News on the Westerdam

[YYC F/A]

ms Westerdam will be escorted to a military base near Laem Chabang to allow for refuelling and re-provisioning of the vessel only, and while negotiations between authorities including Canada, US, Netherlands and WHO continue with Thailand. This has been announced onboard to all guests and the ship is expected to arrive at the base tomorrow morning. 

[Alphen]

Westerdam currently escorted by the Royal Thai Navy frigate HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej.

 

 

[dado123456]

Just seen it on Vessrl Finder, she is less than 100 miles from Laem Chabang port.

Less than 10 hour trip

[MAVIP]

30 minutes ago, Alphen said:

Westerdam currently escorted by the Royal Thai Navy frigate HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej.

 

 

That's what I just concluded when I checked vesselfinder. Missed the messages above. Dank u.

Edited February 12, 2020 by MAVIP

[Krazy Kruizers]

37 minutes ago, YYC F/A said:

ms Westerdam will be escorted to a military base near Laem Chabang to allow for refuelling and re-provisioning of the vessel only, and while negotiations between authorities including Canada, US, Netherlands and WHO continue with Thailand. This has been announced onboard to all guests and the ship is expected to arrive at the base tomorrow morning. 

 

Thank you for this information.

[Stateroom_Sailor]

Let's hope that no one on Westerdam is sick.  This was just posted on the Diamond Princess thread:

 

"Update: John has been up and down with a fever for two days and is nauseated . We have seen two sets of doctors. He has not been swabbed yet. He has developed a rash on one side on his back. Doctors have looked at it. His symptoms are like a heavy case of the flu . He gets hot then he gets the chills. I still am doing the cold packs on him for fever and keeping him comfortable as possible. The language barrier with the doctors is hard. He is taking a fever reducer. He is not allowed outside with a fever. We are hearing that they are going to test everyone on the ship. I do not have a fever..." 

[Alphen]

Latest official statement from HAL;

 

Westerdam Update: Westerdam is now sailing for Sihanoukville, Cambodia, where the current cruise will end. We 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 and we are extremely grateful to the Cambodian authorities for their support.

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, in addition to the full cruise refund and 100% future cruise credit already communicated.

All guests on board are healthy and despite erroneous reports there are no known or suspected cases of coronavirus on board, nor have their ever been.

The latest information will continue to be posted under the News & Travel Advisory section of hollandamerica.com.

 

 

 

Looks like at last, there is a good ending to this story, for crew and guests!

Edited February 12, 2020 by Alphen

[Just_Westy]

14 minutes ago, Alphen said:

Latest official statement from HAL;

 

Westerdam Update: Westerdam is now sailing for Sihanoukville, Cambodia,

 

 

 

Looks like at last, there is a good ending to this story, for crew and guests!

 

So what happens when some passengers returns a positive for Covid19 ?

[puppycanducruise]

21 minutes ago, Alphen said:

Latest official statement from HAL;

 

Westerdam Update: Westerdam is now sailing for Sihanoukville, Cambodia, where the current cruise will end. We 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 and we are extremely grateful to the Cambodian authorities for their support.

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, in addition to the full cruise refund and 100% future cruise credit already communicated.

All guests on board are healthy and despite erroneous reports there are no known or suspected cases of coronavirus on board, nor have their ever been.

The latest information will continue to be posted under the News & Travel Advisory section of hollandamerica.com.

 

 

 

Looks like at last, there is a good ending to this story, for crew and guests!

 

Thanks for sharing the info.  I hope that works out and they will be able to disembark.

Safe travels everyone.

[YYC F/A]

5 minutes ago, Just_Westy said:

 

So what happens when some passengers returns a positive for Covid19 ?

 

Given the ship has been in defacto quarantine seeing as she's been out at sea for 12 days now with no stops, no new passengers boarding, no one getting sick - I think given they've almost done the 14-day quarantine period, that this possibility is remote.  HAL is temperature checking guests onboard, and no fevers, no flu-like symptoms have been reported, and further checks will be done once again once they are anchored off-shore before they are permitted to pull alongside and finally disembark.

 

Kudos to the Westerdam crew in this challenging time, as well as - for the most part - the great spirit of the guests aboard.

[Alphen]

7 minutes ago, Just_Westy said:

 

So what happens when some passengers returns a positive for Covid19 ?

I won't say it will not happen, but currently the WHO still advises: Current estimates of the incubation period range from 1-12.5 days with median estimates of 5-6 days. So they should be past or on that period. 

[Wehwalt]

I disembarked in Sihanoukville so as to join a land tour once. There's not a lot at the port. Nothing, really. HAL mentioned logistics in one of the earlier posts. That must be what they meant.

Edited February 12, 2020 by Wehwalt

[Lunar Dragon]

I am so happy for passengers and crew that this situation is resolved!

 

[Floridiana]

I followed the link and it still says Thailand.

[Cruising Is Bliss]

HOLLAND AMERICA

https://www.facebook.com/HALCruises/

Approx 4am PST 12 Feb 2020

 

"Westerdam Update: Westerdam is now sailing for Sihanoukville, Cambodia, where the current cruise will end. We 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 and we are extremely grateful to the Cambodian authorities for their support.

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, in addition to the full cruise refund and 100% future cruise credit already communicated.

All guests on board are healthy and despite erroneous reports there are no known or suspected cases of coronavirus on board, nor have their ever been."

Edited February 12, 2020 by Cruising Is Bliss

[Floridiana]

Thank you Cruising is Bliss. They obviously updated FB faster than their website. I am glad they found a port. I wonder if we will have Cambodian hotel crew in the future in addition to the other nationalities. If I remember correctly from other posts, Sihanoukville has a hotel school.

[CJcruzer]

53 minutes ago, Floridiana said:

I followed the link and it still says Thailand.

 

try this link, it seems to be updated before the other link

 

https://www.hollandamerica.com/blog/ships/ms-westerdam/statement-regarding-westerdam-in-japan/?source=122648

[MAVIP]

33 minutes ago, Floridiana said:

I wonder if we will have Cambodian hotel crew in the future in addition to the other nationalities. If I remember correctly from other posts, Sihanoukville has a hotel school.

 Might be your suggestion is correct. And for this moment I forget the question that followed.

 

[MAVIP]

4 hours ago, Alphen said:

Westerdam currently escorted by the Royal Thai Navy frigate HTMS Bhumibol Adulyadej.

@AlphenWhy would this frigate follow the Westerdam? 

 

 

[iancal]

I do not think that anything is for certain until the ship docks, passengers are  disembarked, and onward travel commenced.

 

My guess is that the Thai navy will escort the Westerdam while it is in Thai waters.

Edited February 12, 2020 by iancal

[Alphen]

2 minutes ago, MAVIP said:

 

I do not think there is a real deep thought behind this. As Thailand refused entry to the Westerdam, as a country you would like it to be known you mean what you say. In this way having a navy ship looking after you, is just showing that a country is looking after its territorial waters and interests.

[lizinvan]

Yes, there is a hotel training school in Sihanoukville. It is called Don Bosco. They are tried to provide hospitality industry training for young people.  We did a private tour off the Volendam Dec 2017 with some of their graduates which included a tour of the school and a stop at a local elementary school to deliver school supplies.

[GeorgeCharlie]

38 minutes ago, Alphen said:

I do not think there is a real deep thought behind this. As Thailand refused entry to the Westerdam, as a country you would like it to be known you mean what you say. In this way having a navy ship looking after you, is just showing that a country is looking after its territorial waters and interests.

 

I was not aware Thailand had refused entry to the Westerdam.

 

According to the following article, Westerdam has yet to request entry to Thailand and that, prior to allowing the Westerdam to dock, Thailand is willing to help the people on board, including providing medical staff to check WHO's confirmation that there are no passengers ill with Covid-19.

 

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1855984/cruise-ship-has-not-applied-to-enter-thailand

 

Of course it's all moot now, as it appears Cambodia is willing to accept WHO's report.

Edited February 12, 2020 by GeorgeCharlie

[3rdGenCunarder]

1 hour ago, iancal said:

I do not think that anything is for certain until the ship docks, passengers are  disembarked, and onward travel commenced.

 

My guess is that the Thai navy will escort the Westerdam while it is in Thai waters.

 

And because Westy is going to a naval station, not a commercial dock. Oops, I'm losing track of which country is accepting Westy.

 

41 minutes ago, GeorgeCharlie said:

 

I was not aware Thailand had refused entry to the Westerdam.

 

According to the following article, Westerdam has yet to request entry to Thailand and that, prior to allowing the Westerdam to dock, Thailand is willing to help the people on board, including providing medical staff to check WHO's confirmation that there are no passengers ill with Covid-19.

 

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/1855984/cruise-ship-has-not-applied-to-enter-thailand

 

Of course it's all moot now, as it appears Cambodia is willing to accept WHO's report.

 

I'm having a hard time believing this article. HAL was quiet about where they were going, saying only they had 2 possibilities. Then they announced Thailand. After all the changes they went through with previous ports, I can't believe they hadn't asked and been granted permission before the health minister said no. This is the marine authority saying THEY hadn't been asked.  Maybe someone else in the government said "yes" without having the authority to do so, but I don't believe that HAL hadn't asked SOMEONE in the government. 

 

Edited February 12, 2020 by 3rdGenCunarder

[BarbarianPaul]

I think Sihanoukville is probably about the worst possible place to debark, and, as we were told during the port talk prior to our visit on HA, is consistently ranked at the bottom of passenger ratings. The reviews are far from kind. 

 

That said, at least everyone is getting off! Interesting that it will take several days. Maybe that has something to do with the availability of charter planes. Considering that almost half the people have already been there on the previous cruise, I doubt if many folks are going to be happily exploring the place. I wonder how they’re going to prioritize who debarks first.