RMS St. Helena

The RMS needs your vote!

james — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 10:58:10 +0000

We’re proud to announce that the RMS St Helena has been nominated in multiple categories in the Cruise International Awards 2011 – the UK’s only cruise awards chosen by the passengers themselves. In association with Cruise Today – Travel Channel and Discover Cruises, the awards are a celebration of everything that makes sea-travel the holiday of a lifetime.

The RMS St Helena has been shortlisted for ‘cruise line of the year’ and ‘best value cruise line’ accolades. Vote now to ensure this unique passenger/cargo vessel wins a prestigious award. The island of St Helena has also been nominated for the ‘hidden gems – places you can only get to by sea’ award.

Click here to cast your vote – www.cruise-international.com/awards
Hurry – voting closes on 28 August.

RMS back in Portland next month

james — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 15:43:53 +0000

The RMS makes a welcome return to UK shores next month, scheduled to dock in Portland on 15 March. It’s 18 months since she was last in her English terminal port following a stint in dry dock in Cape Town in 2010. Her next visit to the UK is scheduled for October.

Festivals galore on St Helena

james — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 15:44:32 +0000

Set sail for St Helena and coincide a visit with one of the upcoming events and festivals taking place on this stunning island. Stride out on St Helena in May (17-24) when the plays Island hosts to the Walking festival. Locals and visitors from around the world are invited to enjoy St Helena’s diverse landscapes through a special programme of walks of varying difficulty and interest. Led by informative guides, the walks celebrate the routes that so few people have ever walked. Hot on the Walking Festival’s heels will be the Festival of Running. Taking place from 13-21 July, the festival includes a 10k road race, but the highlight is the challenging ascent of the iconic (and steep) Jacob’s Ladder – a 699-step climb out of the capital, Jamestown

RMS passes QM2!

james — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:43:23 +0000

Queen Mary 2 (‘QM2′), the largest, longest, widest, tallest and most expensive passenger liner in history, cruised by Tristan da Cunha on 1st February. Check out this picture capturing her passing the Royal Mail Ship at 1330.

New hosted voyage announced on the RMS

james — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 15:44:56 +0000

Calling all intrepid travellers! St Helena Line has introduced a new 22-day hosted Hideaway Tour on the RMS. Departing 17th June 2011 and costing from £2,395 per person, the tour will be led by Colin Lewis, Professor Emeritus of Rhodes University (South Africa). Hugely knowledgable about the island of St Helena and its fascinating history and natural environment, Prof. Lewis will offer a unique insight into this British outpost. Arriving in St Helena on the 22nd June, the group will be joined by Island residents Basil George and Vanessa Thomas for a diverse eight-day itinerary. For full details, click here

Message from the Captain

james — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 13:29:59 +0000

As we head Northwest toward St. Helena in calm seas and making good speed, we take time to reflect on the past 96 hectic hours in Cape Town.

Since arriving at E berth on Saturday afternoon, the Engineering team and Shore Contractors have worked almost non-stop to get the newly rebuilt starboard engine up and running by Sunday evening. At the same time we loaded general cargo and some 51 containers for the Island, and the Hotel department continued with the loading of stores and preparation of the passenger cabins.

On Monday the ship proceeded to sea trials on both engines, at 0900 hrs local time. This was another busy day for the engine room boys, with the testing and commissioning of the new equipment, and the testing of both stabilisers. We returned to the port at 1700 hrs local, only to be advised that the Pilot would not be available until 1930, so a long day became even longer by the time the ship was all secured back at E berth.

Sailing day is always busy onboard and Tuesday was no exception. Final stores had to be loaded, baggage brought onboard, Safety Muster to take place, sludge to be discharged, GPO and diplomatic mail loaded, Lloyd’s Surveyor in attendance, certificates handed over, Hotel staff completing the passenger accommodation, the balance of the cargo to be loaded; and of course the final adjustments made in the engine room after the trials. So it was with some relief that, loaded with 71 containers, 815 tonnes of cargo, 117 passengers and 55 crew, we cast off our last line at 1756 hrs local time, and headed out of Cape Town harbour with three long blasts of the ship’s whistle, and Dave Mitchell singing ‘My St. Helena Island’ throughout the ship on the PA system.

After a calm night at sea, with passengers and crew well rested, we are now back into our wonderful life on the ocean waves.

Rodney Young
Master