MS Westerdam with 2,000 on board has been blocked from docking in Japan over coronavirus travel issues
We
know our guests have questions and concerns around Coronavirus and
travel. To ensure you have the latest information, this page will be
updated as needed with new details.
As of Feb. 7, 2020 (04:14 PM PST)
Westerdam is currently sailing on a southwesterly course off the coast of Taiwan to best position the ship for access to the potential port locations where we can disembark our guests. We are evaluating several options and working with different governments for a swift resolution.
Guests on board continue to be safe and well cared for. The ship has sufficient fuel and food provisions to last until the end of the voyage. We are providing free internet and phone access for guests and crew to stay in contact with their loved ones.
The ship is not in quarantine and we have no reason to believe there are any cases of coronavirus on board despite media reports.
This is a very dynamic situation as we continue to manage around evolving and changing restrictions in the region. We sincerely thank our guests and crew on Westerdam — and their loved ones — for their patience during this extraordinary time.
The Feb. 15 cruise currently scheduled to embark in Yokohama has been cancelled. Booked guests and their travel advisors will be notified with further details.
No cancellations for cruises with departure dates beyond Feb. 15 have been announced at this time. However, we are assessing the impact of current port restrictions in Asia on cruises departing Feb. 29 or later. We will communicate details as they become finalized.
Guests on impacted cruises or their travel advisors may call the appropriate office with questions at:
Seattle Office (USD/CAD currency):
1-800-577-1729 or 206-626-7385
Monday – Friday, 7:00am – 5:00pm PT
Rotterdam Office (EUR currency):
00800 1873 1873
Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 6:00pm
Southampton Office (GBP currency):
0344 338 8605. Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 6:00pm
Sydney Office (AUD currency):
1300 987 321
Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 7:00pm
For family members of guests currently on board Westerdam with questions may call:
1-877-425-2231
1-206-626-7398
Measures we are implementing include:
As of Feb. 7, 2020 (04:14 PM PST)
Westerdam is currently sailing on a southwesterly course off the coast of Taiwan to best position the ship for access to the potential port locations where we can disembark our guests. We are evaluating several options and working with different governments for a swift resolution.
Guests on board continue to be safe and well cared for. The ship has sufficient fuel and food provisions to last until the end of the voyage. We are providing free internet and phone access for guests and crew to stay in contact with their loved ones.
The ship is not in quarantine and we have no reason to believe there are any cases of coronavirus on board despite media reports.
This is a very dynamic situation as we continue to manage around evolving and changing restrictions in the region. We sincerely thank our guests and crew on Westerdam — and their loved ones — for their patience during this extraordinary time.
The Feb. 15 cruise currently scheduled to embark in Yokohama has been cancelled. Booked guests and their travel advisors will be notified with further details.
No cancellations for cruises with departure dates beyond Feb. 15 have been announced at this time. However, we are assessing the impact of current port restrictions in Asia on cruises departing Feb. 29 or later. We will communicate details as they become finalized.
Guests on impacted cruises or their travel advisors may call the appropriate office with questions at:
Seattle Office (USD/CAD currency):
1-800-577-1729 or 206-626-7385
Monday – Friday, 7:00am – 5:00pm PT
Rotterdam Office (EUR currency):
00800 1873 1873
Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 6:00pm
Southampton Office (GBP currency):
0344 338 8605. Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 6:00pm
Sydney Office (AUD currency):
1300 987 321
Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 7:00pm
For family members of guests currently on board Westerdam with questions may call:
1-877-425-2231
1-206-626-7398
WHAT WE ARE DOING TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF OUR GUESTS
We are closely monitoring the evolving situation with respect to coronavirus that originated in mainland China and our medical experts are coordinating closely with global health authorities to implement enhanced screening, prevention and control measures for our ships globally.Measures we are implementing include:
- Guests who have traveled from or through mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau, or had contact with a suspected or confirmed case of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) or a person who is under monitoring for coronavirus in the last 14 days prior to sailing will not be permitted to board the ship.
- Pre-Boarding medical evaluations, including temperature checks, for persons whom, for any reason, appear or identify as symptomatic (respiratory or fever symptoms); and
- For all guests, our standard pre-boarding health reporting advising of their reporting obligations for any illness or symptoms of an illness.
- Medical screening for Coronavirus on all guests who visit our onboard Medical Center with symptoms of any respiratory illness.
- Reporting to local and national health authorities of all cases of fever and respiratory illness, and any patients with suspected Coronavirus infection.
- Crew members from mainland China will be delayed from joining any ship until further notice. Crew members from other regions of the world who may have been scheduled to connect on flights through China have been rerouted.
- Additional environmental disinfection onboard will be performed in addition to our regular stringent cleaning and sanitation protocols. The above is subject to change at any time based on the interests of health and safety of our guests and crew as well as any other requirements that may be imposed by local authorities.
Also, please refer to our Guest Health Advisory Letter (PDF).
Coronavirus information can be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
U.S. CDC Travel Warning for China, Level 3, Avoid Non-Essential Travel https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/warning/novel-coronavirus-china
U.S. CDC Travel Advisory for Hong Kong, Level 1, Practice Usual Precautions https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/hong-kong-sar
Last update 6:18 PM PST 02-07-2020
https://www.hollandamerica.com/blog/ships/ms-westerdam/statement-regarding-westerdam-in-japan/
No comments:
Post a Comment