Coronavirus: Cruise ship ‘sailing to nowhere’ after being shut out of ports over health fears
The liner’s disembarkation point in Thailand is now under threat
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Your support makes all the difference.A cruise ship has been sailing around Asia for almost two weeks after being shut out of four countries due to coronavirus fears.
Holland America Line’s Westerdam ship left Hong Kong on 1 February on a 14-day cruise around Taiwan and Japan.
However, due to travel restrictions implemented by governments to try to halt the spread of the deadly virus that has killed over 1,000 and sickened thousands more, the cruise ship was forced to cancel her planned stops as she found herself shut out of ports across Asia.
Alongside planned stops in Taiwan and Japan, the Westerdam was also shut out of the Philippines and Guam.
The liner is now planning to finish its journey in Laem Chabang, Thailand, near Bangkok, on 13 February – although the country’s health minister Anutin Charnvirakul posted a short message on Facebook indicating that the ship would be denied docking in Thailand.
The cruise company said that it was “aware of the reports regarding the status of Westerdam’s call to Laem Chabang (Bangkok), Thailand”.
It added: “We are actively working this matter & will provide an update when able.”
The ship was originally scheduled to end her journey in Yokohama, Japan, on 15 February, following calls to Japanese destinations including Fukuoka and Okinawa.
The liner, which has 1,455 guests and 802 crew onboard, has enough fuel and food to last until the end of its planned voyage, Holland America Line said in a statement. The ship is not in quarantine and there are no cases of coronavirus onboard, it added.
Several passengers have been tweeting their experiences onboard.
Stephen Hansen said: “My wife and I are passengers on the Holland America ship Westerdam in Asia that has now been rejected by several ports due to the Corona virus. A similar ship has been quarantined for 14 days in Yokohama, our final port.
“Not sure how or when but it will be good to get home.”
Passenger AJ said: “We are still sailing to nowhere.”
Guests will receive a full refund as well as cruise credit.
The plight of Westerdam comes amid a growing concern for the spread of coronavirus onboard cruise ships around Asia.
Many cruise firms – including Holland America Line – have implemented stringent restrictions for passengers amid the outbreak, including banning passengers who have travelled from mainland China and enforcing temperature checks.
Thousands of passengers are currently quarantined onboard the Diamond Princess ship, which is currently off the coast of Yokohama, Japan. More than 130 people onboard have tested positive for coronavirus so far.
Meanwhile, Genting’s World Dream ship was also quarantined last week in Hong Kong, while guests were tested for coronavirus.
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