BELEAGUERED Holland America Line (HAL) ships Rotterdam and Zaandam (pictured) have been approved for disembarkation at Port Everglades in Florida, after being denied entry to multiple South American countries. Broward County and the Unified Command have granted permission for the two ships to drop off fit passengers, while staff, as...
BELEAGUERED Holland America Line (HAL) ships Rotterdam and Zaandam (pictured) have been approved for disembarkation at Port Everglades in Florida, after being denied entry to multiple South American countries.
Broward County and the Unified Command have granted permission for the two ships to drop off fit passengers, while staff, as well as those who are exhibiting symptoms will remain on board the docked ships.
Among the 808 guests on board Rotterdam, 72 are Australian, while there are 60 Aussies amongst the 442 passengers aboard Zaandam.
233 passengers aboard Zaandam are showing with influenza-like symptoms, and four have died, in addition to 17 ill on Rotterdam; it is not known how many Australians are among those numbers.
“We are so happy to be able to get our guests home and assist those few who need additional medical services,” said Holland America Line President Orlando Ashford, who published an opinion piece for Cruise Weekly on Wed (CW 01 Apr).
“The COVID-19 situation is one of the most urgent tests of our shared humanity, and we must do everything we can to ensure we continue to act in ways consistent with our common human dignity.”
