Coronavirus in Scotland: Edinburgh couple stranded on 'ghost ship' face 14-day isolation in Rome

A COUPLE whose dream holiday was wrecked by coronavirus have been left stranded on a ghost ship.

The Evening News told on Friday how Bill Shaw and wife Carol’s cross Atlantic cruise turned sour within days with one passenger dropping dead at their feet.

The Stockbridge couple were tonight finally heading to Rome by coach from Savona in northern Italy to spend 14 days in isolation at a hotel.

“We’re just fed-up,” said Carol, 56. “We got told yesterday we’d be getting off at 4.15pm and there were 28 coaches outside.

“Then they phoned to say because a few had collapsed - not with the virus but because they’re just old people getting themselves worked up - it might be 5.15pm.

“Suitcases were packed again and then nothing happened. We were told nothing and we’re still here.”

Carol said a fleet of coaches arrived again this morning only for most of them to be driven off empty except for drivers after they demanded more money from cruise ship bosses.

She told how other nationalities, including Dutch, German and French, have already been taken off the ship.

“Other countries have got people off - it’s like a ghost ship. We’re on deck eight and there’s nobody else.”

Two days of tablets left

Confined to the cabin for eight days, a news black-out left the bored couple watching repeats of Dukes of Hazzard and Little House on the Prairie.

Meanwhile, 68-year-old Bill’s medication for type two diabetes is running out fast.

“He’s only got two days worth of tablets left,” said Carol. “An Italian friend has sent the prescription translated into Italian.”

The ship, operated by Italy’s Costa Cruises declared to authorities that 75 people had symptoms of the respiratory disease or had been in contact with people with it.

A mass evacuation of passengers on Thursday and Friday found 36 people on board infected with the coronavirus.

Costa Cruises has been approached for comment.