Coronavirus and cruises: Holland America ship to disembark in Cambodia after three denials – USA TODAY

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Cambodia came to the rescue of passengers aboard Holland America’s MS Westerdam on Wednesday, granting the ship permission to disembark at Sihanoukville on Thursday. 

“All approvals have been received and we are extremely grateful to the Cambodian authorities for their support,” the line said in a release provided by public relations director Erik Elvejord to USA TODAY. 

Their ship departed Hong Kong Feb. 1 and was originally scheduled to disembark in Shanghai on Saturday before coronavirus gripped mainland China and forced itinerary changes. It was turned away from multiple other disembarkation points, despite the cruise line’s assertion that there are no known cases among MS Westerdam’s 1,455 passengers and 802 crew. 

First, it moved to Yokohama, Japan, only for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to bar the vessel from entering his country. Next, Guam, a U.S. territory, turned it away, rejecting a request from the State Department to let the ship in.

And on Tuesday – one day after Holland America announced it had gotten permission for the ship to disembark at Bangkok’s Laem Chabang port – Thailand’s public health minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, said he issued orders denying the ship permission to disembark there

The Philippines also barred the ship from making a scheduled port call earlier in the sailing. 

Passengers will be able to go ashore when they arrive in Cambodia The ship will remain in port at Sihanoukville for several days post-disembarkation. Guests will make their way home from Sihanoukville over the following few days and then transfer on charter flights to Phnom Penh before continuing on their way home. Holland America will arrange and pay for all flights home. All passengers will receive a full refund and a future cruise credit. 

Source Article from https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2020/02/12/coronavirus-and-cruises-cambodia-allows-holland-america-ship-dock/4728403002/

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