Siblings Paul and Laura Tangey, along with their mother Liz Tangey, were quarantined along with almost 3700 other people on the cruise ship following the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Laura said the family are trying to make the best of a bad situation by playing the travel board games she brought and entertaining themselves.

"It's an unfortunate circumstance but we have nothing but praise for the Diamond Princess staff and what they're doing," she said. "We have more food than we can handle and they are trying to keep us amused with games and little shows."

Laura said the captain announced on Saturday that the American passengers are able to leave the ship tonight and that there had been regular communication with Australian government officials.

A medical expert arrived in Japan from Australia at the weekend to assess the remaining Australian passengers.

"We're going to do what the government tells us," she said. "We would much rather be in quarantine than bring the infection back to Australia and Bendigo.

"We're in regular contact with the consulate. They are sending emails. We had three yesterday confirming our details.

"We have had phone calls from our cruise director asking if we're okay, our laundry has been done a couple of times and we have cleaning products for the room.

"Where we are now, there is a view of people going away to get help. It's not uplifting but it is a peace of mind (it will be over soon)."

Paul said watching the logistics of the situation was interesting.

"Every day we see 50 pallets delivered and all rubbish taken off (the ship)," he said.

"On day three (of quarantine), the Japanese government delivered a digital thermometer to each person and asked us to watch our own temperatures. If we went to 37.5 degrees or above or had any symptoms, we had to ring (the ship''s hospital).

"Things like that (for) 3700 people is not only costly, but logistically, this would be unprecedented."

The Tangey family have been tested multiple times for the virus.

Paul said their mother is aged over 70 and in a vulnerable demographic for the virus.

"There are 223 Australians on the cruise with us and they tell us 15 Australians who tested positive have been taken off," he said. "Of the three of us, no one has shown any symptoms. We were among first tests at hospital and Japanese Ministry of Health staff came around yesterday to test us (again) with a swab in the mouth."

The family is unsure when they may be able to leave the ship but said they will co-operate happily.

Paul said he wouldn't be surprised if they were forced to go into quarantine again in Australia.

"With 208 (Australians) left, we are just waiting to find out. I wouldn't be surprised if we all put on same flight for health reasons," he said.

"We have no idea (about going into quarantine in Australia) but we wouldn't be surprised if that was the case."

Until the next official word was received, Paul, Laura and Liza will remain in quarantine until Wednesday.

"Some people reported the government hadn't contacted (Australians on board) but we have had multiple emails and were given phone numbers for the embassy on second day," Paul said.

"There's no excuse for not talking with government, we have free use of phones on the ship and we had two announcements yesterday saying Americans were getting off this evening.

"(In the meantime) we cant speak highly enough of Princess Cruises. They outlined what they were going to do for us (on the ship) and, once we get home, what they will do for us there. The crew have been magnificent and nothing has been too much trouble."