Melbourne couple trapped on cruise ship in Yokohama, Japan

A travel-loving Victorian couple have been confined to their cruise ship without their passports at a port in Japan, describing the experience as “dreadful”.

A Melbourne couple left stranded on a port in Japan without their passports after their cruise ship broke down say the ordeal has been “archaic”.

Karen and Steve Dermietzel have been left deserted at Yokohama Port after the Spectrum of the Seas, operated by Royal Caribbean International, reported a “technical concern”, believed to be a problem with its propulsion system.

Ms Dermietzel told the Herald Sun the ship’s crew had confiscated everyone’s passports when they boarded the ship and were not letting any passengers disembark to get an early flight home.

It’s understood 111 of the ship’s estimated 4,500 passengers are Australian.

Melbourne couple Karen and Steve Dermietzel have been stranded on a cruise ship in Japan. Picture: Supplied

Ms Dermietzel said the couple have been “left high and dry”.

“All we want to do is get off here in Japan so we can just reorganise another flight home,” she said on Friday.

“But they told us we weren’t allowed off the ship because the Japanese authorities weren’t allowing anyone off it and they have all of our passports.

“As an Australian, we don’t even need visas to get into Japan.

“One guy my husband was speaking to yesterday said, if I’m not back in Melbourne on Monday for work, I could lose my job.”

The Spectrum of the Seas cruise had offered a seven-night cruise to Japan as part of its itinerary.

It arrived in Yokohama on Wednesday.

It had been scheduled to leave on the same day bound for Shanghai in China where the cruise was meant to have come to an end.

Royal Caribbean International’s Spectrum of the Seas reported a “technical concern”. Picture: Supplied

In a letter to guests, Royal Caribbean International said the ship would remain in Yokohama for the next two days and delay its return to Shanghai until Monday.

“At this time, while we stay in Yokohama, guests will need to remain on-board – however, we’re working closely with the local authorities to secure some time ashore, and we will update you once we have more information,” it read.

“We’re sorry for the last-minute change to our itinerary.”

Ms Dermietzel said she was “really concerned” when she was required to handover her passport when she boarded the ship nearly a week ago.

“Apparently it’s not uncommon in Asia, but we were really concerned about it when we got on, but basically, we were told, if you don’t give us your passport, you don’t get on the ship,” she said.

Ms Dermietzel said she was “really concerned” when she was required to handover her passport. Picture: Royal Caribbean International

Ms Dermietzel said she queued up for two hours on Thursday to try and get information from the crew on-board.

“They’re just saying they are sorry and don’t know what’s happening — well, that’s really frustrating, not helpful to us,” she said.

“The people on the ship here are saying Royal Caribbean are dealing with it in their head office in the US, and, of course, with the time difference, it’s not fantastic.

“I’ve done about eight cruises before but this has been the worst. I’ve never experienced anything like this.”

Ms Dermietzel said she has also emailed the Australian embassy in Japan to ask for assistance.

The company is offering any flight change fee up to $US200 for domestic travel and $US400 for international travel per person.

But guests must send receipts to an email for review and reimbursement.

Sailing from Shanghai on a year-round basis, the Spectrum of the Seas was built by the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany and entered service in 2019.

Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas also had propulsion issues earlier this year.

During travels from Australia to the South Pacific and back in March, the ship had to alter and cancel itineraries unexpectedly.

The cruise returned to Sydney four days ahead of schedule for technical repairs.