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In early April, an outbreak of the hantavirus started onboard a cruise ship after it disembarked from southern Argentina. Since the outbreak began, as of May 13, three passengers have died, with a further ten cases connected with the same cruise ship, the MV Hondius.
In the weeks since health authorities first began breaking the news about the suspected outbreak on the vessel, many have had the same question: can passengers sue? Keep reading to learn more and to hear from our cruise injury lawyer, Louis A. Vucci P.A.
The MV Hondius set sale from Ushuaia in the south of Argentina on April 1, 2026, heading toward Antarctica and other stops. On the 6th of April, a 70-year-old Duth match became sick with symptoms including fever, headache, and mild diarrhea, later developing into respiratory distress, before the man died on April 11.
After the man’s death, passengers were reportedly initially told that the man was “not infectious”, and that he had passed from natural causes. According to passengers, this announcement influenced their decision not to isolate themselves as the cruise continued.
The ship made a stop at Tristan da Cunha, where an additional six travelers boarded the ship. The man’s body remained on board until April 24, when the ship reached Saint Helena in the British territory. During this stop, the man’s wife, along with more than two dozen other passengers, left the ship.
The wife of the deceased, who was showing symptoms of being ill, then took a flight from Saint Helena to South Africa. There, she died after collapsing in an airport on April 26.
Meanwhile, the MV Hondius continued to make its way to Ascension Island, where a sick British passenger was evacuated on the 27th. A day later, a German woman aboard the ship fell sick. On May 2, the German woman died, and the British passenger was diagnosed with hantavirus, the first time the virus was identified in relation to this outbreak. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), they received notification about the suspected outbreak on the same day.
On the 3rd, the WHO announced that it was investigating the circumstances on the ship, which was still at sea, having reached the Cape Verde waters. Soon, the ship is stranded at sea as Cape Verde authorities say no one can disembark. By the 5th, two cases of illness had arisen among the crew, including the ship’s doctor, while another passenger was being monitored. These three people are then evacuated from the ship.
On May 10, the ship reached Tenerife, a part of the Canary Islands, where it is allowed to dock for disembarkation. Evacuation efforts began for passengers from more than 20 different countries. Potentially infectious people are being isolated and tracing efforts have begun in France, Singapore, Britain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, and elsewhere.
Cruise line negligence is governed by what’s known as maritime law. Under these laws, cruise lines are responsible for maintaining safe environments for passengers. With this in mind, if the cruise line acted negligently in its duty to protect passengers from illnesses like hantavirus, then it may be liable.
The key is negligence. If the cruise line did everything reasonably possible to prevent the illness from spreading, based on the limited information it had, then it may not be liable.
In addition, cruise line liability can be limited by cruise ticket contracts, which may carve out exceptions from liability for injuries and illnesses. These tickets can also dictate your case’s jurisdiction, which can also affect liability based on that country’s laws.
In this case, the cruise operator, Oceanwide Expeditions, lists in its terms and conditions that it cannot be held liable for injuries, illnesses, or deaths onboard its vessels. However, cruise passengers may be able to successfully challenge this waiver in court if they can prove gross negligence. The cruise line also stipulated that cases would be handled in the Netherlands, where it can be difficult to prove gross negligence.
The MV Hondius is far from being a rare case when it comes to outbreaks of illnesses on board cruise ships. “It is not unusual on cruise ships in general, due to the close quarters, etc., that viruses and infections that are contagious can spread quickly,” says cruise ship injury attorney Louis A. Vucci P.A.
— Louis A. Vucci P.A.
While the WHO theorizes that the origin of the MV Hondius outbreak was encountered by the Dutch couple before they boarded the ship, there are still reasons why being on a cruise may have made things more dangerous. Cruises are semi-enclosed ecosystems where people eat and socialize in close proximity for extended periods, increasing the likelihood of spread.
Get Legal Help With Your Cruise Ship Hantavirus Lawsuit
If a cruise line does something wrong, and passengers and crew suffer illnesses and losses as a result, that cruise line should be held accountable for the harm it caused. If you sustained an illness or lost a loved one due to cruise line negligence, don’t wait to learn about your legal options.
Attorney Louis A. Vucci P.A. is ready to help you seek compensation for cruise line illnesses. He has taken pride in representing clients who were infected by COVID-19 early in the pandemic, when cases were spreading quickly among passengers and crew, and you can count on him for reliable experience. If you need an attorney who will carry your case through to the end, choose Louis A. Vucci P.A.
Related Reading
There are many things for which a passenger may make a claim, some of which include: