Holiday from hell: A Queensland couple are isolated in their cabin after a coronavirus scare rocked their luxury cruise

A Queensland couple are stuck in isolation in their cruise ship cabin for at least two weeks after 10 people on board were diagnosed with coronavirus.

Sunshine Coast couple Paul and Coralie Williamson are among 3700 passengers stranded on a cruise ship off the coast of Japan.

A SUNSHINE Coast couple are facing at least two weeks of isolation in their cruise ship cabin after 10 people on board were diagnosed with coronavirus.

Former Kawana Waters State College principal Paul Williamson and his wife, Coralie, are among 3700 people on the Diamond Princess cruise liner, which has been placed in quarantine off the coast of Japan.

Ten people who tested positive for the deadly virus, which has so far claimed the lives of nearly 500 people, have been taken off the ship and to hospital. But all other passengers and crew members must remain quarantined.

PODCAST: CORONAVIRUS CRUISE QUARANTINE Former Kawana Waters state college principal Paul Williamson and his wife...

Posted by 92.7 Mixfm on Wednesday, 5 February 2020

Mr Williamson told MixFM Japanese quarantine officials had conducted medical assessments of every person on board, but passengers had been told to stay in their rooms.

"We were supposed to leave Yokahama in the morning yesterday. Since then, we've just been remaining inside the cabin," he told MixFM.

The couple had booked their trip three months ago due to cheap prices, and joked about getting more time on the ship for free.

"It was less than half price, and now we're getting an extra couple of weeks for free," Mrs Williamson said.

"We have had the balcony door open and we're using that as our little running track.

"We have done our 10,000 steps for today."

The couple are completely isolated, except when crew members in masks and gloves deliver room service to their door.

The ship hasn't been able to stock up on fresh food, which hasn't gone unnoticed by the Williamsons, who said it wasn't what they were used to on the rest of the cruise.

"We haven't actually had new food on board, so it is getting low," Mrs Williamson said.

About half of the 2666 passengers on board are from Japan, but there are also 223 Australians on the vessel.

Passengers have been given limited free internet on the ship, which Mr Williamson said was just enough for them to contact loved ones on social media.

Mrs Williamson urged people to be aware on social media and to not joke about the serious and fast-spreading virus.

"Jokes about Christmas Island are jokes about people dying quickly. I don't think it's needed," she said.

Originally published as Holiday from hell: A Queensland couple are isolated in their cabin after a coronavirus scare rocked their luxury cruise