Passengers on a cruise ship - including two people from Kent among 400 Brits - have been told to self-isolate after some began experiencing flu-like symptoms.

Mick Turnball and his partner - who does not wish to be named - have been on board the Coral Princess for almost a month and are still unsure when or how they are going to get home to Bearsted, near Maidstone.

The pair first boarded the Coral Princess on the Chilean coast on Thursday, March 5, along with Mr Turnball's partner's sister and brother-in-law.

Since then, many passengers have been booking last-minute flights for when they have been able to stop, only to be denied entry by the authorities.

Mr Turnball, 57, has been left feeling "homesick and upset" about the situation.

The dad-of-one who works as a self-employed courier said: "My partner's mum is elderly and either her or her sister would have probably moved in with her during the lockdown if they'd been home. And her brother-in-law's mum's not been well either, so he's been worried too. "

"At the end of a two-week holiday you've always had enough and want to get home and now it's been much longer than that. I'm ready to get off now, another day is a day too many."

The Coral Princess is heading for Fort Lauderdale, Florida, due to arrive on Saturday.

A silver lining of the situation was that there were no one on board with coronavirus, but now an unusually high number of passengers have been presented with flu-like symptoms.

A spokesman for Princess Cruises said: "Many have tested positive for regular influenza, however given the concern surrounding Covid-19, and out of an abundance of caution, guests have been asked to self-isolate in their staterooms and all meals will now be delivered by room service. Crew will remain in their staterooms when not working.

"Both internet and guest stateroom telephone service remain complimentary so that guests can stay in touch with family. The health, safety, and well-being of all guests and crew are our absolute priority."

Mr Turnball said: "We are all confined to our rooms indefinitely. Food is arriving eventually, but very slowly. The crew are doing the best they can but working with a totally new dynamic.

"We ordered breakfast at 6am and it didn't arrive until midday. It's to be a long three days."

On top of this, despite the government's announcement on Monday that it will partner with airlines to help get Brits home, Mr Turnball has not received any formal information on how and when this will take place.

He is still unsure what will happen when the ship arrives in Florida.

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