More than three years after its last visit drew the attention of the world’s media, the cruise liner MS Westerdam returned to Cambodia on the morning of December 28.

In February 2020, the vessel was refused permission to dock by several countries in the region, due to fear of Covid-19.

Former Prime Minister Hun Sen welcomed the liner on Valentine’s Day 2020, even greeting the passengers personally with bouquets of roses. The gesture prompted global media to refer to the Kingdom as “a small country with a big heart”.

The return of the vessel rekindled memories of the uncertainty that plagued the world at the onset of the pandemic, and of Cambodia’s commitment to providing humanitarian assistance to “whoever it can, wherever it can”.

Arriving in Sihanoukville Autonomous Port on the morning of December 28, the Westerdam carried around 2,000 passengers.

Prime Minister Hun Manet took to social media to welcome the return of the large, Dutch-flagged passenger ship.

“Cambodia, ‘a small country with a big heart’, cared for the lives of the more than 2,200 passengers who were adrift on the ocean and let it dock in Cambodian territory. We welcomed them with warm Khmer hospitality, and arranged for them to return home to their families,” he said.

“The return of the ship is a reminder of the unselfishness of Cambodia, as well as a reflection of the Kingdom’s humanitarian heart, which allowed us to overcome fear in order to save lives. The return of the vessel is testament to former Prime Minister Hun Sen’s commitment to take practical action to help people, regardless of the risk,” he added.

The liner’s passengers spent the day enjoying the many attractions of Preah Sihanouk province, with some set to depart on the vessel, and others planning to extend their stays. They will take in some of the Kingdom’s world-famous cultural and historical marvels, including the wonders of Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap province.

Minister of Tourism Sok Soken was on hand to welcome the passengers at the port, declaring the return of the vessel a “historic” event. He said the passengers, crew and captain of the liner expressed their joy at arriving in Cambodia, with many of them sharing fond recollections of their life-saving visit in 2020.

 “Today, we witness the return of the MS Westerdam, along with the 1991 people on board. Its arrival is a positive indicator for the cruise ship industry, and we expect to see more liners docking in Cambodia,” he said.

The minister said Cambodia is planning to build more of the infrastructure needed to attract greater numbers of cruise passengers. The ministry is working with the private sector to ensure that the expectations of international guests are met – and exceeded.

Many of the vessel’s passengers expressed their gratitude for the warm welcomes offered by Cambodian officials as they arrived in the Kingdom.

One of the new arrivals – a woman from the US – explained that even though it was her first time in Cambodia, she already felt like it was one of her favourite places to visit.

Another passenger, from Austria, said he first visited the Kingdom 11 years ago. He expressed his astonishment at the rapid development and progress that had taken place since his last trip here, but noted that it remained a fascinating place to visit.

Vincent Smit, who was captain of the Westerdam during the historic docking in 2020, sent a personal letter of thanks to former Prime Minister Hun Sen for allowing his ship to dock at Sihanoukville, when so many other nations had turned the vessel away.

“We were denied access by many, many ports, except for Cambodian. At that time, the government of Cambodia welcomed us warmly, and allowed us to send our passengers back to their home countries,” said the letter.