Ascension : Tourist Ship Aleksey Maryshev Visits Ascension
Submitted by The Islander (Nathan Prince) 30.03.2006 (Article Archived on 13.04.2006)

Not exactly a cruise liner to look at, but serving the same function for the intrepid passengers on board.

Not exactly a cruise liner to look at, but serving the same function for the intrepid passengers on board. This is a tourist expedition to some of the remotest Islands of the South Atlantic with the main aim of landing on Bouvet Island, the least visited island in the world, I was told by Jan Belgers the expedition leader.
       The expedition started in Argentina and set of to explore these remote islands, not exactly on the tourist trail, they have visited the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, South Sandwich Islands, Bouvet Island, Tristan de Cuna, St Helena, and Ascension Island they will finish their expedition in the Cape Verde Islands, taking 37 days to complete their voyage. Every passenger that wished to go ashore and visit these islands were accommodated, even though the landings were not the easiest to carry out as they were from RHIB’s and the average age of the passengers was, what shall we say, most would probably qualify for their bus pass, but ever so young at heart.
       Captain, V. Gayvoronsky, showed his impressive photo collection, taken during this trip, of the wildlife in these remote places. There were some very good close up pictures, as the animals did not seem to mind the visitors, even one of a photographer crouched to take a shot and a penguin pecking his foot.
       The passengers (approx 15 different nationalities) all belong to an American based club called the Century Club, and to be a member you must have evidence of visiting at least100 countries. The holder of the record for the most travelled person in the Guinness book of records was onboard. Jan thought he was well travelled but could only muster around 56 countries.
       The Islander volunteers would like to take this opportunity to pass on their thanks for the invitation to once again having the privilege of visiting, and enjoy the hospitality of these ships and help in some small way to promote Ascension Island.