MV Hondius, the Oceanwide Expeditions cruise ship linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak, is scheduled to resume passenger operations on June 13, 34 days after passengers and crew who were on board during the outbreak disembarked in Tenerife, Spain.
The company canceled two earlier voyages, scheduled for May 29 and June 5, to allow for an in-depth cleaning and disinfection process after the ship docked in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on May 18. Oceanwide said all sailings from June 13 onward will proceed as scheduled, with the next voyage departing from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, for North Spitsbergen.
Local health officials in Rotterdam later advised additional cleaning before the vessel could leave Rotterdam for Vlissingen, where Oceanwide Expeditions has its headquarters. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 13 cases linked to the ship, including 11 laboratory-confirmed cases and two probable cases. The agency also reported three deaths and said all cases involved passengers or crew who traveled aboard MV Hondius.
What Happened Before MV Hondius’ Return To Service
Oceanwide Expeditions said MV Hondius arrived in Rotterdam after the outbreak disrupted the ship’s itinerary and prompted public health measures for passengers and crew. At that stage, the company said 20 crew members and two RIVM medical staff disembarked into a specialized quarantine facility, while five crew members remained on board. Oceanwide selected EWS Group to carry out extended cleaning and disinfection of the vessel, with the process coordinated alongside Dutch health authorities.
The ship’s planned move from Rotterdam to Vlissingen was later delayed after GGD Rotterdam advised additional cleaning procedures. Oceanwide said the added work was intended to ensure the vessel could return to service safely before departing Rotterdam. The health department was expected to conduct a final inspection after the additional cleaning. Oceanwide said all voyages from June 13 onward would proceed as scheduled and that it did not expect further disruption to the sailing calendar.
The WHO said it received notification on May 2 about a cluster of severe acute respiratory illness aboard the Netherlands-flagged MV Hondius. Additionally, they stated the working hypothesis is that the first case acquired the infection before boarding the cruise through exposure on land. The agency added that current evidence suggests later human-to-human transmission occurred aboard the ship, supported by preliminary genetic analysis showing near-identical sequences from different cases.
The CDC states that hantaviruses can cause serious illness and death. People usually get hantavirus through contact with infected rodents, especially exposure to their urine, droppings, and saliva. The CDC says person-to-person spread has been reported only with the Andes virus. Symptoms of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome can begin 1 to 8 weeks after exposure and may include fatigue, fever, muscle aches, coughing, and shortness of breath.
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