US cruise ship blocked over coronavirus fears to dock in Cambodia

A US cruise ship blocked from several Asian ports over concerns that a passenger could have been infected with new coronavirus arrived off Cambodia Thursday, as frustrated holidaymakers expressed hope that ir ordeal may soon be over.
Westerdam was supposed to be taking its 1,455 passengers on a dream 14-day cruise around East Asia, beginning in Hong Kong on February 1 and disembarking on Saturday in Yokohama, Japan.

But ship was turned away from Japan, Guam, Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand over fears of vel coronavirus epidemic that has killed more than 1,300 people in China.

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Cruise operator Holland America has insisted re are cases of SARS-like virus on board and Cambodia anunced Wednesday ship would be able to dock in Sihaukville, on its sourn coast.

By morning, ship could be seen on horizon off Sihaukville, dwarfing small fishing vessels that usually ply waters.

"First land sighting from #Westerdam as sun rises over Cambodia," passenger Christina Kerby tweeted, ding that passengers would undergo health checks before being able to disembark.

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Cambodian premier Hun Sen is a staunch Chinese ally and has been vocal in his support of Beijing''s handling of epidemic, even going so far as to visit China last week in a show of solidarity.

" permission to dock is to stop disease of fear that is happening around world," he told state-affiliated media website Fresh News on Wednesday.

"We must help m when y asked us for help," he ded. Cambodia, which has one confirmed case of virus, is recipient of billions of dollars in soft loans, infrastructure, and investment from China.

Passenger Stephen Hansen earlier told AFP he was disappointed about Thailand rejecting Westerdam but hoped that he would be able to disembark in Cambodia.

"Running out of countries to try!" he said.

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(Im source: AP)