Japan turns away cruises

Japan’s government is not allowing Holland America Line’s Westerdam to call at Japanese ports over concerns about coronavirus.

‘The ship is not in quarantine and there are no known cases of coronavirus on board,’ HAL said in a statement.

Westerdam is on a 14-day Taiwan and Japan cruise that departed Hong Kong Feb. 1. The ship was set to call at Ishigaki Island, Naha, Okinawa, Nagasaki and Fukuoka before its scheduled turn in Yokohama on Feb. 15. HAL said it is quickly working to develop alternative plans.

Feb. 15 cruise canceled

Westerdam’s Feb. 15 cruise from Yokohama, also 14 days, has been canceled. Booked passengers are being notified.

For now, HAL has not changed Westerdam sailings scheduled after Feb. 15 but said it would notify booked passengers and their travel advisors as soon as information is available.

There are 1,455 passengers and 802 crew on board, of which 687 passengers were continuing on the Feb. 1 sailing from the previous voyage.