MS Westerdam left Hong Kong on February 1 and was to enter a number of ports for two weeks. But the dream vacation for the passengers instead became isolation and an endless cruise without being able to add. After a Japanese cruise ship was quarantined with more than 200 corona cases on board, fears grew in ports around Asia.

Although no corona falls were found on MS Westerdam, the ship was denied entry into ports in Thailand, Taiwan, Guam, the Philippines and Japan. Concerns grew on board.

"There were so many times we thought we would have to go home just to be rejected at the last minute," passenger Angela Jones told Reuters news agency.

Finally, the cruise ship was allowed to touch the port of Sihanoukville in Cambodia after direct approval by the country's prime minister. Healthcare personnel tested some feverish passengers on board, but none were infected with coronavirus and on Friday morning the passengers were allowed to leave the ship for further transport to their home countries.

Some passengers were seen kneeling with relief as they landed.

- It is wonderful to be here, says passenger Anna Marie Melon.

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