Two Villagers remain on a cruise ship in Cambodia after a Coronavirus scare has marooned them during a journey filled with uncertainty.
Meg Moretsky and Joan Bernbach of the Village of Liberty Park were among the more than 1,000 passengers on the MS Westerdam, a ship from the Holland America line that was finally allowed to dock in Cambodia after being denied entry in five other countries.
The Villagers are among the remaining 233 passengers still on board and not allowed to now leave the ship.
“We did undergo medical testing last night along with the other remaining passengers. The crew are being tested this morning. Once the swan samples are tested in an off site lab, we may get to leave if we have negative results. Fingers crossed,” Moretsky said in an email to Villages-News.com.
“We hope to get home someday, but it’s a waiting game now,” Moretsky added.
Once the ship docked in Cambodia, Prime Minister Hun Sen greeted the disembarking passengers with flowers and kisses.
Moretsky and Bernbach were able to take photos of the prime minister’s helicopter as it approached and landed.
“Although Cambodia is a poor country, Cambodia has always joined the international community to solve the problems that the world and our region are facing,” the prime minister said.
The cheering cruise ships passengers were elated to step off onto land. Many reportedly planned to stay in the area and do some sightseeing.
Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines and Guam barred the MS Westerdam from docking.
According to Holland America Line, an 83-year-old American woman who departed from Westerdam later reported feeling ill at the airport in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and tested positive for coronavirus. The passenger is in stable condition at a hospital in Malaysia, according to a release from the cruise line.
