A grandmother stranded on a cruise ship struck down by coronavirus is pleading with the government to get her and other British passengers home.

Jackie Bissell from Hartley near Dartford has been aboard the Grand Princess ship since Wednesday and is currently quarantined to her cabin on the ship off the coast of California.

She had taken a three-week trip for her 70th birthday celebrations, which saw her visit Las Vegas before boarding the ship in San Francisco to head to Hawaii with her friend Maggie Bartlett, who is from Burnley.

However during the trip, passengers were informed the vessel would not be making a planned stop in Mexico after it left Hawaii on Saturday, February 21.

It emerged there were instances of coronavirus and crew decided to divert back to San Francisco and hold passengers there.

At least 21 people on board have tested positive for the virus, 19 of whom are understood to be crew.

There are thought to be 3,500 people on board the vessel.

The ship is due to dock in Oakland on Monday, but Jackie says they have been told only the American passengers will be able to disembark.

US media has reported Princess Cruises, the company which owns the ship, said passengers needing medical treatment will be allowed to leave first.

California residents will be isolated in a federally-operated facility in the state, while the federal government will transport non-Californians to facilities in other states.

But Jackie – who was due to return to the UK this evening – says no reassurances have been made to the foreign nationals on board, an estimated 140 of whom are from the UK.

Speaking to KentOnline from the ship, the grandmother-of-three of Church Road said: "We just want to come home, it's not very pleasant in here.

"What they are saying now is we could be in her for days; it could take days for us to get out.

"We have had no fresh air, we are allowed in the corridor to get our food."

Jackie says passengers were informed on Wednesday to go and get lunch and then return to their rooms and stay there.

The room she is sharing with 77-year-old Maggie has a window which can't be opened and they have to use a phone or make a note to leave on their door if they want anything such as food, drink or cleaning products.

Announcements from the captain are being made through the ship's tannoy system and passengers have been told not to listen to the press, and just take information from the ship's staff.

The pair – who have not been tested for the virus – have endured long waits for food and drink, and say they have also received uncooked food.

Jackie has left the room to confront staff about not receiving food and says the corridors are manned at each end to prevent people from getting out.

Being unable to get out onto the deck for exercise is difficult as Maggie is suffering from cramps and a bad back, so the pair are hoping they may be able to walk up and down the corridors to get them moving again.

She said: "There's nothing wrong with us, we are fit and healthy and there's no suggestion of any testing being done on us.

"It's warm enough but it's awfully stuffy and we have a window but we can't open it."

Asked what message she would have for the British government, Jackie said: "Please try and get us home or at least get us tested to get us out of this room. We will be a lot happier on British soil."

Jackie's family are in the process of writing to their MP, Gareth Johnson, to petition for help.

Her daughter Michelle Bissell of Kent Road, Longfield, is worried the delays in getting food to her mum were a result of her doing interviews with the press.

She said: "She doesn't know if she's being penalised because of the interviews she's given.

"I really want to get in touch with other family members; there's going to be a lot of family members and I want to the government to step in.

"All I want is the public to know what's going on. Anyone thinking of going on a cruise now won't want to go the way it's spreading around the world.

"She asked me to turn the camera around and put it against the telly so she can see because she said 'I think you are getting more information there than we are getting here'."

Tony Bissell, Jackie's son, added: "They don't know what's in place for them. My mum is fine at the moment, she is in good health.

"She's in a small cabin and there's no fresh air."

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "Our staff are in touch with the local authorities in the US and with the Grand Princess cruise ship.

"We stand ready to provide support to any British nationals on board who may require our assistance.”

A Princess Cruises spokesperson said that guests were due to disembark on Monday, and that prior to that guests were receiving meals by room service and given additional TV and movie options, together with complimentary internet service.

They added that staff would never discriminate against any passengers and the crew was actively working around the clock to care for guests.

Yesterday, it was confirmed two further people, both in Medway, had tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number in Kent to four.

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