He was barely breathing and so sick that he was put on a ventilator two days after he arrived as medical staff worked frantically to save his life.

"It's horrible to see him lying there, it was terrible with all the medical equipment around him," she said.

"They told me he's got a fifty-fifty chance at surviving.

"I was terrified and my kids were in Sydney."

Her partner, Jayson O'Brien, had spent a lifetime singing, playing instruments and entertaining, but now he was fighting for every single breath.

Earlier this year Ms Smith and Mr O'Brien, who have been in love for more than 30 years, embarked on the trip of a lifetime and they'd brought seven other family members along.

The tight-knit family were among 2700 people on board the Ruby Princess for an 11-day trip to New Zealand.

The couple and Ms Smith's two adult children were among 663 passengers on board who contracted COVID-19.

Of those who contracted the virus 28 people died and Ms Smith had grave fears her partner would be next.

The couple both tested positive to COVID-19 days after they arrived home from the cruise and immediately went into self-isolation.

Mr O'Brien vividly remembers the day he was taken to hospital.

"We self-isolated for 15 days and there were no symptoms, except we were tired and my taste of food went off," he said.

"On day 16 she called the ambulance and that's the last thing I remember."

Infected with the virus herself, Ms Smith was not allowed to see her partner as he laid there fighting for life.

The closest she got was on day 11 of his hospital stay.

"After they took the ventilator out I was allowed to sit at the window and watch him," she said.

"When I saw him after they took it out I knew he'd be OK, he's strong."

These days Mr O'Brien is fighting fit with no ill-effects from the virus and the couple are back to entertaining aged care residents with singing and music.