Press update | m/v Hondius: 8 May 2026, 19:00 hrs CET | News

8 May 2026, 19:00 hrs CET

Oceanwide Expeditions continues to respond to an ongoing medical situation aboard m/v Hondius.

The three individuals transferred by medicalized aircraft from m/v Hondius to the Netherlands on 6 May remain under the care and screening of medical professionals. No symptomatic individuals are present on board. The situation on board m/v Hondius remains calm, and guests and crew continue to follow procedures, now under the guidance of the medical team. More information is available via the WHO and other responsible authorities.

Following the directive of relevant authorities, provisionally, m/v Hondius is estimated to arrive at the port of Granadilla, Tenerife, in the early hours of Sunday 10 May. This is subject to change. Preparations regarding our point of arrival, quarantine and screening procedures for all guests, and the onward travel plans for all guests and affected crew are being led by organizations from a number of countries, including the WHO, RIVM, and Dutch authorities, in close cooperation with Spanish government authorities.

Following the disembarkation or evacuation of guests aboard m/v Hondius, Oceanwide Expeditions is not involved in planning and facilitating medical testing, screening, and onward journeys.

Oceanwide Expeditions would like to provide more details on the itinerary involved, and the disembarkation of guests on Saint Helena on 24 April.

The involved itinerary of m/v Hondius is the Atlantic Odyssey voyage, which departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on 1 April, and was scheduled to end in Praia, Cape Verde, on 4 May. This can be booked in different ways. Guests can choose to travel with the vessel from Ushuaia, and disembark in Saint Helena. Alternatively, they can remain with the vessel and continue to Cape Verde.

Stops	Date	Disembarked	Embarked	Guests	Crew	Total
Ushuaia, Argentina	1 April			114	61	175
South Georgia	4-7 April
Tristan da Cunha inc. Inaccessible Island & Nightingale Island	13-16 April	1 Crew	6 Guests	120	60	180
Gough Island	17 April
Saint Helena	21 - 24 April	32 Guests (*)	1 Crew	88	61	149
Medevac (via Ascension Island)	27 April	2 Guests (**)		86	61	147
Guest deceased	2 May			85 (***)	61	146
Current	6 May (****)	2 Guests, 1 Crew	4 Guests	87	60	147

(*) Disembarkation on 24 April of 32 guests, adjusted from 30 we communicated earlier, and including the Dutch national who passed away on 11 April, and the Dutch national who accompanied the body and later passed away during their transit home on 26 April.

(**) 1 symptomatic British national, 1 asymptomatic American national (partner of patient).

(***) On 2 May, a guest passed away on board. This individual is not included in the final current onboard numbers.

(****) On 6 May, three individuals (1 Dutch and 1 German passenger, 1 British crew) were transferred by medicalized aircraft from m/v Hondius to the Netherlands. Two listed as guests and one listed as crew. On the same day, four medical staff (marked as guests, 1 Italian, 3 Dutch) embarked the vessel.

Image: Atlantic Odyssey itinerary map

CREW NATIONALITIES CURRENTLY ON BOARD

Nationalities
GBR	3
PHL	38
UKR	5
ESP	1
RUS	1
PRT	1
POL	1
NLD	5
MNE	1
IND	2
GTM	1
DEU	1
Total	60

GUEST NATIONALITIES CURRENTLY ON BOARD

Nationalities
ARG	1
AUS	4
BEL	2
CAN	4
DEU	5*
ESP	13
FRA	5
GBR	19
GRC	1
IRL	2
ITA	1
JPN	1
NLD	8
NZL	1
TUR	3
USA	17
Total	87

* Does not include the individual who passed away on 2 May.

The above guest number includes four medical staff.

Close cooperation continues with local and international authorities, including the WHO, the RIVM, relevant embassies, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

All media inquiries should be directed to: Mrs. Kiki Hirschfeldt: [email protected]

For all other matters, we refer to our previous press updates. The unchanged list of previous official communications is as follows:

7 May 2026, 17:15 hrs CET

https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/press/press-update-m-v-hondius-7-may-2026-17-15-hrs-cet

7 May 2026, 11:30 hrs CET

https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/press/press-update-m-v-hondius-7-may-2026-11-30-hrs-cet

6 May 2026, 22:45 hrs CET

https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/blog/press-update-m-v-hondius-6-may-2026-22-45-hrs-cet

6 May 2026, 14:45 hrs CET

https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/press/press-update-6-may-2026-14-45-hrs-cet

6 May 2026, 11:00 hrs CET

https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/blog/press-update-6-may-2026-11-00-hrs-cet