The MV Hondius, a cruise ship affected by hantavirus infections, reached the Netherlands on Monday after a long journey. This voyage, spanning 8,500 miles over seven weeks, witnessed 11 infections and three fatalities due to the rare disease.

The ship docked in Rotterdam shortly after 4:30 a.m. ET to undergo disinfection. The outbreak involved a communicable virus primarily spread by rodents, prompting global authorities to remain vigilant. Remaining aboard were Captain Jan Dobrogowski and 26 crew members; most passengers, including 18 Americans, are under quarantine in various countries. Notably, the ship carried the deceased body of a German man who succumbed to the illness at sea.

Departing from Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1, the vessel embarked on a nature expedition, visiting some of the planet’s most isolated islands with nearly 150 individuals. The journey came to an end in Rotterdam this Monday.

An ongoing World Health Organization inquiry seeks to identify the virus’s origin. The hypothesis suggests initial exposure to rodents during a bird-watching excursion may have sparked the infection.

To date, nine confirmed and two suspected cases have emerged among travelers on the Hondius. With an incubation period potentially reaching six weeks, a Canadian passenger, hospitalized after a positive test, is understood to have contracted the Andes strain of hantavirus, which can spread between humans.

Since May 10, passengers, including Americans, are isolating at home or in hotels after departing the ship at Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Earlier, Cape Verde authorities denied the ship docking rights, forcing a change in plans.

Although hantavirus is endemic in certain South American regions, it remains rare among humans and was unprecedented on a cruise ship. Health officials in the U.S. and globally continue efforts to prevent widespread panic over the outbreak.

Following disinfection, the Hondius is scheduled to resume sailing next month. Public health authorities will inspect the ship before it embarks on a ‘Polar Cruise’ on June 5, per the Polartours website, with prices starting at $5,750 per person.