Tenerife port home to scenes of worry and relief as passengers depart hantavirus-hit ship

Passengers from the cruise ship MV Hondius, marooned for nearly five weeks due to an Andes strain hantavirus outbreak, began disembarking in Tenerife’s Port of Granadilla at around 8 a.m. on May 10, 2026. A small boat transported five passengers at a time to shore, where they were met by hazmat-suited health personnel and military staff, following nearly 10 days of uncertainty after the virus was detected. Spanish authorities had assured locals that disembarkation would involve only health and military personnel, maintaining transparency by allowing media access near the port. The process unfolded with coordinated precision, with passengers directed into a tent before being transported to flights home. The scene evoked COVID-19-era precautions, though the WHO emphasized the hantavirus strain behaves differently, requiring close contact for transmission. The cruise, originally intended as a journey through Antarctica and St. Helena, became a prolonged ordeal for the 23 nationalities on board. Journalists from multiple countries gathered at the port, reflecting global concern over the outbreak. The WHO’s director-general, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, acknowledged public fear but stressed this was not a repeat of the pandemic. Passengers now face mandatory quarantine and isolation for at least six weeks in their home countries. While the ordeal is far from over, their arrival on dry land marks the end of their time aboard the ship. Authorities continue to ensure the process remains thorough and transparent, with media monitoring each step.