All 781 passengers, including 10 Australians, have disembarked the MS Westerdam cruise ship in Cambodia after they tested negative for coronavirus (COVID-19).

Key points: The Westerdam was refused entry to several countries due to fears over the coronavirus

The Westerdam was refused entry to several countries due to fears over the coronavirus All 781 passengers, including 10 Australians, have tested negative for the virus

All 781 passengers, including 10 Australians, have tested negative for the virus Hun Sen has used the opportunity to promote Cambodia and his work as PM

They will spend the night in the capitol Phnom Penh before being allowed to fly home.

The 10 Australians on board the ship were told on Tuesday that they would be sent to Thailand once they were declared healthy.

But that was quickly refuted by at least one Thai media outlet, which reported the Thai Government had banned Westerdam passengers from entering the country until at least February 28.

Flights through Thailand would have been the quickest route home for the Australians, who have been stranded in Cambodia due to a Vietnamese travel ban and the fact there are no direct flights between Cambodia and Australia.

While those who wished to fly through Thailand seemed to have their hopes dashed, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said many would fly via the Middle East.

"Today more than 300 tourists will fly from Phnom Penh to Dubai on a [Boeing] 777 aeroplane, I have learned from the ship's crew," Mr Sen said in a speech.

An American passenger, Christina Kerby, who has been in a Phnom Penh hotel and has tested negative, said she is booking flights and has been given physical proof to show authorities she is not infected with coronavirus.

"Holland America let us know today that all of our results are negative, which is great news," Ms Kerby told ABC.

"They're providing us individual health declarations with our results to help us with onward travel. Flights are being booked and some passengers have already left, health declarations in hand.

"My mum's friends were with a group that left this evening, though we haven't heard whether they're being allowed on the flight."

The MS Westerdam docked in the Cambodian port of Sihanoukville, after being turned away by Japan, Taiwan, Guam, the Philippines and Thailand amid fears there would be cases of coronavirus among the passengers.

A small number of Australians remain on the Westerdam cruise ship. ( Supplied: Holland America )

Holland America Line, the ship's operator, had repeatedly said nobody on board had displayed symptoms of the disease, but on Friday evening, news emerged that an 83-year-old American woman had tested positive.

Before that test came to light, more than 140 passengers had already travelled on to other countries. Local health authorities have been asked to help track them down.

The 83-year-old's positive test caused officials to scramble to stop the remaining passengers on the ship from disembarking, while others who had already managed to get off were sent to a hotel in the Cambodian capital for testing.

Cambodian PM seizes opportunity

Hun Sen said if he put himself in danger by allowing the cruise passengers into Cambodia it would be "an appropriate sacrifice for humanity". ( Supplied: The Phnom Penh Post )

Amid concerns Cambodians may be infected or people carrying the virus may transmit it to other countries, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is apparently seeing the situation as a tourism opportunity.

Mr Sen, who has faced scrutiny in recent weeks over the trial of an opposing politician and also the nation's human rights record, has posted a video to his official Facebook page promoting the good he is doing.

Loading

The video, overlayed with subtitles in English, indicates Cambodia was asked by the US embassy to accept the ship as a goodwill gesture before the Prime Minister says the potential health risks to himself are nothing in comparison to helping those on the ship.

"It is not the time for fear and discrimination, but the time we all come together to solve these challenges," the subtitled video indicated Mr Sen said.

"Today if I face danger because of my welcoming of these world citizens of 41 nationalities, it will have been an appropriate sacrifice for humanity."

The comments came in the wake of not only threats of trade sanctions from the European Union late in 2019 but also against the backdrop of the trial of Cambodia's Opposition Leader Kem Sokha on charges of treason.

Loading

The treason charges stem from accusations Mr Sokha was conspiring with the United States to overthrow the Prime Minister.

The case has drawn condemnation from rights groups who say the case is a move by Mr Sen to crush his political rivals.

Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of New York-based Human Rights Watch, said it was unlikely Mr Sokha would receive a fair trial.

"Kem Sokha will be the victim of a staged trial on completely bogus treason charges," Mr Robertson said in January.

Many other opposition figures have gone into exile and have accused the Prime Minister, who has ruled Cambodia for 35 years, of establishing a one-party state.

The ABC contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, but it did not respond to a series of questions seeking information about the Australians in Cambodia who were Westerdam passengers.