The captain of the Hondius paid tribute on Monday to the cruise ship's crew and passengers for their "patience, discipline and friendliness" during the ship's ordeal in the Atlantic amid the outbreak of hantavirus onboard.
The Hondius arrived off Tenerife on Sunday and began disembarking passengers and crew in stages. The ship is due to leave Tenerife for Rotterdam on Monday evening.
"These past few weeks have been extremely challenging to us all," Jan Dobrogowski said in a video message published by the cruise operators Oceanwide Expeditions.
"I've witnessed your caring, your unity and your quiet strength," Dobrogowski said in reference to all aboard. The experience showed that people can rely on each other even where aid is not immediately available, he said.
Dobrogowski wished all passengers a safe journey home.
