2026 Welcome Party for the SA Agulhas II
Report by Kelly Green with additional photos from Paula Swain
The annual SA Agulhas II community party took place on Saturday 3rd October 2026, with Administrator Philip and his wife, Louise, hosting an evening of good food, good company and plenty of dancing!
The evening got underway with drinks at 7:00pm, and Philip giving a warm speech, thanking the community for what has been a wonderful three years on Tristan.
Philip Kendall (right) delivering his speech. Photo: Kelly Green
Philip Kendall's Speech
"Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the passengers of the Agulhas II. This is my fourth annual Agulhas welcome reception, and I have a feeling it could be the best yet.
We are especially delighted to welcome Tristan family members returning home for the first time in years - it is wonderful to have you back, albeit briefly. Alongside you, we have our usual array of experts ensuring that our eyes, teeth, and general health are all in good order. Sean is here keeping the crane in shape, while Dainah is bravely checking for asbestos in my house and office.
I would also like to extend a warm welcome to Tinus and Richard, who are assisting with the smooth handover at the factory. And of course, Andy Wells, who claims to be my successor! I welcome him too, though you still have me as Administrator for the next two weeks until Louise and I depart on the Agulhas. So, although it's not quite goodbye just yet, I would just like to say thank you to the whole community for your friendship over the last three years.
We have achieved a lot together. Thinking back to when I first arrived three years ago, people used to complain constantly about not being able to download their emails. Now the complaint is that Netflix freezes occasionally. That's progress!
We have also been through a lot together, especially in the last six months, with Hantavirus and the storm. There is one person here I would like to personally thank, for his support and guidance from afar during the Hantavirus outbreak. Dr Matt Dryden was behind the scenes, but very much at the forefront of the UK response. Dr Alex has something for you Matt. Please come forward.
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| Dr Matt Dryden, visiting UKHSA Infection Consultant, took the opportunity to recognise the hard work and dedication of Dr Alex, Dr Silvio and the entire hospital team during this year's hantavirus emergency. Dr Alex Wonner presented him with a gift from the community. Photos: Kelly Green |
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Before I hand over to Andy and Ian to say a few words, I have the honour of presenting some well overdue medals. These are mostly for those who were off-island at the time they were first awarded.
- First, the well-deserved Platinum Jubilee medals for Her late Majesty, presented to the Police Service.
- And then, the Coronation medals, presented to our Fire, Search, and Rescue Services.
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| Philip Kendall presenting medals. Photos: Paula Swain & Kelly Green | |
Congratulations to all and thank you once again for joining us tonight.
Thank you all again. Enjoy the rest of the evening, and now Andy, over to you."
The incoming Administrator, Andrew Wells, said a few words, expressing how excited he is about his new posting and looking forward to getting to know everyone and becoming part of island life. He will be sworn in before officially taking up his new position just before the Agulhas departs.
Andrew Wells speaking to the community. Photo: Paula Swain
As a special thank you from the community, Chief Islander Ian Lavarello presented Philip and Louise with a model longboat to mark their time on the island and their contribution to the community.
Philip and Louise Kendall being presented with model longboat to mark their time on Tristan. Photo: Paula Swain
After the speeches and presentations, it was time to relax, catch up and enjoy the evening. The food kept coming from a delicious spread prepared by the Seven Seas Catering team, including some much-loved Tristan lobster. Conversations continued and, before long, the lights were turned down and the music was turned up!
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| Socialising after the speeches. Photos: Paula Swain | |
The dance floor soon filled up, with plenty of dancing, laughter and a few impressive moves keeping everyone entertained well into the evening.
The 'Jerusalema' line dance was a lot of fun. Video still: Paula Swain
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| Tristan's ever popular Pillow Dance. Photos: Paula Swain | |
The dancing continued into the night. Photo: Paula Swain
It was a great night for the community to come together, celebrate Philip and Louise's time on Tristan, welcome Andrew and simply enjoy each other's company.
A big thank you to Philip and Louise for hosting such a fantastic evening, and for everything they have done for the community over the past three years. We wish them both all the very best for the future!
More Ways to Pay on Tristan da Cunha!
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Making payments on or to Tristan has just become even easier. Following the successful introduction of credit card facilities on the island last year, the use of card payments has continued to grow. Building on that success, card machines have now been rolled out to a number of additional locations across the settlement. Residents and visitors can now make card payments at the Tourism Office, Post Office, Island Store, Albatross Bar, Café da Cunha and the Finance Department. The Finance Department will also offer a cashback service in GB Pounds, US dollars, Euros and SA Rand, providing added convenience for visitors and the community. An exciting new development is the launch of the island's Digital Pay-by-Link payment system.* This allows people who are off island to securely make payments online for a range of goods and services. Whether paying an accommodation deposit, purchasing stamps and souvenirs, or settling other charges, payments can now be made quickly and easily from anywhere in the world. The new system will also benefit visiting cruise ships, enabling operators to make payments directly to the island online before or after their visit. This will streamline transactions and help improve efficiency for both visitors and local services. |
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| The currency used on Tristan da Cunha is the GB pound (GBP). | |
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With the 2026/27 tourist season just around the corner, these improvements represent another important step in modernising services and making Tristan more accessible to visitors and customers worldwide. We hope the increased convenience will encourage greater spending on island products and services, boosting local revenue and supporting the community. In short, whether you're buying a postcard in Edinburgh of the Seven Seas, enjoying a drink at the Albatross Bar, or arranging your visit from thousands of miles away, paying for goods and services on Tristan has never been easier. * A secured URL link is shared to customers via email, SMS or WhatsApp prompting an instant settlement by customers. The Pay-by-link digital service entails a 10% transactional fee. |
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Payment Methods now Available
| Method | Fee | Currencies accepted | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | None | GBP, USD, EUR or ZAR | In person on the island |
| Bank Transfer | None | GBP, USD, EUR or ZAR | N.b. Verification by SMS code will not work on Tristan |
| PayPal | 5.60% | GBP only | Tristan's Online Shop - fees included in prices |
| Credit Card | 10% | GBP only | In person on the island (including cashback) or online |
| Pay-by-link | 10% | GBP only | New! |
Page Updated: Tristan da Cunha Cruise Ships |
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| Details of cruise ships that regularly or occasionally visit Tristan da Cunha. 16-Jul-2026 |
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Visit of the Cruise Ship MV Hondius, April 2026 |
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| The cruise ship MV Hondius visited Tristan for three days on the 14th-16th April 2026. 21-Apr-2026 |
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Page Updated: Tristan da Cunha Visitors' Feedback |
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| Feedback from visitors to Tristan da Cunha. 16-Apr-2026 |
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Visits of Yachts Amundsen and Vinson of Antarctica, Easter 2026 |
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| The yachts Amundsen and Vinson of Antarctica visited Tristan on the 8th and 9th March 2026. 11-Apr-2026 |
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Visit of the Cruise Ship Silver Wind, March 2026 |
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| The cruise ship MV Silver Wind visited Tristan on the 29th March 2026. 31-Mar-2026 |
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Visits by the cruise ships Silver Cloud and the SH Diana |
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| The cruise ship MV Silver Cloud visited Tristan from the 19th to 21st March 2026, and was joined by the SH Diana on the 20th March 23-Mar-2026 |
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Visit of the Yacht Nebula |
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| The yacht SV Nebula visited Tristan from the 24th to the 28th February 2026. 3-Mar-2026 |
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- Visits of Yachts Amundsen and Vinson of Antarctica, Easter 2025 (23-Apr-2025) >>
- Visit of the MV Hondius, April 2025 (12-Apr-2025) >>
- Visit by the Bark Europa, April 2025 (8-Apr-2025) >>
- Visit of the Yacht Ursa (3-Apr-2025) >>
- Visit of the MV Silver Wind, March 2025 (27-Mar-2025) >>