In 2013, Carnival faced a public relations disaster when one of its ships experienced an engine fire, leaving the cruise liner mostly adrift and at the mercy of the tides. With no power, the facilities quickly filled up or became clogged, the air conditioning was out, and it was a nightmare for those trapped on the ship. The deluge of human waste spilling everywhere earned it the nickname “poop cruise.”
In 2026, there’s a new fiasco unfolding, though it’s much more serious. It makes the “poop cruise” look like paradise. Three people have died amid a reported viral outbreak on a cruise ship, where Hantavirus is reportedly the cause. The virus is spread by field mice and other rodents. The ship is currently off the coast of Cape Verde (via NYT):
🚨#BREAKING: A viral outbreak aboard a cruise ship has left three people dead, with five additional suspected cases are now under investigation. Officials have confirmed at least one case of Hantavirus.
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) May 3, 2026
Three people who were aboard a cruise ship sailing the Atlantic Ocean have died of suspected infections of hantavirus, the World Health Organization said on Sunday, referring to a rare family of viruses carried by rodents.
One case of the infection was confirmed in a laboratory, the organization said in a statement. There are five additional suspected cases, it said.
Of the six people infected, three have died and one person was in intensive care in South Africa, it said.
Foster Mohale, a spokesman for the National Department of Health in South Africa, said passengers of an international cruise ship, MV Hondius, were in South African medical facilities “following serious health complications arising from undiagnosed severe acute respiratory infection.”
The MV Hondius, which was carrying about 150 passengers from various countries, left Ushuaia in Argentina about three weeks ago for the Canary Islands, stopping in mainland Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan, St. Helena, Ascension and Cape Verde, Mr. Mohale said.
In a statement on Sunday, the operator of the ship, Oceanwide Expeditions, said it was closely monitoring the situation “and is deploying all available resources to ensure appropriate medical care and support for passengers and crew.”
The ship, the operator said, is off the coast of Cape Verde.
I’m not a cruise ship person. You’re stuck on the boat, and if something goes wrong, you’re in trouble, whether it's raw sewage spilling everywhere due to a power failure from an engine room fire or a viral outbreak.
No, thank you. Let’s hope the outbreak is contained.
JUST IN - Cruise ship with suspected Hantavirus outbreak, MV Hondius, remains outside the Port of Praia in Cape Verde, its passengers will not be disembarking, to "protect the population," medical teams are visiting the ship — Sky
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) May 4, 2026
