Cambodia agrees to take cruise ship spurned by five countries
After been turning away from five countries, Cambodia will allow the MS Westerdam to dock and disembark passengers.
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 early Thursday 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 forward travel home," HAL said.
"Holland America Line will arrange and pay for all flights home, in addition to the full cruise refund and 100 per cent 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.
The virus, now renamed Covid-19, has so far killed more than 1,100 people in China and infected more than 300 in 24 other countries.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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