After 13 days at sea and refusal by 5 ports, passengers aboard the Westerdam cruise ship are slated to disembark in Cambodia

(Source Business Insider)

Passengers aboard the Westerdam luxury liner received good news on Wednesday: They will be able to disembark in Cambodia. Panic about the coronavirus prompted five ports to turn away the luxury liner even though no one aboard the Westerdam tested positive for the illness.

Starting Thursday morning, the Westerdam will spend a few days at the port in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Guests will be able to go ashore and take charter flights to the capital city of Phnom Penh, where they can fly home from.

People “are elated that we have a destination” and appreciate that Holland America Line, the ship’s operator, is arranging and paying for everyone’s travel, passenger Christina Kerby told Insider.

The Westerdam on Wednesday set sail for Cambodia, where its passengers will be able to disembark after panic about the coronavirus prompted five ports to turn away the luxury line. The cruise began in Hong Kong on February 1 and will end on Thursday morning in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, the ship’s operator, Holland America Line, said in a statement to Insider. “All approvals have been received and we are extremely grateful to the Cambodian authorities for their support,” the statement said.