Passengers left in limbo on a cruise ship in the middle of the South Pacific still have no idea when they will be able to get off the vessel, relatives say.

The Norwegian Jewel set off from Sydney, Australia for a three-week cruise on February 28. The ship has a capacity of about 2500 passengers and most on board are Australian.

Are you onboard the Norwegian Jewel? Email us at newstips@stuff.co.nz

Passengers on the cruise ship were due to disembark in Tahiti two days ago but were refused entry.

Kieran Wicks Debbie and Glenn Wicks, from Newcastle in New South Wales, are on board the Norwegian Jewel.

READ MORE:

* Coronavirus: Australia's effective ban on 'non-essential' mass gatherings of 500 people

* Cruise passenger tests negative for coronavirus, health officials say

* Coronavirus: Cruise line won't issue $50k refund to family that cancelled

With many countries scrambling to close their borders because of the coronavirus, the Norwegian Jewel cruise ship was also refused permission to dock in Fiji and New Zealand.

Glenn and Debbie Wicks, from Newcastle in New South Wales, are on board the ship, which has no confirmed cases of Covid-19.



Their son Kieran Wicks said his mother and his aunt, who was also on board, were both running low on medication for a hereditary thyroid condition.

While there was a doctor on board, Wicks said his mum was told it would cost US$150 just for a consultation to get a script. It would then cost $9 per day per tablet, he said.

"My aunt has less than a week's worth of vital medication," he said.

Wicks said he had spoken to his parents by phone on Monday.

"They feel as though they are on the 'forgotten cruise ship'," he said.

Abigail Dougherty/Stuff The Norwegian Jewel was refused entry to New Zealand, Fiji and French Polynesia.

"They have been monitoring local media as best they can and there has been no mention of it."

A captain's announcement yesterday said the Norwegian Jewel was now heading to Honolulu in the hope passengers would be able to get off the boat there.

"They have been told they may be able to disembark. However, they were told the same thing with New Zealand and then 24 hours later they closed the borders and then Fiji was exactly the same thing too," Wicks said.

The ship is believed to be making a stop at American Samoa to refuel, before heading to Honolulu.

Wicks said his parents were so far coping with the stressful situation but were frustrated at the lack of communication.

"They are pretty level-headed people, it's just that they are on a tin can in the middle of the ocean and no one is telling them much," he said.

A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line said: "Due to the port closure in Fiji, we have been forced to modify Norwegian Jewel's disembarkation plans.

"The ship is currently heading to Honolulu, Hawaii, where she will disembark. We continue to communicate with guests regularly and will provide them with the estimated arrival time and further details as they become available.

"We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience they have experienced as a result of these unforeseen circumstances and greatly appreciate their patience and understanding.

"In the meantime, we are increasing the available internet bandwidth on board and extending complimentary wi-fi access, so guests can make the necessary arrangements and can communicate with their friends and family."

Wicks said even if his family were able to make it off the ship he was worried about how they would get back home.

"If the ship crosses the equator it will make it even more difficult to return to Australia safely and expose them to populations with higher rates of infection before returning to Australia," he said.

An Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said it had been in contact with Norwegian Cruise Line to seek further information about the planned movements of the ship.

"The Department stands ready to provide consular support to Australians in need of assistance as per the Consular Services Charter," the spokesperson said.

Over the weekend, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the country was banning international cruise ship arrivals for 30 days.

A spokesperson for Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia said cruise lines were now focusing on the safe and smooth return for affected ships at sea, and on arrangements for the disembarkation of passengers.

- This article was first published on 9News and is republished with permission

