Japan cruise ship virus cases jump to 218 as elderly offered escape Japan says it will allow some elderly passengers off a quarantined cruise ship and into government-designated lodging, as the number of new coronavirus cases on the vessel jumps to 218. Thousands of passengers and crew on the Diamond Princess -- the single largest cluster of infected people outside China -- face several days more of quarantine, with many taking to social media to voice their concerns. IMAGES of Diamond Princess at Yokohama port