Tag Archives: Virus

Thailand turns Westerdam Away

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The Westerdam, pictured above, has also been turned away by the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan. Its owner Holland America Line says there are no coronavirus cases on-board

Thailand becomes the latest country to turn away Westerdam cruise ship as it bars passengers from disembarking despite no cases of coronavirus on board

The Westerdam, pictured above, has also been turned away by the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan. Its owner Holland America Line says there are no coronavirus cases on-board.

There are more than 43,000 coronavirus cases declared in the world so far and 1,018 deaths
There are more than 43,000 coronavirus cases declared in the world so far and 1,018 deaths

The chief of the Department of Disease Control Suwanchai Wattanayingcharoenchai said Tuesday that the Public Health Ministry had rejected a request from the crew of the MS Westerdam to dock at Laem Chabang in eastern Thailand.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chano-cha confirmed the ban but said Thailand was looking a way to give humanitarian assistance and will be able to provide the ship with necessities such as fuel and food.

The Westerdam began its cruise on January 16 in Singapore. Shipowner Holland America Line says there are no known cases of the virus on board.

Thai Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakulhad indicated on his Facebook page several hours before the official announcement that the ship would be denied entry.

The Westerdam, shown by the yellow ship, is currently rounding the bottom of Vietname and heading towards Thailand

The Westerdam, shown by the yellow ship, is currently rounding the bottom of Vietnam and heading towards Thailand

He posted his declaration after Holland America announced it was sailing to Laem Chabang, where passengers would disembark on February 13 to take flights home from Bangkok. The announcement by the shipowner attracted much attention among Thai social media users.

Holland America had already announced that passengers would receive a complete refund. It said a scheduled departure of the Westerdam on Feb. 15 from Yokohama had been cancelled and planned departures after Feb. 28 were being assessed.

Coronavirus: Holland America Line cuts short Westerdam cruise

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Holland America Line (HAL) has taken the decision to cut short Westerdam’s current cruise due to port restrictions across Asia amid the coronavirus outbreak.

The ship is not in quarantine and the line said it had no reason to believe there are any cases of coronavirus on board.

Passengers will now disembark in Laem Chabang, Thailand, on Thursday rather than in Japanese city Yokohama on Saturday.

All 1,455 passengers on the current sailing will receive a 100% refund, plus 100% future cruise credit.

Complimentary internet and phone access are available for passengers and crew.

More:  Coronavirus: Holland America Line ship barred from Japanese ports

Sixty-six more passengers on Diamond Princess contract coronavirus

The line has cancelled the ship’s 14-day sailing due to depart from Yokohama on February 15.

The line said it is “assessing the impact of current port restrictions in Asia” on cruises departing on February 29 and beyond.

Currently, Westerdam’s roundtrip sailing, departing Yokohama on February 29 is scheduled to go ahead as planned.

Ports of call include Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Okinawa and Ishigaki all in Japan.

A HAL spokesperson said: “We sincerely thank our guests and the crew on Westerdam and their loved ones for their patience during this extraordinary time.

“We are assessing the impact of current port restrictions in Asia on cruises departing February 29 or later. We will communicate details as they become finalised in the next few days.”

Coronavirus: Princess Cruises ship quarantined in Japan

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A Princess Cruises ship has been quarantined in Japan with 2,666 guests and 1,045 crew on board.

It has emerged a passenger who had sailed on Diamond Princess last month was later diagnosed with the virus.

As a precaution, an eight-day cruise due to depart from Yokohama on Tuesday has been cancelled “to help facilitate the health screening and records review process by the local authorities”.

The ship had initially been quarantined until Tuesday evening.

The passenger boarded the ship on January 20 in Yokohama but during a stop in Hong Kong on January 25, he disembarked and was subsequently diagnosed with coronavirus.

The hospital said he is in stable condition and the family members travelling with him remain symptom-free.

Addressing the cancellation, a Princess Cruises spokesperson said: “We fully appreciate this decision will be disappointing but the safety, security and well-being of our guests and crew and the places we visit are our absolute priority.

“All guests will receive a full refund and a 100% future cruise credit.

“We are working with the relevant health authorities to determine the future action required and will provide updates as soon as we have more information.”

Cruise industry body Clia issued an edict on Friday saying that passengers or crew who have travelled from or through mainland China in the previous 14 days would be denied boarding.

Some cruise ships have already cancelled China sailings and altered Asia itineraries, including departures from Shanghai.

Meanwhile, cruise passengers on Seabourn Ovation have been prevented from disembarking by Vietnamese authorities over fears the coronavirus could spread.

The number of deaths from coronavirus in China has risen to 425, with more than 20,000 confirmed cases, according to the latest reports.

At least 150 cases have been reported in other countries, with one fatality in the Philippines. One has also been confirmed in Hong Kong.

A Costa Cruises ship was held in quarantine last week near Rome over fears a Chinese couple had coronavirus, which later turned out to be the common flu.