Hantavirus-Hit Cruise Ship Hondius Docks in Rotterdam for Disinfection, Set to Resume Operations in June

The MV Hondius cruise ship docked in Rotterdam on May 18, 2026 for disinfection following a deadly hantavirus outbreak that caused up to 11 infections and 3 deaths during its voyage. The ship departed Ushuaia, Argentina on April 1, 2026 carrying almost 150 people on a seven-week, 8,500-mile polar expedition. The vessel is scheduled to resume operations in June 2026 after public health inspection and cleaning protocols are completed.

Hantavirus outbreak details

• ▪Three deaths from hantavirus occurred on the MV Hondius cruise ship.
• ▪The hantavirus strain on the MV Hondius was a communicable strain primarily spread by rodents.
• ▪The MV Hondius cruise ship experienced up to 11 hantavirus infections during its voyage.
• ▪A German man died at sea on the MV Hondius and his body remained on the ship.

Rotterdam docking procedures

• ▪The MV Hondius arrived in Rotterdam for disinfection following the hantavirus outbreak.
• ▪The MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak put authorities across the world on alert.
• ▪The MV Hondius docked in Rotterdam on May 18, 2026 just after 4:30 a.m. ET.
• ▪The MV Hondius is set to resume operations in June 2026.

Crew disembarkation schedule

• ▪Captain Jan Dobrogowski and 26 crew members remained on board the MV Hondius when it docked in Rotterdam.
• ▪Five crew members will remain on board the docked MV Hondius and disembark later in coordination with strict cleaning and quarantine protocols.
• ▪Most passengers from the MV Hondius, including 18 Americans, were under quarantine in their home countries.
• ▪The 27 people who remained on board the MV Hondius were all asymptomatic.
• ▪Twenty crew members and two medical staff members disembarked the MV Hondius on May 18, 2026.

Antarctic expedition origin

• ▪The MV Hondius set off from Ushuaia in southern Argentina on April 1, 2026.
• ▪The MV Hondius carried almost 150 people on a nature-sightseeing expedition.
• ▪The MV Hondius voyage was a seven-week, 8,500-mile journey.

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