OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA — Nancy Conway and Kevin Sheehan consider themselves lucky: they have a view of the ocean and no symptoms of novel coronavirus.

"The important thing is we feel fine so far," Conway said from her stateroom aboard the Grand Princess.

The pair count themselves among thousands on the Princess Cruises ship where 21 people aboard have already tested positive for coronavirus.

The Gig Harbor couple, who winter in Arizona, thought they'd be home from their cruise Saturday. Instead, it's Monday, and they're still sitting within a 300-square-foot stateroom on a vessel inflicted with coronavirus. Their next stop is a two-week quarantine at a military installation.

They pass the time between announcements by the captain with "distractions," Conway said: movies and crossword and sudoku puzzles. Conway is making hats for the homeless with a knitting loom she brought on board. Her husband, a retired submariner, is teaching her cribbage.

Every few hours, crewmembers they now never see deliver food and supplies to their door. A quick knock and they're gone.

"They are all working very hard to keep us fed and comfortable," Conway said.

Their journey started Feb. 20 with a flight to San Francisco, where they boarded the ship in anticipation of what was supposed to be a 15-day cruise to Hawaii and back.

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While they cruised back toward the North American mainland, California recorded its first novel coronavirus death: a 71-year-old man who had underlying health problems and who'd just returned from a cruise aboard the Grand Princess the sailing before Conway and Sheehan had boarded.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom decided the ship should stay at sea until its passengers and crew could be tested for the virus. Test kits were delivered Thursday by a California National Guard helicopter. The couple has not been tested for the virus, and they believe a shortage of kits meant only those with symptoms and who remained on the ship from the earlier February cruise were tested.

On Sunday, after the captain announced the plan to dock in Oakland, Conway said she didn't hear cheering from any rooms.

"I think a lot of us think 'We’ll believe it when we see it,'" she said.

Now, it's anxious waiting. First off will be those requiring hospitalization. Next off will be California residents, who will go to either Travis Air Force Base near Sacramento or Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego for quarantine.

Then, Conway and Sheehan hope to get off. But their next leg will be a 14-day quarantine in either Texas or Georgia. While there, they expect to be tested.

The couple, former longtime East Bremerton residents, are being patient.

"It could take days for disembarkation," Conway said.

Masks arrived at their room Sunday so that passengers can get "fresh air" time. Conway said she feels for those who cannot see outside the ship in interior staterooms. The couple has a balcony. She'd gladly give them her time so they could have additional time in the sunlight, she said.

The ship is carrying 2,421 passengers and 1,113 crew members who hail from 54 different countries. Nineteen of the 21 who tested positive for the virus are crewmembers. Those crewmembers are expected to remain aboard after the guests disembark unless they need immediate medical attention.

"All of us at Princess Cruises offer our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the federal, state and local authorities who are coordinating, collaborating and activating resources and personnel in support of this response to provide care and attend to the health and well-being of our guests and crew," Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises, said in a statement.

The ship is a part of the same cruise line as the Diamond Princess, which was quarantined for more than two weeks in Yokohama, Japan.

Conway said the cruise line is not only refunding the cost of their cruise but passengers are getting a free cruise of equal value in the future.

The U.S. Department of State took the extraordinary step Sunday of advising U.S. citizens against traveling by cruiseship as the novel coronavirus continues to spread, including 554 cases and 21 deaths in the nation as of early Monday.

"U.S. citizens, particularly travelers with underlying health conditions, should not travel by cruise ship," the State Department said.

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