A cruise ship worker claims she has been trapped at sea for more than 50 days because of the coronavirus lockdown.
Cassie Snowden says she was confined to her claustrophobic cabin for up to 22 hours a day, after 39 cases of covid-19 were diagnosed on board.
Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas cruise ship is currently docked off Manila in the Philippines, and is unable to allow those on board to disembark.
Cassie, from Manchester, says her family in Scunthorpe are anxiously waiting for news, amid fears that her mental and physical health are both suffering, the Manchester Evening News reports.
Royal Caribbean hopes that crew on board the Voyager of the Seas will be able to land and fly home around May 9 once Philippine authorities give permission.
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Cassie, who works as a children's entertainer on the ship, said: "All I wanted was home, especially when you're feeling sick. To see my dog, go for a proper jog, have a cuppa, make a smoothie, just the small things that matter.
"I spent over 20 days confined to a cabin, highly emotional. I couldn't help but feel like I just wanted normality back.
"The situation in the UK was getting worse day by day and I was worrying and I just wanted to be with the people I feel safe with, and to know they're physically safe."
Cassie's sister Claire said: "She's been forced to spend every day in her small cabin.
"She's quite weak and vulnerable at the moment because of the stress and not being able to interact with other people.
"It was her 30th birthday on the day that she was confined to her room, March 22, which was obviously very difficult for her.
"We want her to come home as soon as possible but the ship hasn't been able to dock. The company has done their best - unfortunately staff are still like caged animals."
Cassie, currently on her third voyage, left port in Sydney on March 4 for a cruise
around South East Asia.
A coronavirus outbreak on board left 34 guests and five staff infected, and forced a 30 day quarantine for everyone on board.
Cassie was also taken ill with coronavirus-like symptoms, but tested negative for the virus.
Staff and guests were asked to remain in their rooms at all times with food being brought directly to them.
The quarantine has now ended and guests have been allowed to leave, but self-isolation measures mean that time out of cabins is still being kept to a minimum.
Staff are asked to keep their distance from each other at meal times.
The Voyager of the Seas ship has been refused permission to dock at multiple ports.
It has been docked outside Manila in the Philippines since April 22.
The company says it is waiting for clearance from the Bureaus of Quarantine and Immigration to dock.
A charter flight home could take off as soon as Saturday, May 9, along with crews from its Ovation and Solstice ships.
Claire said: "I know that Cassie is trying to stay positive, but it's hard for her not to be despondent. It's been a traumatic time for her.
"Usually she sets foot on land every day or two during the cruise - now it's been 50 days.
"As a vegan, it's also been difficult for her to get suitable food after being on the ship for so long. For some meals, she was just offered an apple and a cucumber, but she complained and it's got better since then. She's not had a lot of energy to exercise.
"Royal Caribbean are taking the issue seriously and trying to look after them, but they're not being allowed to dock by the government.
"It sounds like they are trying everything they can."
Crew members and guests have been given free wi-fi which allows them to keep in touch with loved ones.
But Claire says signal is often poor when communicating with her sister halfway around the world.
A Royal Caribbean spokesman said: "It is a top priority to get our crew members home to their families and loved ones safely and as quickly as possible.
"We have already been able to help more than 12,000 of our crew members return safely home on commercial flights, charter flights and direct sailings to their home countries and thousands more are going home in coming weeks.
"We are working with governments and health authorities around the world on our plans, and we very much appreciate our crews’ patience, understanding and good spirit.
"British nationals on board Voyager of the Seas are slated for a charter repatriation along with other European crew on the Ovation and Solstice vessels.
"We are finalising that charter given the current restrictions in the Philippines and expect it to depart sometime on or after May 9, depending on clearance from the Bureaus of Quarantine and
Immigration and subject to restrictions mandated by the Philippine Civil Aviation Administration relative to the airport operations."
The Foreign Office has issued a statement saying: "We are doing everything we can to help British crew on board cruise ships around the world, but this is a complex challenge in an unprecedented challenge.
"We will continue to support operators to ensure the welfare and safety of British crew."
There are still up to 50 stranded cruise ships around the world, with 100,000 staff still reportedly on board.
