A CARLISLE couple have spoken of their battle to keep their spirits high after weeks quarantined on a cruise ship off the US coast.

Johnathan Morton, 33 and his partner Natalie Jacques, 29, have been under quarantine for the past four weeks on the British-American cruise liner Carnival Valor.

Told they would be allowed to fly back to the UK on Wednesday, their flights were abruptly cancelled, and at present do not know when they will be able to return home.

The couple, both professional musicians performing under the name High Dynamics, joined the cruise on a 10-week contract.

Three weeks after the cruise got underway, the rapid spread of coronavirus across the world prompted US president Donald Trump to announce all cruises were to halt, leaving Johnathan and Natalie stranded aboard.

Speaking to The Cumberland News from the Carnival Valor, still under quarantine at sea, Johnathan said: “We still have no confirmation of any other flights.

“This is worrying as we don’t know how many chances we will get to return home and how long flights will remain in service.

“It’s always hard being away from family and as we watched the number of Covid-19 cases spread across the world we were really concerned. All we wanted to do was to get back home with them.”

Johnathan’s mum, Jeanette Morton, also from Carlisle, said it was a “nightmare” not knowing when the couple can return home.

“I miss them both so much when they are away, but under these circumstances even more, I would just like for them to get home.”

To keep their spirits up, and to bolster the morale of the ship’s crew and passengers, Johnathan and Natalie took advantage of the greater freedom they had at the start of the quarantine to write and record an uplifting song, titled Turn This World Around.

“We wish to give hope and inspiration to those who listen to it,” Johnathan said.

Shortly after Johnathan and Natalie finished filming the accompanying music video, about a fortnight ago, those on board were told the ship was leaving their Mississippi port and travelling out to sea in order to step up the quarantine - where the ship still remains. Those aboard are now confined to their cabins.

“A lot of the staff have still worked around the clock to keep the ship functional,” Johnathan said.

“We realise the ship has been a very safe place for us but we’re now very eager to get home to our families just to know we’re there should anything bad happen.”

“We’re optimistic it will all work out but, all in all, it has been somewhat of a challenging time not knowing what may happen to us - and the thought of three flights [to get home] is awful knowing how easily this disease spreads.”

Johnathan and Natalie's song, Turn This World Around, is available as a free download.

(Video courtesy of High Dynamics/Carnival Cruise Line)