Hantavirus: A suite on the Seuchensiff costs over 29,000 euros

Those who board the MV “Hondius” have not packed evening dresses, high heels or tuxedos – but rather hiking boots and outdoor clothing against the cold. Because the passengers on the 107.6 meter long ship don’t want a vacation in a floating all-inclusive hotel in the sun. You want adventure and pure nature.

That’s exactly what the organizer “Oceanwide Expeditions” promises. It offers trips to the Arctic with a total of four ships Antarctica to. A tour that bears the name “Atlantic Odyssey” has now become a nightmare for around 149 passengers. The hantavirus broke on the ship out of. Three people died. It is the tragic end to an adventure that no passenger or crew member could have expected.

Than that Travel started in Argentina on April 1st, everyone hoped to come home with unforgettable memories. With breathtaking photos of penguins, whales, sea lions and icebergs – traveling on a very special cruise ship that can even break through pack ice. The journey started from Ushuaia in southern Argentina to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and other isolated islands in the South Atlantic.

Robust shoes instead of evening wear

170 passengers fit into 80 cabins on board – a few more than had booked for the current trip. A ship’s doctor is always on board, as are 70 crew members – including 13 tour guides who accompany travelers on extraordinary excursions. Most passengers are between 45 and 65 years old and come from different countries. You can find out from the travel description what clothes you should pack in your suitcase: “The clothing on board the ship is informal. Bring comfortable casual clothing for all activities. (…) We therefore recommend sturdy shoes with non-slip soles. If possible, make sure that you never have to look for your parka for long when the loudspeakers say ‘Whales in sight!’ sounds and you have to rush outside. If possible, wear clothing according to the onion principle, as it is pleasantly warm in the ship’s hold and can often be cold outside. There are even excursions where passengers jump into zodiacs – powerful motorboats.

Advertising environmentally friendly travel

The environment and environmental protection are particularly important to the shipping company, it writes on its website. The expedition experience also focuses on further training: “One deck is completely dedicated to (multilingual) lectures and presentations, a large panoramic lounge and a separate lecture hall are available for this purpose,” says the description of the MV Hondius. It goes on to say about the ship, which can travel at speeds of up to 15 knots (approx. 30 km/h): “With this ship you also have the certainty that it is one of the most environmentally friendly Ships of the polar seas.”

According to the shipping company’s description, the “Hondius” uses LED lighting, steam heating, biodegradable paints and lubricants as well as “state-of-the-art energy management systems that keep fuel consumption and CO2 emissions to a minimum.” Passengers are urged, among other things, not to throw cigarettes overboard.

That’s how expensive the “Atlantic Odyssey” tour is

The exclusive offer has its price: The 34-day trip was offered in the cheapest category (in the four-person cabin) for around 10,500 euros per person. The 12 square meter cabin is equipped with two bunk beds. You had to shell out more for the standard double cabin with two portholes: it was just over 13,000 euros per person. In the Superior version, the cabin is 23 square meters in size, has two large windows and a double bed. Cost: just over 16,000 euros per person.

Otherwise, the ship’s equipment with a total of seven decks is rather pragmatic: you won’t find a wellness area or pool areas with slides. There is a bar, a library, a TV corner, shops and of course a restaurant. This is on deck four – there are two large facilities around it where you can wash your hands. The doctor’s quarters are on deck three. Also According to media reports, he is said to be showing symptoms of the hantavirus and have already been flown from the ship.