By Teresa Rivas
I sailed aboard the MV Hondius in July 2019 on what was only its second voyage, around the Svalbard archipelago in the Norwegian Arctic. I was five months pregnant, and my only health concern was if I might experience seasickness for the first time in my life. Thankfully that never happened thanks to the ship's stabilizers, allowing me to traverse sea ice, view an unsuccessful polar bear hunt, and photograph wildlife from whales to walruses in comfort.
Today, three people have died on board the ship from what appears to be an outbreak of hantavirus, and the MV Hondius is hoping to be accepted by a Spanish port. In an eerie replay of the early days of Covid-19's spread, officials say it can't dock without an inspection and remaining passengers are under quarantine, although the World Health Organization says the broader public-health risk is low.
It's a new test for an industry that's jumped from strength to strength in the postpandemic era, but one that's unlikely to derail enthusiasm for cruises.
Despite the headlines about the ship and its increasingly frightened passengers, cruise stocks are rallying on Wednesday due to even bigger news: reports that the U.S. and Iran are nearing a peace deal. At recent check, the big three cruise lines, Carnival Corp., Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, and Royal Caribbean were up 6.3%, 4.1%, and 7.5%, respectively. Viking Holdings and Lindblad Expeditions Holdings, which do more upscale and expedition-style cruises like the stricken ship, are also up 4.9% and 7.4%. Oceanwide Expeditions, which owns the MV Hondius, isn't publicly traded.
An end to the Iran war would help cruise lines in the sense that it would reduce fuel prices -- for both operators and consumers whose discretionary budgets are being crimped by pain at the pump--but overall travelers haven't been too concerned about geopolitics or other uncertainties.
Of the big three, only Norwegian -- historically the laggard of the group -- noted any potential impact to consumer demand. Viking executives told Barron's in April that if anything, the pandemic had made its customers less willing to put off their travel dreams, and they weren't deterred by war or other worries as much as they had been previously. Baby boomers make up the majority of cruisers, and that cohort has continued to outspend other generations.
During the height of the Covid-19 era, cruises seemed dead in the water: Nations were closing their doors and ships have long been seen as potential petri dishes given how quickly germs can spread onboard. Yet cruising bounced back rapidly once restrictions began to ease. Not only did cruises fit the bill for the increasing number of multigenerational travelers, but in many cases cruises provided better value than land-based vacations at a time when inflation hit travel harder than most industries. New, massive ships filled with amenities and private islands helped sweeten the deal.
The upshot is that global cruise passenger volume has exploded. More than 37 million people set sail in 2025, the third straight year of record-setting passenger volume. Passenger volume is expected to set another record in 2026, with a projected 38.3 million passengers worldwide, according to the Cruise Lines International Association.
The MV Hondius was a dream trip for me, one of my last exotic trips before parenthood. Today it's a nightmare for many onboard, under the threat of viral infection. Yet that's unlikely to deter many travelers who see cruises, from Antigua to Antarctica, as the best way to travel.
Write to Teresa Rivas at teresa.rivas@barrons.com
This content was created by Barron's, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. Barron's is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 06, 2026 14:45 ET (18:45 GMT)
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