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.