News on the Westerdam

[Lunar Dragon]

Dutch news reports the Westerdam has docked!

[kathy49]

1 hour ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

 

In that case, I would restrict my own movements. 

boy that was my response too......if I were these passengers just take me to the airport.

[kathy49]

1 hour ago, BarbarianPaul said:

They’re not going to be chartering planes to a bunch of different countries. They’ll probably be flying them all to Phnom Penh for connections.

correct charter and then scheduled air. Wow what a task for their travel people.

[iancal]

We could never figure out why any scheduled cruise ship itinerary. would select this place as a port stop.

Edited February 13, 2020 by iancal

[GeorgeCharlie]

11 minutes ago, iancal said:

We could never figure out why any scheduled cruise ship itinerary. would select this place as a port stop.

One of the ports for people who wish to visit Angkor Wat.

[bcummin]

Thanks to God for this miraculous blessing.

Safe travels home.

Barbara

[bobpatj]

We haven't docked yet.  Clearance is taking longer than expected.  Our passports were collected again and we filled out a health form.  Some folks are disembarking today, but many of us are still onboard until our flights are made, I assume.

 

[pictonite]

We are indeed packed and ready to do whatever Holland America has planned to get us home.

We have American disease control personnel on board.  I also understand that a Canadian disease control person is waiting for us on land.  As a Canadian, that is nice to know!

I don't think that we will be seeing any movement for passengers until tomorrow.

We still have to dock, and I was told that there are buses at the dock waiting to take passengers to the airport, where there are chartered planes waiting to take us to Phnom Penh for regular flights.

I just would like everyone to know what a privilege it has been to be on board this ship with its phenomenal crew, and a very upbeat majority of passengers.

At our crew farewell show yesterday, the crew were in tears, as were we.

Now ready to complete our journey.

[dado123456]

Google translate from Cambodian media:

http://news.sabay.com.kh/article/1189740

 

"Through a video clip posted on the Sihanoukville Express Pass, HE Kouch Chamroeun suggested to the media that there is no such thing as a stay in Cambodia, they are just passing by at random and our officials will do urgent work. Check in on the ships themselves and document them for continued flights.

 

“By arrangement we do not allow them to stay in Sihanoukville. We will check them on the ship, among those on the ship are not allowed to go at all, he said, but only a few tourists who have already purchased their tickets to continue the flight, so The team will be aboard the ship to prepare them. This is the statement of HE Kouch Chamroeun.

He continued, "Normally, the ship dock is a direct link between the port and the ship, but for the ship, it cannot be done in normal condition because the ship is accidentally docked so the officer will board." Check files directly to facilitate their files. Usually, this is the pilot's job. So to expedite their work, we put medical administration officials on board to prepare them. ”

 

“But it is clear that this arrangement to prepare for their trip has been available for transport from here to the airport and for transport from Sihanoukville International Airport to our destination. Them. Therefore, we would like to clarify that they are not in Cambodia, just passing and flying out of Cambodia, ” HE Kouch Chamroeun told reporters.

[dado123456]

Busses waiting for passengers

Edited February 13, 2020 by dado123456

[dado123456]

More local news (google translate):

 

After the Westerdam ship docked at the port of Sihanoukville, courtesy of Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, February 13, 2020,

Ambassador Eva Nguyen BINH French ambassadors to Cambodia, as well as representatives from the US, Canada, the Netherlands, and Australia, visited the province of Sihanoukville. Its nation is on the cruise ship. According to a senior official told Fresh News this afternoon.

http://www.freshnewsasia.com/index.php/en/localnews/148256-2020-02-13-06-00-25.html

 

(VOVworld) - Twenty tourists on the ship Westerdam, out of more than 2,000 on board, have been confirmed to have minor health problems, such as gastrointestinal and diarrhea, without the symptoms of the coronavirus. 

However, to determine their risk, they were taken to the Institut Pasteur in Phnom Penh by helicopter shortly after noon on 13 February. This 2020.

A senior Sihanoukville official told Fresh News that the ship's manager and health officer, who had visited more than 2,000 tourists and crew members, had shown that there were Only about 20 people with minor health problems, including gastrointestinal problems and diarrhea, were excluded. No coronavirus.

http://www.freshnewsasia.com/index.php/en/localnews/148255-2020-02-13-05-52-28.html

[dado123456]

2 hours ago (google translate):

http://www.freshnewsasia.com/index.php/en/localnews/148272-2020-02-13-08-00-29.html

 

(Sihanoukville) - As of 2 pm on February 13, 2020, authorities and medical professionals have not allowed any of the more than 2,000 tourists and crew from the cruise. The Westerdam giant has yet to wait for a complete medical examination.

Westerdam Cruise Ship Departs for Sihanoukville Port Techo Hun Sen. Allowing the ship to come from Samdech Techo is a sign of the eradication of the dreaded disease that is taking place worldwide.

Preah Sihanouk provincial governor Kuoch Chamroeun said authorities and the Ministry of Health had made clear preventive measures to prevent people from approaching or passengers on the Westerdam cruise ship unless checked by The right medical team.

Authorities in Preah Sihanouk province have put in place clear measures to prevent people from approaching or passengers on the Westerdam cruise ship unless properly checked by a medical team. Sihanouk, provincial governor Koch Chamroeun, told Fresh News.

Kuoch Chamroeun said that planning authorities are sure that we can not protect the tourists on board, the absolute need to protect the team that do this, and here too, as well as journalists from entering Apparently, passengers aboard the ship were not allowed to go free unless paramedics were properly inspected. And then allow them to leave the ship .

If there is any doubt, we will set them aside and take the samples to the Phnom Penh Pasteur Laboratory immediately by helicopter. In addition, even for bus drivers to transport them to the Kangaroo airport, we need to consider monitoring and monitoring them, and for the vehicles that transport them, they have been disinfected - we have a clear plan to avoid them. Something went wrong.

The Prime Minister Hun Sen said in an interview with Fresh News chief executive Lim Chea Vutha that allowing the ship to enter was indicative of the eradication of the dreaded disease in the world. Samdech Techo added: "Cambodia does not have any racial discrimination to participate in humanitarian work while the passengers are in danger."

Samdech Techo Hun Sen stated, “Why decide to allow the ship to dock, if they are closed, as I have said that the real disease is fear, not Corona. That. "This entry represents the eradication of the terrifying disease that is taking place in our world, and in Cambodia no racial discrimination must be involved in humanitarian work in times of emergency . "

Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen added: "We must cooperate with all the people who are on board to rescue, regardless of race, regardless of their ethnic background. Adaptation to other nations. If not, Cambodia also wants to show that Cambodia is not just cooperating with China, but with all nations because it is already a global challenge, and that humanitarian issues are limitless. Also. "We must help them when they ask us for help. We must help them with a sense of responsibility . "

According to a list of passengers received by the Fresh News Agency from the Sihanoukville provincial authority, the Westerdam cruise ship accommodated 41 international tourists, with a maximum of 651 Americans 271 Canadians, 127 British, followed by other nationalities.

After the Westerdam ship docked at the port of Sihanoukville, Eva Nguyen BINH, the French ambassador to Cambodia, as well as representatives of the US, Canada, the Netherlands and Australia, arrived in Preah Sihanouk province. Sihanouk to join forces with the authorities and supervise his nationality on the cruise ship.

It would be highlighted that the President of the Royal Government of Cambodia has granted a US-based Dutch-American yacht to the port of Sihanoukville after the total number of countries and islands. 6 refuses to allow this huge ship to dock for fear of passengers carrying the new coronavirus. The docking permit came after the Westerdam cruise control's assurance that all people aboard the ship did not carry the new Coronavirus or Covid-19.

[Wehwalt]

Since you can't get back to North America on a single flight from Cambodia, I suspect they have gained the agreement of whatever countries passengers will be transiting through.

[puppycanducruise]

🤞  Safe home.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Thank you dado123456 for the latest report.

 

What a journey for the Westerdam passengers.

[DeeniEncinitas]

Safe travels and WELCOME HOME!!!!

Denise😊

[kazu]

4 hours ago, pictonite said:

 

I just would like everyone to know what a privilege it has been to be on board this ship with its phenomenal crew, and a very upbeat majority of passengers.

At our crew farewell show yesterday, the crew were in tears, as were we.

Now ready to complete our journey.

 

What an absolutely lovely post 😄 

Wishing you all safe and smooth travels home.

 

2 hours ago, dado123456 said:

 

 

 

Samdech Techo Hun Sen stated, “Why decide to allow the ship to dock, if they are closed, as I have said that the real disease is fear, not Corona. That. "This entry represents the eradication of the terrifying disease that is taking place in our world, and in Cambodia no racial discrimination must be involved in humanitarian work in times of emergency . "

Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen added: "We must cooperate with all the people who are on board to rescue, regardless of race, regardless of their ethnic background. Adaptation to other nations. If not, Cambodia also wants to show that Cambodia is not just cooperating with China, but with all nations because it is already a global challenge, and that humanitarian issues are limitless. Also. "We must help them when they ask us for help. We must help them with a sense of responsibility . "

 

Thank you for these updates dado.

 

Well said by the Cambodian leaders.  The real disease is the fear.  I applaud them for their humanitarian attitude.

[dado123456]

PHNOM PENH (The Cambodia Herald) - A group of Cambodian-Canadians were found aboard a Westerdam cruise ship when it landed at the port of Sihanoukville on the evening of February 13, 2020. Preah Sihanouk provincial governor Kuoch Chamroeun confirmed to the Fresh News newspaper earlier.

 

 

 

[DiploTraveler]

 

[deliver42]

What great news for a change.

[cat shepard]

Safe travels everyone!

 

And thank you to the crew of the Westerdam, it must have been tough on you all!

[AncientWanderer]

Good news!

 

It's so funny how fake news can get started.  One of the articles quoted upthread said that 20 people with various symptoms were being taken to Louis Pasteur Institute.  I was thinking, "Oh, no.  That would be so scary!"  Then further on down thread the quote said that "samples" were taken by helicopter to Pasteur Institute, which, of course, makes a whole lot more sense!  Of course, their symptoms sound totally unlike coronavirus anyway, so they are just being very diligent. 

 

Anyhow, safe travels to all.  Home will be all the sweeter!  😊

[kstetser]

Safe travels home and thank you for giving us updates. I have been following along and have been so impressed with how you were all treated on board.  I know it wasn't what you set out to do on vacation, but I'm glad the crew did their best to keep everyone safe, comfortable and entertained.  

 

Kathi

[NavArch64]

Our best wishes to all aboard Westerdam for a safe trip home. 

[sue1898]

Posted on the HAL Facebook page 30 minutes ago: 

Westerdam Update: Inspection and clearance procedures are proceeding. Given the number of organizations involved in supporting today’s complex operations, it is taking time. We are grateful to everyone in Cambodia who are helping and welcoming us.