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Reuters

It was billed as an Atlantic odyssey to some of the most remote islands in the world.
Instead, the cruise on the hantavirus-stricken MV Hondius was left stranded off Cabo Verde, formerly known as Cape Verde, with passengers in their cabins, medical workers in protective suits tending to the sick and the ship’s operator seeking a safe port.
The outbreak has left three dead and eight confirmed or suspected cases linked to the ‌Dutch-flagged expedition ship.
Passengers, some of whom have been aboard since March 20, have reported moods swinging between fear and boredom: empty lounges, quiet decks, hot drinks, face masks, medical checks, and the uncertainty of not knowing when and how their journey will end.
On Wednesday, specialist teams evacuated three people as the vessel prepared to extend its voyage to Spain’s Canary Islands with the consent of local authorities.
After four days stationed off the West African archipelago, the ship set sail late Wednesday towards the Canary island of Tenerife, where around 150 remaining passengers and crew may finally disembark under medical supervision.




It is not ⁠clear whether they will be quarantined on arrival.
Cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions has told passengers to follow “isolation measures, hygiene protocols and medical monitoring”.
Martin Kriz, a Swedish doctor ‌who has served aboard the Hondius, said that means taking meals in cramped four-person cabins.
“It’s quite a small space,” he said.
But passengers say conditions were not bad. Passenger Kasem Hato said the mood was calm.
“People are taking the situation seriously but without ‌any panic, trying to keep social distancing and wearing masks to be safe,” he said.


“Our days have been close to normal, just waiting ⁠for authorities to find a solution, ⁠but morale on the ship is high and we’re keeping ourselves busy with reading, watching movies, having hot drinks, and that kind of things.”
One clip showed the Hondius’s wood-panelled lounge looking clean, expensive and ‌empty. Armchairs and couches sat grouped on colourful carpets, with the sea visible through windows.
Images posted on social media and reviewed by Reuters showed large bags of supplies being delivered to the ship’s deck by workers in ‌scrubs ‌and masks.
The scene marked a stark contrast with photos of spectacular Antarctic views passengers shared earlier in the voyage.
Jake Rosmarin of the United States became one ‌of the best-known faces on the ship after posting an emotional video from his cabin on social media fretting over the uncertainty passengers faced.
Later he struck a calmer note.

“I’m feeling ⁠well, getting some fresh air, and continuing to be well fed and taken care of by the crew,” he said in a follow-up post.
Turkish passenger Ruhi Cenet, ⁠who departed the ship at St Helena on April 24, was more critical. He said after the first passenger died on April 11, passengers were told he was not infectious, so they continued socialising and taking meals together.
With quicker isolation measures “I think this problem could have been small before spreading too ‌much,” he said from Istanbul.


Oceanwide said in ‌a statement on Wednesday that information relayed by the ship’s captain was accurate at the time, and he had followed proper health and safety standards following a death at sea.
Belgian passenger Helene Goessaert told Belgian broadcaster VRT the atmosphere was “relatively good”, with fresh fruit and vegetables still coming aboard. She praised the crew.
“We are all in the same boat, literally,” she said.
Goessaert said that after rough waters earlier in the trip, passengers are not easily shaken.
“I think the people on board can take a few lumps,” she said.


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Passengers on hantavirus-hit cruise ship sway between fear and boredom

A passenger watches as health personnel assist patients off the cruise ship and onto a boat off the port of Praia, Cabo Verde, on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

The captain of the MV Hondius announces the death of the first passenger in April. Photo: Instagram/ruhicenet via Reuters

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The MV Hondius anchored off Cabo Verde. Photo: AP

Medical workers in protective gear. Photo: Qasem Elhato via AP

Deadly hantavirus may have spread between humans on luxury cruise, but risk is low: WHO

Health workers get off the MV Hondius as it remains off Cabo Verde on Monday. Photo: Qasem Elhato via AP

An ambulance boat approaches the MV Hondius off the port of Praia, the capital of Cabo Verde, on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

An ambulance boat carrying crew members in hazmat suits, returns to the port of Praia, Cabo Verde, on Tuesday after a visit to the cruise ship MV Hondius. Photo: AFP

The MV Hondius remains stationary off the port of Praia in Cabo Verde on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Deadly hantavirus outbreak traps 150 on cruise ship as WHO identifies more cases

The MV Hondius, a cruise ship with nearly 150 people aboard, has been waiting for help off the coast of Cabo Verde. Photo: Reuters

A satellite image shows the MV Hondius off the coast of Praia, Cabo Verde. Photo: PBC Planet Labs via Reuters

The Hondius has 80 cabins and a capacity of 170 passengers. Photo: Oceanwide Expeditions via AP

Suspected hantavirus outbreak on Atlantic cruise ship leaves 3 dead

The MV Hondius off Praia, the capital of Cabo Verde. Photo:  AFP

Around 150 tourists were on board at the time of the outbreak. Photo: AFP

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Africa

As the MV Hondius sails towards Spain, passengers describe a bizarre daily existence of high-end luxury and strict isolation


As the MV Hondius sails towards Spain, passengers describe a bizarre daily existence of high-end luxury and strict isolation.


Passengers on hantavirus-hit cruise ship sway between fear and boredom

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}As the MV Hondius sails towards Spain, passengers describe a bizarre daily existence of high-end luxury and strict isolation

As the MV Hondius sails towards Spain, passengers describe a bizarre daily existence of high-end luxury and strict isolation