A Co Down couple on a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship hoping to finally dock in the US have told how their trip of a lifetime has turned into a "nightmare".
Four people have died on the MS Zaandam, with two testing positive for Covid-19, following an outbreak of the virus on-board.
Brendan and Mette McComiskey, who live in Moira, said it has been "soul-destroying" to be still stuck on the crisis-hit vessel after it first set sail on March 7.
They have been unable to leave their cabin for more than 10 days.
"We were supposed to be away for four weeks, we were really looking forward to it.... we'll never cruise again," said Mrs McComiskey.
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In what has been described as an unfolding humanitarian crisis, nine people on-board have tested positive for Covid-19 and 189 people - 73 guests and 116 crew members - reported flu-like symptoms.
The Zaandam originally departed from Buenos Aires on March 7 - a day before the US State Department advised against cruise travel and before any substantial restrictions were in place in Florida.
The ship had been scheduled to stop in San Antonio, Chile, and then complete another 20-day cruise to arrive in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on April 7.
Mrs McComiskey said they passed through the Panama Canal on Monday after being denied entry to several ports.
"The captain was told that Argentina was closing its ports the following day," she said.
"So he turned the ship round to go back to Punta Arenas, but we didn't make it there on time.
"Since then we have been denied entry at a succession of ports - it feels like we've been out at sea for weeks."
The ship received medical supplies and personnel from its sister ship, the Rotterdam.
Florida's state governor, Ron DeSantis, is reluctant to allow disembarkation for the more than 1,000 people on-board, as healthcare resources are already stretched too thin by the coronavirus outbreak.
But US President Donald Trump said he would ask Mr DeSantis to allow the ships to dock in Florida.
"They're dying on the ship," Mr Trump said.
"I'm going to do what's right. Not only for us, but for humanity."
For the McComiskeys, the feared spread of the virus has meant they have been forced to stay in their rooms.
"We are bored stiff, we've been stuck in our cabin every day since March 22," she said.
"We haven't had fresh air in the last 10 days, it's soul destroying.
"Food and drinks are brought to our rooms, but we can't go out, we can't leave our cabin.
"The cleaning crews can't come into our rooms either so we are asking for towels and sheets - it's all getting so tedious now, it's a nightmare.
"We have heard four people have died on the ship, we weren't told what they died of, but that came like a bolt out of the blue."
Mrs McComiskey said as the ship nears Florida, they are also concerned about what the next step will be.
"Will we allowed to disembark?
"I'm sure we'll be tested when we arrive and possibly quarantined for a time, but the fear is they won't let us off and what then."
