Tristan da Cunha Visit News

Visits of the MS Hamburg and yacht SV Vineta, February 2026

Report from Kelly Green with additional photos from Julia Gunther

Early on the morning of the 2nd February 2026, the village was awoken by the fishing gong, a familiar sound on Tristan da Cunha that signals the start of another working day at sea. The fishing boats headed out early and, at around 7:00am, the MS Hamburg came into view as she rounded the western side of the settlement, with 323 passengers on board.

Cruise Ship MS Hamburg

The MS Hamburg off the settlement with an island fishing boat in the foreground.

By mid-morning, the ship assessed the harbour for a landing. There was a swell at the harbour entrance and, while these are conditions that Tristan's highly experienced boat crews are accustomed to working in, the captain quite rightly made the careful decision that it was not safe for passengers to come ashore by tender or zodiac. Safety always comes first.

The MS Hamburg's tender assessing conditions in the harbour.

Rather than let the day go to waste, a Plan B was quickly put into action. The island RIB was launched and the immigration team went out to the ship, followed by several trips taking representatives from local shops and services on board. These trips were carried out by Tristan’s skilled and experienced RIB crews, whose deep local knowledge of the harbour and sea conditions ensures safe operations in challenging waters. Representatives from the Post Office and Tourism Centre, the Rockhopper Gift Shop, the Island Store and local handicraft sellers were able to board the ship, turning the ship’s lounge into a lively and welcoming space. Passengers and crew were delighted to browse, shop and chat with islanders, and many expressed how much they appreciated this opportunity to connect with Tristan, even without a landing.

Passengers throng the Rockhopper Gift Shop's stall in the ship's lounge.

By early afternoon, all teams returned ashore. By then, the swell had increased noticeably, reinforcing that the decision not to land had been the right one. These conditions, while manageable for Tristan's experienced RIB crews, would have posed difficulties for ship-based zodiac drivers unfamiliar with the harbour. The MS Hamburg then continued her scenic cruise around Tristan, Nightingale and Inaccessible Islands before heading onward, offering passengers spectacular views of the archipelago.

The Tristan Post Office's stall was very popular.

If you were on the MS Hamburg, we'd appreciate your feedback using our Visitors' Feedback Form.

A new map of the village with art by students at St Mary's School was installed in readiness for this year's cruise season.

Yacht SV Vineta

The following day, the 3rd February, Tristan welcomed a much smaller vessel, the yacht Vineta, with five people on board, returning from the Cape to Rio race. Harbour conditions were even more challenging, with heavy swells entering the harbour. Despite this, the island search and rescue RIB, crewed by two highly experienced islanders, safely brought four of the visitors ashore, while one crew member remained on board the yacht to keep watch.

The yacht SV Vineta stopped at Tristan while returning from her triumphant 16 day dash from Cape Town to Rio da Janeiro in this year's Cape to Rio Race.

Once ashore, the contrast could not have been greater. The weather on land was calm, sunny and warm, and the visitors made the most of their time on Tristan. They enjoyed hot showers at the hospital, stocked up on supplies, and sat down to a memorable lobster lunch at the Post Office and Tourism Centre. An island tour followed, taking in the Potato Patches and the volcano, offering a real insight into island life and landscapes.

The Vineta's crew negotiating their way across the Big Watron towards the 1961 volcano.

Before departing, the visitors were keen to personally thank Andy, the island radio operator, who they said had been absolutely wonderful, even answering their radio check-in call at two o clock in the morning. As the swell continued to build, the RIB remained on standby throughout the day. With careful judgement, local knowledge and expert boat handling, the island crew safely returned the visitors to their yacht.

The Vineta's crew climbing a hill during their Patches hike for a good view of the landscape.

Later that evening, an email arrived from Felix, the captain of Vineta, thanking the island for its "amazing hospitality" and saying they would "treasure the memories of our short stay" .

If you were on the SV Vineta, we'd appreciate your feedback using our Visitors' Feedback Form.

Life on Tristan da Cunha offers the chance to meet people from all over the world, whether they are sailing across the South Atlantic or visiting on a once in a lifetime cruise. Whatever the sea conditions, the experience, professionalism and warmth of the island crews help ensure that every visit is memorable.

Return visit of the yacht SV Urchin, December 2025

Report from Philip Kendall and Cynthia Green The 16th December 2025 saw a return visit by the expedition yacht SV Urchin, which has now become a regular visitor. It is wonderful to see the her here again, bringing the RSPB-funded invasive species eradication team who will spend Christmas and New Year on Inaccessible Island removing invasive flax. The Urchin left for Cape Town on the same day, but the team of four - Brandon Cloete, Carmen Ferreira, Aidan Hendriks and Stephen Hoffe - will remain on Inaccessible until February and then return on a regular vessel.

SV Urchin off the settlement on the 16th December 2025. Photo: Philip Kendall

Visits by the SH Diana and FV Antarctic Sea

Report by Nick Schönfeld with photos by Philip Kendall, Julia Gunther and Fran Bryson

We welcomed two vessels on the morning of the 20th November 2025: at 07:30 the FV Antarctic Sea, a Norwegian krill boat en route to the Falklands, followed shortly afterwards by the SH Diana with 107 passengers at 08:30. Diana's visitors arrived by Zodiac, which is always an adventure in the Tristan harbour. For a short time, visitors from both ships were ashore together, something we do not often see. Thanks to the bright blue jackets worn by SH Diana guests, it was easy to tell everyone apart, and the settlement was alive with activity without ever feeling crowded.

SH Diana at anchor off the harbour (Photo: Philip Kendall)

Visitors entering the harbour by zodiac (Photo: Julia Gunther)

Despite the Diana needing to shorten her stay to keep ahead of bad weather on the way to South Georgia, passengers still enjoyed a good amount of time ashore. Our local guides André, Jerry and Christopher led tours through the village and the thatched house. Several visitors also hired taxis to the Potato Patches for a quiet moment in the sunshine and the chance to watch the albatrosses soaring overhead. Birdwatchers across both groups reported Antarctic Terns (king birds), Sooty Albatross, Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross (Mollies) and Skuas, along with our much-loved Northern Rockhopper penguins. One couple even enjoyed a private tour.

Exploring the Settlement

Stepping across the Big Watron and walking in the settlement (Photos: Julia Gunther)

Taking a picture by the Fishing Dong (Photo: Julia Gunther)	On an independent hike, Fran Bryson was fascinated by the well-kept cemetery (Photo: Fran Bryson)

The signs outside the Tourism Centre are a popular photo opportunity (Photos: Julia Gunther)

How many ways can you pose by the Remotest Island sign (Photo: Julia Gunther)

In the Post Office and Tourism Centre, visitors could enjoy homemade crawfish sandwiches, chocolate biscuits and freshly brewed coffee, and browse a wide range of Tristan souvenirs, including T-shirts, stickers and island-made gifts.

Many visitors took the chance to use our Wi-Fi to check emails or send a quick message to loved ones. And even with limited time on land, several still managed to write a postcard home, something that never loses its charm on Tristan. Today was also the first time the Post Office and Tourism Centre was able to accept card payments from cruise-ship passengers, a very welcome improvement that has connected Tristan's banking system to the outside world more readily, and which has made things much easier for visitors and for the team.

Visitors in Café da Cunha (Photo: Julia Gunther)

For the first time, cruise passengers were able to pay for souvenirs by card (Photo: Philip Kendall)	Fran Bryson kindly gave a signed copy of her book to the Tristan library (Photo: Philip Kendall)

Visitors writing postcards in the gift shop (Photo: Julia Gunther)

The Albatross Bar was open for both ship visits, and passengers could have a cool drink or beer, although there was not quite enough time for a game of snooker.

Visitors inside the Albatross Bar (Photo: Julia Gunther)	Fran Bryson outside the Albatross Bar (Photo: Fran Bryson)

Mine host Randall Repetto behind the bar (Photo: Fran Bryson)

Next door, the Prince Philip Hall was filled with stands displaying beautiful, handcrafted items made by islanders, including woollen hats, gloves, penguins and other handmade pieces. And for those still keen to shop, the Rockhopper Gift Shop offered even more souvenirs and gift items. The supermarket was also open for anyone needing supplies or some fresh fruit.

Many people wanted their picture taken outside Prince Philip Hall (Photos: Julia Gunther)

The islanders' craft stalls in Prince Philip Hall were popular (Photos: Julia Gunther)

Above & below: Some of the knitted handicrafts on offer for sale in Prince Philip Hall (Photos: Julia Gunther)

The SH Diana departed at 12:30, while the second group of Antarctic Sea visitors came ashore in the afternoon before the ship departed around 4:00pm. The SH Diana has become something of an old friend to the island, calling in reliably each year, and many islanders have travelled on her back to Cape Town. A big thank you to the professional crews on both vessels, as well as the team from Fisheries, for their excellent cooperation. 

Descending to the harbour (Photo: Julia Gunther)	A final photo opportunity at the harbour's welcome sign (Photo: Julia Gunther)

Cruise passengers reembarking a zodiac (Photo: Fran Bryson)	Reembarking passengers wave as they pull away from the harbour steps (Photo: Julia Gunther)

It was wonderful to see the harbour so full of life, and with one or two more ships still due before Christmas, including the upcoming arrival of the Lance, which brings home islanders from Cape Town, the busy days are not over yet.

We thank Fran Bryson for the use of photographs from her four-part travel blog 'Remotest Island'.

If you were on the SH Diana, we'd welcome your feedback using our Visitors' Feedback Form.

SH Diana and FV Antarctic Sea at anchor off the harbour (Photo: Julia Gunther)

Administrator Philip Kendall Adds

It really was an amazing day of two ships. After our good friend the SH Diana left, the FV Antarctic Sea’s crew enjoyed an afternoon of shore leave which ended up in the Albatross Bar where I joined them after work. Captain Jan Sorensen regaled me with tales from Scandinavia to the Antarctic, where they will spend the next three months fishing. He thanked the island for the opportunity to allow them this rare chance to come ashore.

The FV Antarctic Sea's RIB in the harbour (Photo: Philip Kendall)	The FV Antarctic Sea's crew outside the Albatross Bar, Capt Sorensen second left (Photo: Philip Kendall)

The crew enjoyed a drink (or more) and several rounds of pool in the Albatross before returning to their ship with a gift of lobster from the island, just as the harbour closed for the day at 7:00pm.

The FV Antarctic Sea (Photo: Philip Kendall)

If you were on the FV Antarctic Sea, we'd welcome your feedback using our Visitors' Feedback Form.

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