Page Updated: Tristan da Cunha Visitors' Feedback |
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| Feedback from visitors to Tristan da Cunha. 15-Apr-2024 |
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Visit of the MV Hondius, April 2024
Report from Kelly Green with additional photos by Andre Repetto and Michael Bertram.
The MV Hondius's visit to Tristan and its archipelago started on the 9th April 2024. Passengers were able to complete zodiacs tours which were thoroughly enjoyed.
The ship arrived outside the settlement on the 10th April in the afternoon, and zodiacs came ashore to pick up the immigration team.
MV Hondius Offshore. Photo: Andre Repetto
The plan was to clear immigration and then head over to Inaccessible island to try and make a landing in the morning of the 11th April. Unfortunately the weather was not cooperating and landings were not possible. However the Harbour was looking good on our side so she headed back to Tristan and she was off the settlement at 9:00am.
Landing passengers in Calshot Harbour. Photo: Andre Repetto
Operations began at 9:30am when passengers started to be ferried ashore.
From the Harbour groups of hikers headed up the 1961 volcano and to the Thatched House Museum. It was a lovely clear day! Others were keen to stretch their legs and went on self-guided tours to the Potato Patches and Holiday Homes. Some also did this tour via taxi.
Hikers gathered at Park '61 on the lava flow...
...and nearing the top of the 1961 volcano with settlement (left) and the Hondius offshore in the background.
Photos: Andre Repetto
At 11:00am there was a tour of St Mary's School after which a presentation was done for the pupils about astronomy by an expert passenger. They were fascinated and very intrigued by all the new wonderful information. Maybe one day one of them will became an astronomer!?
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Lunch was served and it was a delicious plate of Lobster Salad, with a slice of lime. The Factory Manager, Wynand conducted a tour of the fish factory at 1:30pm, which visitors are always so interested in and ask loads of questions. |
Lunch: Lobster salad with a slice of lime. |
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At 3:00pm the Tristanian passengers joined the ship. They will be spending some time on St Helena doing training. These passengers were: Jason Green, Natalie Swain & Noah Green, and Vera & Stephanie Glass. Not only did the MV Hondius kindly take passengers but also a consignment of Tristan potatoes for our friends and families on St Helena. We are so appreciative of this and I'm sure St Helena will be too! |
Loads of postcards were bought and written, the most of any other cruise ship this season!
The signs outside the Post Office & Tourism Centre are always popular. Photo: Kelly Green
The wind picked up slightly and guests started to head back to the vessel all thanking us for a brilliant day ashore. All the passengers and crew were so pleasant!
One of the zodiacs taking Tristan potatoes for St Helena back to the Hondius. Photo: Kelly Green
At around 4:30pm the Acting Administrator, Chief Operations Officer Micheal Bertram was invited to the ship by the Captain for a plaque exchange. He was then asked to join a fabulous reception on deck and he was so appreciative of their kind hospitality. Unfortunately he could not stay on board too late and all operations were over by about 6:00pm!
Acting Administrator Michael Bertram gives a Tristan plaque to the Captain. Photo: Michael Bertram
We could hear the laughter and music from the vessel as they enjoyed a barbecue and disco into the evening. It's always so beautiful to see ships lit up on the calm South Atlantic Ocean.
And just like that the cruise season has now ended. It has been a great one and hope next year will be even better.
If you were on the MV Hondius, we'd welcome your feedback using our Visitors' Feedback Form.
Visit of the MS Ambience, April 2024
Report and photos from Kelly Green.
The cruise ship MS Ambience arrived at Tristan da Cunha in the morning of the 10th April 2024 just after 6:00am.
MS Ambience close offshore in the morning
The ship came in close to the settlement, which gave passengers a good view, but unfortunately no landing operations were possible then due to the swell. However she went for a cruise around the island and came back a few hours later to see if conditions had improved
Close-up of the Ambience inshore, showing passengers lining the rails for a good view of the settlement,
while curiously the BBC News is shown on the outdoor cinema screen of her lido deck.
When the Ambience returned at 11:00am, operations were cancelled by the Captain. Even though the harbour was workable for islanders, the ship was not able to use her tenders to land passengers, and it was deemed unsafe for island personnel to board the vessel using her pilot ladder.
This was a sad disappointment for all the islanders as they had spent two days in preparation. All the shops had packed up enough items to take on board to sell to over 1000 passengers and 500 crew!
But safety comes first! We wish her safe sailing onwards to Brazil!
Bags and boxes of handicrafts, stamps and souvenirs ready to be taken on board the MS Ambience,
which alas did not happen on this occasion
The Post Office and Tourism Team has been getting lots of emails from passengers onboard wishing to send postcards. What the team will do is let them purchase these online and they can personalise the postcards on their behalf with their messages to relatives and friends. The team will then post them from the island with Tristan stamps and postmarks. Hopefully, that will cheer some people up!
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| Some of the stamps and souvenirs that would have been taken on board | |
If you were on the MS Ambience, we'd welcome your feedback using our Visitors' Feedback Form.
Visit of the Cruise Ship MS Seaventure, March 2024 |
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| The cruise ship MS Seaventure visited Tristan from the 29th to 31st March 2024 2-Apr-2024 |
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Three ships visit Tristan on the 19th March 2024 |
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| The cruise ships National Geographic Explorer and SH Vega, and the ketch Tecla visited Tristan on the 19th March 2024. 26-Mar-2024 |
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Further details of the sinking of the yacht Nina Pope |
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| More information on the loss of the 'Nina Pope'two days after her visit to Tristan. 25-Mar-2024 |
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Visit of the cruise ship Silver Cloud, March 2024 |
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| The cruise ship 'Silver Cloud' visited Tristan on the 15th March 2024. 19-Mar-2024 |
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Tragic Sequel to the Visit by Yacht Nina Pope |
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| The yacht 'Nina Pope' sank in a storm on the 14th March 2024, two days after she visited Tristan. 16-Mar-2024 |
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Return Visit of Yacht Nina Pope, March 2024 |
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| The sailing yacht 'Nina Pope' visited Tristan on the 12th March 2024. 12-Mar-2024 |
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