receiving meal deliveries in their staterooms by room service while wearing personal protective equipment, which included gloves and face masks, under the guidance of the U.S. Centers of Disease Control (CDC)."