See tweets from a Bay Area woman who has been stranded on the open seas in the photo gallery above.

A Bay Area woman is finally going home after being stuck on a cruise ship that was barred from docking by four countries and the U.S. territory of Guam due to fears over the new coronavirus.

Christina Kerby of Alameda is one of the more than 2,000 passengers on the MS Westerdam, which finally announced Wednesday it can disembark passengers in Cambodia.

Sharing her experience on Twitter of being stranded on the open seas, Kerby has become an unofficial spokesperson for the ship. On Wedneday morning, she tweeted, "Homeward bound! The #Westerdam is headed for Cambodia. We're told by the captain that it may take a few days to get everyone on chartered flights to Phnom Penh and then home. Elated at the prospect of touching land tomorrow. Until then, I’ll work on my towel animals. @HALcruises."

A statement on Holland American Line's website said the Westerdam is sailing to Sihanoukville, Cambodia. The ship arrived Thursday morning local time. It said the cruise will end there and passengers will disembark over several days and transfer via charter flights to Phnom Penh to catch flights home.

MORE: Cruise ship barred by 4 governments set to dock in Cambodia

The spread of the COVID-19, the new pneumonia-like virus that originated in China, has caused a multitude of obstacles for travelers and especially for those on a handful of cruise ships.

While Holland America Line said no cases of the virus have been identified among the passengers and crew on board the MS Westerdam, another cruise ship, the Diamond Princess, has confirmed at least 174 cases of the disease. That ship is quarantined in Yokohama, Japan.

Kerby left behind her husband, two kids (ages 5 and 10) and her job at Blue Shield in San Francisco to travel on the MS Westerdam with her mother.

"My mom is an avid traveler and wanted to do something special with me and my brother, so she booked a month-long voyage," Kerby wrote in an email. "She’s been on the ship since mid-January. My brother did the first leg of the cruise with her, from Singapore to Hong Kong, and then he disembarked in Hong Kong and I got on. He got the better half of the trip!"

Being in limbo on the open seas has been an "emotional roller coaster," Kerby said, and for days passengers and staff didn't know when and where the ship would disembark. But she said the situation isn't dreadful, and that's why she started posting on Twitter.

"There is a ton of fear out there right now about the coronavirus, and understandably so," she said. "My heart goes out to the passengers on the Princess cruise and I would never try to make light of their situation. I just want people to know that we’re OK, the Westerdam is OK, and it’s not as dire as people might think if they only read stories in the news. People need to form their own opinions of the situation and I’m hoping that my tweets will help.

"Also, Holland America has been doing a great job of taking care of the passengers and crew during this stressful time. I know we’ll get home soon."

Kerby said the experience on the Westerdam has been similar to most any cruise — except there aren't any shore excursions and passengers have their temperatures taken to check for the new coronavirus. The Westerdam's last stop since leaving Hong Kong on Feb. 1 was in Koashiung, Taiwan, on Feb. 4. Because no one on the ship has the virus, the passengers have been able to enjoy the ship's amenities, and Kerby has shared her daily activities in amusing messages on Twitter.

"Would type more but am currently in spin class," she wrote in one message.

"Good morning from the #Westerdam , getting set up for poolside yoga class while the rest of us patiently wait for the nacho bar to open," she tweeted in another.

Kerby has been keeping to a routine to stay sane. She starts her days with coffee in her room at 7 a.m., spin class at 9 and after that an omelet at the buffet.

"I’ve been exercising a ton," she said. "The ship offers great fitness classes and workout facilities. Probably not exercising enough to work off all the dessert I’ve been eating, but the sweat and endorphins have helped me feel better."

Her afternoons are filled with activities, like a lecture on the history of Japan or a walk around the deck. Evenings begin with happy hour by the piano bar and then she enjoys dinner with her mom and her moms' friends before taking in a magic show or dance performance. "It’s an easy life — I can see why old people like cruises!" she said.

But she said the best thing about the experience has been the camaraderie and connecting with other passengers and the staff.

"They have incredible stories," Kerby said. "One woman from South Africa who works in the salon told me she just joined the ship 12 days ago in Hong Kong and will be onboard for the next nine months. What a way to start her contract. She was incredibly sweet and positive though. Everyone has been lovely."

Through Twitter, she has also heard from people all over the world who have reached out to offer support and share a laugh. Some have sent her photos of their kids. "The responses have blown me away," she said. "It’s been wild."

She added, "Yes, it’s a stressful situation onboard, but it helps to be human about it."

Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.