Passengers talk about life aboard stricken cruise ship
"The captain broadcast daily messages of encouragement to everyone on the ship."
On Feb 3, the vessel returned to waters off Yokohama. The Japanese government issued orders for everyone to remain onboard and for the vessel to be isolated and quarantined for at least two weeks.
Chen said, "I packed all my things on Feb 3 in preparation to leave the ship and return home the next day, but I was told at the last minute that no one could disembark and we all needed to be quarantined until Feb 19."
He said the leg of the cruise he joined was scheduled for Jan 27 to Feb 4, so he only packed essentials for the trip.
"During the quarantine period, I have run out of vitamin C tablets, snacks and contact lenses. Fortunately, I asked a friend to bring me some supplies from Tokyo. He drove to Yokohama and asked workers at the port to help deliver them to my cabin," Chen said.
He added that crew members deliver meals and water to passengers every day.
"They also provide supplies of alcohol disinfectant, face masks and thermometers. Passengers take their temperature each day and report if they have a fever. My temperature is 36.8 C, which is normal. But I have still been anxious, especially when checking my phone every morning and seeing dozens of new cases on the ship."
