29 January 2026: Blog Post 7

With no natural harbour at Easter Island, swells in 2020 were too high to go ashore. Deeply disappointed! Circumnavigating the island enabled observing the Maui’s from sea: special. This time, again, unable to go ashore. Flying in it seems, the only “guarantee” of getting there!

With no Easter Island, from Lima Peru to “land” at Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands archipelago, French Polynesia: 10 seadays!

We did anchor at remote Pitcairn Island, world’s smallest National Jurisdiction population. 2/3 of the 37 inhabitants trace ancestry to the 1789 Bounty Mutiny sailors. Each year more people summit Everest than get onto Pitcairn!

Getting ashore in 2020 was a distinctive experience. Ray and a friend hiked to the mountain top: beautiful views. We bought stamps, sent postcards, lunched with locals. This time, unable to go ashore, 18 people, (50% of population) boarded our ship, presented about Pitcairn; sold wares: T-shirts, disease free honey, wooden bowls, carvings, stamps, shell jewelry. A “reunion” with retired postmaster Ray met in 2020!

British Government sponsors Pitcairn. A UNESCO Marine Protected Area. Contracted Doctor. Starlink WiFi. For emergencies: 30-hour trips to French Polynesia! 7-member democratically elected Island council. Part time police, magistrate, judge. Food ships every three months, supplemented by locally grown produce and fishing. With limited prospects, most young people leave for New Zealand.

The ship has various lounges, restaurants, areas to read, work, drink coffee. Staff mostly from Asian and African countries including Zimbabwe, South Africa. Passengers mostly from North America, Europe, Australia. We are the only South African passengers. I spend time in the library area, aqua aerobics class (sea swells make it challenging!), my own art daily but in company of others. Ray goes to gym. We attend “destination” lectures. Many regulars lounge at swimming pool and hot tubs.  Multiple ship activities that we don’t go to: French; bridge; dance, choir; bingo, Trivia… Sometimes we go to high quality night entertainment: local, guest, ship based: performers, musicians, comedians, dancers…

A rarefied chance to enjoy far flung places, from the same suite with no need to unpack more than once. This experience an extreme privilege!