Oceanwide Expeditions, the operators of MV Hondius, have confirmed that a total of 30 passengers disembarked the cruise liner at a remote island where Napoleon was exiled
The hunt is on for dozens of cruise ship passengers who may have a deadly ‘rat virus’. A total of 30 tourists, including one man who had already died, disembarked the hantavirus-stricken luxury liner at Saint Helena, a remote island off the coast of Angola, on April 24.
Oceanwide Expeditions, the operators of the vessel, released a statement on the number of passengers who got off the ship at the remote outpost, where Napoleon was exiled to and ultimately died. The tourists, from all over the world including seven from the UK, would have been totally unaware after coming ashore as the first case on the ship was not confirmed until May 4.
Health chiefs fear some of the passengers may be infected and spreading the disease without realising, making Saint Helena a potential ‘ground zero’ for hantavirus. The cruise operator wrote: “Oceanwide Expeditions can confirm that on 1 April 2026, 114 guests boarded m/v Hondius in Ushuaia, Argentina.
“30 guests disembarked m/v Hondius on Saint Helena on 24 April 2026. This number includes the body of the guest who passed away on board m/v Hondius on 11 April 2026.
“The first confirmed case of hantavirus was not reported until 4 May 2026. These disembarked guests have all been contacted by Oceanwide Expeditions.
“We are working to establish details of all passengers and crew who embarked and disembarked on various stops of m/v Hondius since March 20.”
It comes after Brit Martin Anstee, 56, was flown to the Netherlands with three others on Wednesday after being described as ‘seriously ill’ on board the ship. He is now said to be ‘stable’ and has told how he is now doing ‘okay’ and awaiting tests in isolation.
Before joining the boat the former policeman described it as a “trip of a lifetime”. But the talented wildlife photographer ended up getting sick, then waiting days to be removed from the ship.
Martin is now being treated in Amsterdam. He was part of the guide team on the “incredible trip” which started on April 1st from Argentina. The guide was keen to photograph wildlife with passengers on Tristan da Cunha, St Helena and the Cape Verde islands.
He said: “I will be part of the guide team on this incredible trip…It is one of the most fascinating trips you can be involved in. It really is the trip of a lifetime”.
The cruise operator also revealed the nationalities of all those who disembarked at Saint Helena in a graphic.