A COUPLE from Lindale are among 90 ‘prisoners’ stranded on a cruise ship after an outbreak of coronavirus.

Heather and Geoff McClure set off on their ‘cruise of a lifetime’ on March 5 after flying to San Antonio in Chile.

The couple were due to disembark the Coral Princess on March 19 and fly home from Buenos Aires on March 26.

However, after a number of passengers contracted coronavirus the captain ordered everyone to stay in their cabins and the ship remains docked in the Port of Miami.

Speaking from their cabin the couple said they had not been onshore for more than three weeks.

“It’s like we’re trapped on a prison ship,” Mrs McClure, 55, said.

“Geoff became ill and we went to the medical centre on March 27. He was diagnosed with seasonal influenza, given medication, and I was given tamiflu. That cost us $567.”

Mrs McClure, who works for the Lake District National Park Authority, said three passengers have died after contracting coronavirus.

While many passengers have been allowed to fly home Mr and Mrs McClure are among the 90 still awaiting permission to disembark.

They have been keeping in touch with their family, including their two grandchildren, and are desperate to return home.

“We see absolutely no end to it,” Mrs McClure added.

“This was meant to be the holiday of a lifetime but I can’t see us ever cruising again.

“Jamie and Louise from Barrhead Travel in Barrow have been fantastic and giving us lots of support.”

A spokesperson for Princess Cruises said: “In response to the global spread of COVID-19, Princess Cruises announced a voluntary 60-day pause of operations on March 12, becoming one of the first companies to take this proactive measure.

“Coral Princess remained in service longer than expected, until arriving at the Port of Miami, due to a series of port closures, airline cancellations and other actions, which impacted the onward travel home of the guests and crew onboard.”