Holland America Westerdam Guests Disembark After Negative Coronavirus Tests

Holland America Line, along with the Cambodia Ministry of Health, have confirmed that the remaining 781 guests onboard Westerdam have all tested negative for coronavirus.

The guests, who have been onboard since the ship departed Hong Kong on Feb. 1, can now begin their return home from Cambodia, with Holland America helping with the travel arrangements. The remaining 747 crew members onboard will now be tested over the next few days.

Holland America has a full team, including President Orlando Ashford, on the ground in both Sihanoukville, where the ship is docked, and Phnom Penh, where the tests are being performed, to assist its guests and crew.

“Holland America Line sincerely thanks Cambodia’s Honorable Prime Minister Hun, the Cambodian Ministry of Health and all those in Cambodia who have worked so hard to assist our guests in getting home,” the line said in a statement.

“Our sincere gratitude also goes to the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia for all of its hard work and support. We also appreciate the several other embassies from other nations that provided their vital assistance and our flag state of the Netherlands for its many efforts.”

One guest did test positive for coronavirus last weekend.  An 83-year-old woman, making her way back to the U.S. through Malaysia with other passengers, was discovered to have “symptoms” during screenings at the airport during her return trip home. After further tests, the woman tested positive for coronavirus while her 85-year-old husband tested negative.  

According to Holland America, that woman is in stable condition at a local hospital in Malaysia.