A couple from Kent trapped on board a coronavirus cruise liner are now heading for Cuba.

Tony and Karen Crowder from the Isle of Sheppey are among hundreds of British tourists who are stranded in the Caribbean on the 485-room Braemar.

Captain Jozo Glavic told passengers he was setting sail for Cuba where officials have agreed to accept the vessel out of 'humanitarian concerns'.

The Foreign Office said it was "working around the clock to arrange evacuation flights from Cuba to the UK."

The ship had been anchored 25 miles off the Bahamas since Saturday after five passengers tested positive for coronavirus.

There are now 22 guests and 21 crew, including a doctor, in isolation with flu-like symptoms.

Two additional doctors and a nurse plus supplies of medicines, food and fuel were allowed to join the ship overnight Sunday.

Mr and Mrs Crowder are from Minster. Mr Crowder plays guitar in Kent Pink Floyd tribute band On Thin Ice and Mrs Crowder, 62, made headlines at Halloween with her collection of 60 antique witch dolls which went on show at the Island's Abbey Gatehouse museum.

She said on Monday night: "We are now on our way to Cuba for repatriation."

The couple had been left money by Mrs Crowder's late mother to use on a cruise of a lifetime.

Mrs Crowder said: "Our cruise was supposed to end next Saturday. We were doing the whole Caribbean as a tribute to my mum who died three years ago. The Braemar was her favourite ship. She left me some money and we spent it on this cruise."

She added: "The mood onboard has been worried and a bit tearful but fine, really. We can still mix with other passengers which lightens the mood."

All bars and restaurants have been kept open and guests have been given a complementary all-inclusive drinks package. On Saturday, Braemar’s house band performed on the deck in the sunshine.

The ship's theatre is now off limits but shows are going ahead and can be watched on TV in cabins. Guests have been encouraged to practice social distancing.

Mrs Crowder said: "We joined the ship in St Martaan as it was not allowed to stop in the Dominican Republic. The ship was also stopped from docking in Dominican Republic on February 27 where we should have got on."

Mr Crowder said: "We are expecting to arrive in Cuba on Tuesday and have been told we will be there until Wednesday at least. The USA has extra medication for those who need it. It's being brought to the boat via helicopter.

"Apparently British Airways are coming to Cuba. All well here but it's not been good, more like an episode from the film Entebbe!"*

The ship was due to dock at the Bahamas on Saturday but instead was forced to anchor 25 miles off the coast.

Reports say passengers were allowed to disembark at St Maarten and fly home without being tested. Two later tested positive for the virus.

New passengers, like the Crowders, joined the ship for the next 14-day leg of its trip and called at Cartagena, Colombia, where a woman who left the ship also tested positive and is now quarantined in a hospital.

The ship was due to dock in Barbados on Thursday but was turned away before attempting to land in its flag state of the Bahamas, according to Norwegian-owned operators Fred Olsen Cruise Lines who are based in the UK.

The ship is carrying 682 mostly British passengers and 381 crew.

UK officials flew to Freeport to support Bahamian authorities.

On Sunday a spokesman for Fred Olsen said: "We can confirm that our ship Braemar remains at anchor in The Bahamas where supplies are being shipped across from Freeport.

"Our guests and crew have been waiting in the same location since yesterday morning - 25 miles south west of Freeport - for the go-ahead from Bahamian port authorities to begin moving the supplies."

Captain Jozo Glavic told passengers on Sunday: "All our supplies and medications are at the pier in Freeport.

"They have been there since yesterday. We are still waiting for clearance for delivery. We will not go anywhere until we have the medical staff on board and these supplies arrive.

"I can tell you that our situation continues to be looked at as a matter of the utmost urgency between the UK government and our head office. Until then, please continue to bear with me and my crew.”

A Braemar support team has been set up at Fred Olsen’s UK head office in Ipswich. Relatives can call 01473 292350 between 8am and 8pm.

The spokesman added: "Our top priority remains getting the guests on board Braemar home as soon as possible while ensuring the safety of all those on board.

"We know this must be a very worrying time for our guests and their families so have set up a relative support team to answer questions from our guests and their family. They can also help get messages to those on board.

"We would like to re-iterate that we find ourselves in an unprecedented situation with the global outbreak Covid-19 coronavirus and are working around the clock to ensure the safety and comfort of our passengers."

Peter Deer, managing director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank Captain Jozo Glavic and his crew for working so hard for so long in very challenging circumstances.

"I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to our guests for their patience.

"We have been working around the clock with the Bahamian authorities to get supplies on to the ship but it is taking longer than we expected to get the necessary clearances.

"We are also liaising with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who I know are doing everything they can to get people home as soon as possible."

* Entebbe: In 1976, a terrorist group hijacked a plane flying from Tel Aviv to Paris and held passengers hostage.

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