After being turned away from five countries, the MS Westerdamis to be allowed to dock in Cambodia. The Holland America Line ship has been on a virtual ‘cruise to nowhere’ for days as it was turned away from Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Guam, and the Philippines.
HAL says there are no sick passengers aboard and no evidence of coronavirus.
Westerdam, which is carrying 1,455 passengers, will dock at Sihanoukville today and stay in port for several days.
“Guests will disembark in Sihanoukville over the next few days and transfer via charter flights to Phnom Penh for forwarding travel home,” HAL said.
“Holland America Line will arrange and pay for all flights home, in addition to the full cruise refund and 100 percent future cruise credit already communicated.”
It has been a frustrating time for passengers although shipboard life has continued as normal with no restrictions on gatherings on the ship.
US Ambassador to Cambodia W. Patrick Murphy confirmed that an embassy team was dispatched to work with the ship’s representatives and Cambodian officials to help Americans on board disembark and transfer to other destinations.
The virus, now renamed Covid-19, has so far killed more than 1,100 people in China and infected more than 60,000 in 24 other countries.
