The MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak and the new world of long-distance travel risks
Long-distance travel to places like Antarctica and the Arctic is booming as affluent travelers increasingly seek isolated, experience-driven destinations away from traditional tourism infrastructure.
The global cruise industry served 37.2 million passengers in 2025, an increase of 7.5% from 2024, according to the Cruise Lines International Association, and the number of passengers is expected to reach 42 million in 2028.
Ritu Panesar, founder and president of luxury travel company Travelpod, said her clients typically spend between $30,000 and $50,000 per person on long-haul cruises, often booking months or even years in advance. “People want experiences that feel changing and rare,” Panesar said. “They want to reach places that still feel untouched.”
Interest in Antarctica travel increased by 34% year-on-year during the first four months of 2026, according to Jacqueline Mondelli, chief marketing officer at travel insurance marketplace Squaremouth, reflecting continued demand for high-quality travel despite rising costs and growing awareness of the operational and medical risks associated with long-distance travel.
Travel risk experts and insurers told CNBC that the outbreak of the deadly hantavirus on the cruise ship MV Hondius is unlikely to lead to the promotion of long-haul travel, and global health experts, as well as forecast markets, see the risk of widespread infection as low. Even if there has been an impact on the psychology of travelers, travel experts say it will be difficult to assess at this time as many high-end travel options are booked well in advance. But experts say that as more travelers book trips within this niche of the cruise market, they are becoming more aware of the challenges that can arise when emergencies occur far from advanced medical care.
“People follow this tour because the remoteness is part of the appeal,” said Sahara Rose DeVore, founder of the Travel Coach Network, who has traveled to more than 80 countries, many of them remote. “Travellers understand that there are uncertainties involved in tourism, but highly sought-after destinations like Antarctica require more without those risks.”
Evacuation planning, medical capabilities, and emergency planning are issues that travelers should research before venturing into remote areas. Travel protection policies typically include emergency medical coverage, medical evacuation, travel disruption protection, and transportation services designed to transport travelers from remote locations to advanced medical facilities in the event of a critical emergency.
Rick Bagnall, vice president at travel insurance company Brown & Brown, said he saw no logical wake-up call directly related to the MV Hondius situation. “The interest in moving out tends to rise more in the uncertainty of travel than in any one event,” he said.
Travelers ‘more risk-aware than ever’
Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue, a travel risk management company that provides medical evacuation, field rescue, security evacuation, and emergency response services for travelers in remote or high-risk areas around the world, said that, in general, travelers are more focused on risk prevention on these types of trips.
“People are more risk-aware today than ever before. I wouldn’t call it risk-averse, but they want a plan B,” he said.
Global Rescue has reported a 30% increase in security membership purchases so far this year compared to the same period in 2025 as travelers increasingly seek evacuation and disaster response support ahead of long journeys.
Evacuation of people at sea remains among the most difficult rescue operations because helicopters have limited range offshore and most cruise ships do not have helipads at all. “If something happens at sea and you’re more than 150 kilometers from land, there’s not much you can do,” Richards said.
Global Rescue handles about 100,000 calls for help a year, about 3,000 of which escalate to rescue or evacuation operations. “We’ve done work at sea where we join ships between ships,” Richards said. “Those are tough planning challenges.”
In one recent incident, Richards said the company coordinated a medical evacuation to a remote island near Tahiti after a passenger on the cruise developed a life-threatening condition that required emergency treatment.
Travel industry groups say the sector is still healthy and well prepared. “The global cruise industry maintains comprehensive health, sanitation, and medical regulations designed to protect the health and well-being of passengers and crew,” said Sally Andrews, vice president of communications for the Cruise Lines International Association, in a statement sent to CNBC.
Insurance policies and remote areas
Travel and transportation insurance experts told CNBC how many travelers don’t underestimate the limited medical infrastructure as long as ships depart far from major ports and hospitals.
Bagnall said many travelers focus on having insurance without fully understanding how difficult evacuations can be in remote areas, mistakenly thinking that standard travel policies automatically provide strong evacuation support.
“Travel insurance is not an asset,” says Bagnall. “The difference between ‘cover in place’ and ‘assistance comes quickly’ is often seen in travel plans. In remote critical situations, medical and transportation costs can easily reach six figures and exceed $250,000 depending on the distance, the air freight required, and the complexity of the treatment,” he said.
“In our experience, many travelers underestimate both the likelihood and the cost of a serious medical event while traveling,” said Mondelli. “Traditional cruises usually have consistent access to ports, medical facilities, and Coast Guard support. In contrast, expedition cruises operate in remote, unpredictable locations where the nearest location may be available for days,” he added.
Mondelli said that an Antarctica trip with insurance through Squaremouth averages $28,750 in trip costs, and travelers to Antarctica place a strong emphasis on medical exit protection, with exit limits of $500,000 among the most commonly purchased levels of coverage for such trips.
He added that the purchase of “Cancel For Any Reason” and “Disruption For Any Reason” travel protection improvements will almost double from 10% during the first four months of 2025 to 19% during the same period in 2026.
MV Hondius, according to a recent report, has a reputation among travelers for attention to detail and risk management. But cruise travelers shouldn’t assume that the premium price tag attached to a cruise also guarantees emergency infrastructure, says maritime attorney Jason Margulies of Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman. “What they really get is a cruise with a lot of dangerous work in remote areas without easy access to medical care,” he said.
