Deadly virus ship offered sanctuary
Spain has granted permission for a cruise ship, carrying a growing
number of passengers sick with hantavirus, to dock at the
Canary Islands, despite protests from its president

ITINERARY

Atlantic
Ocean

2,000km
1,240 miles

AFRICA

SOUTH
AMERICA

MAR 20,
2026
USHUAIA,
ARGENTINA

MAR 25
ANTARCTIC
PENINSULA

APR 1
USHUAIA,
ARGENTINA

APR 6
SOUTH GEORGIA AND
SOUTH SANDWICH
ISLANDS

APR 13
TRISTAN
DA CUNHA

APR 17
GOUGH
ISLAND

APR 22
ST. HELENA

May 3
CAPE
VERDE

Expected ~May 9
Canary Islands


Oceanwide Expeditions’
MV Hondius
cruise ship

SHIP
SPECIFICATIONS

Passengers/crew: ~150
Class:		Polar Class 6
Length:		107.6m
Breadth:	17.6m
Displacement:	5,590t
Engines:	2 x diesel
Speed:		15 knots

Passengers confined to
quarters for safety –
smallest cabin is just
15.3m2 (below)


WHAT IS HANTAVIRUS?

Infection caused by virus spread
through exposure to infected urine,
saliva or droppings from rodents

Hantavirus pulmonary
syndrome can cause
cough, shortness of
breath and
respiratory
failure leading
to death
No cure
other than
to manage
symptoms

Lungs

Cruise
price range:
$16,000-
$25,000

Sources: Reuters, BBC, CNN, Oceanwide Expeditions, VesselFinder, ScienceAlert
Pictures: Getty, Oceanwide Expeditions
© GRAPHIC NEWS