Cruise ship was denied entry into Thailand due to coronavirus fears

A Holland America Line cruise ship on Tuesday was refused entry to Thailand over fears of coronavirus. This is the fifth port to deny the ship to dock despite no cases of the virus having been confirmed on board the ship.

Westerdam is now sailing for Sihanoukville, Cambodia, where the current cruise will end. Ship will arrive at 7:00 a.m. local time on Thursday, Feb. 13 and will remain in port for several days for disembarkation. Guests will be able to go ashore. All approvals have been received.

Guests will disembark in Sihanoukville over the next few days and transfer via charter flights to Phnom Penh for forward travel home. Holland America Line will arrange and pay for all flights home. All guests will receive a 100% refund for the 14-day sailing, as well as a 100% Future Cruise Credit. Complimentary internet and phone access is available for guests and crew to stay in contact with loved ones. 

The ship is not in quarantine and there is no reason to believe there are any cases of coronavirus on board despite media reports. All guests on board are healthy.

Holland America Line has also received a letter from the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment affirming that they have full confidence in all medical reporting and the quality of  medical staff and services on Westerdam. This assessment was done in concert with the Ministry of Health of the Netherlands.

The Feb. 15 cruise currently scheduled to embark in Yokohama has been cancelled. Booked guests and their travel advisors have been notified.

No cancellations for cruises with departure dates beyond February 15 have been announced at this time.