The current coronavirus outbreak may have scuppered holiday plans for many people recently, but one Aussie couple decided to take it as the inspiration to get creative, having decided to enjoy their very own living room ‘cruise’.

Dave and Norma had planned to celebrate their 53rd wedding anniversary on a cruise around the Pacific, but the current coronavirus outbreak had other plans – with many similar trips cancelled or advised against by governments and tour operators across the globe.

Understandably ‘disappointed’, they decided instead to bring the cruise to them, setting up a slightly alternative adventure in their living room in Melbourne on Friday 13 March.

In the video, which was shared on TikTok by their daughter Jane, the couple can be seen enjoying a drink with their feet up, footage of the sea on the TV screen in front of them.

Jane said: “We had an idea that if we put a video up of water on their TV and they dress as though they would on their cruise they might not feel so disappointed as they were really looking forward to going to celebrate their 53rd wedding anniversary.

“Needless to say, we all had a chuckle over making the quick video.”

The Australian government has introduced various measures to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, which has so far claimed the lives of five people.

This includes new strict guidelines for people returning from overseas, who have been told to quarantine themselves for a fortnight, regardless of whether or not they have any symptoms.

The time period is higher for people on cruise ships, with those travellers now unable to dock in an Australian port for 30 days.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in a press conference: “This is very important, what we’ve seen in recent weeks is more countries having issues with the virus and that means the source of some of those transmissions are coming from more and more countries.

“We know that the virus cannot be absolutely stopped – no one can do that – but we can slow the spread.

“And we anticipate that will be our task over the next six months.”

States and territories around Australia have also introduced penalties for people who try and flout the directive.

Those in New South Wales will be fined up to AU $11,000 (£5,503) for not self-isolating, AU $13,000 (£6,503) in Queensland, AU $20,000 (10,000) in Victoria, AU $25,000 (£12,507) in South Australia and a whopping AU $50,000 (£25,015) for Western Australia. The penalty for corporations is much higher.

Those who are caught can also face up to a year behind bars in WA and six months in NSW.