The Trump administration has been called “instrumental” in getting Holland America Line’s ship Westerdam into Cambodia after it was denied entry into four ports.

According to the cruise line, president Trump, his state department and national security teams worked closely with Cambodian officials to get the ship into port.

Holland America Group and Carnival UK group CEO, Stein Kruse, said: “We extend our deepest gratitude to president Trump, Cambodia’s honourable prime minister Hun Sen, Canadian Foreign minister Champagne, elected officials across the country and governments around the world for providing support and being effective allies in bringing our guests home.

“We are pleased with the successful resolution of this challenging journey that was complicated by unfounded fears stemming from erroneous information with respect to the medical condition of Westerdam’s guests and crew.

“This has all been a terrible and unfortunate misunderstanding that has impacted 2,257 people on board and hundreds of other shoreside who have worked 24/7 to get our guests home.

“We also would like to extend our sincerest thanks to all of Westerdam’s guests, crew and their loved ones for their patience, support and positive attitude during this two-week ordeal. Our corporate teams around the world who worked tirelessly deserve recognition as well.”

It said that “out of an abundance of caution” 20 guests and crew who visited the medical centre during the cruise were screened for coronavirus. All results came back negative.

Westerdam departed Hong Kong, China, 1 February, on a 14-day cruise and was originally scheduled to call at ports in the Philippines, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, but was denied entry following the outbreak coronavirus in mainland China.

Despite not having any known cases of coronavirus on board, Westerdam was denied entry to several countries to end the cruise and allow guests to return home. Separately, it was not able to call at Manila, the Philippines, on 3 February due to a new policy prohibiting any ship with guests that had passed through China, Macau or Hong Kong in the prior 14 days.

Guests will now disembark in Sihanoukville, Cambodia over the next few days and transfer via charter flights to Phnom Penh for forward travel home. Holland America Line is arranging and paying for all flights and guests have received a full refund of their cruise fare as well as a 100 per cent future cruise credit.

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