More than 400 crew members of the Diamond Princess were all smiles during the simple send-off ceremony last March 11, at the Athletes’ Village in the New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac, to mark the end of the 14-day quarantine period mandated by the Philippine government.  

Some were ferried by bus to Clark International Airport (CIA) where domestic flights brought them to their home provinces. Others, who live in or around Metro Manila, were brought to Manila by chartered buses and reunited with waiting families. A number of crew members were picked up by their loved ones from the Village itself. 

Despite the strain of having spent more than a month in quarantine in Tarlac and on board their ship while docked at Yokohoma, Japan, the seafarers persevered and are now home with their families and loved ones.