International law restricts the quantity of passengers to 12 unless there is a doctor on staff, a luxury not found on freighters. Container ships, the most common freighters, only transport packaged goods in huge multicoloured metal containers. How to book a freighter cruise freighter expeditions. An around the world voyage lasts generally 80 to 100 days or more. Cruising on a container ship freighter expeditions unique.
How to travel by ship from america to europe usa today. Whether you love the sea, are conscious of your carbon footprint, dont like. So, if you are someone who is prone to motion sickness, think carefully about booking passage on a cargo ship. For example, here is a voyage that my wife and i really like duration 27 days for 2700. Freighter cruising an option for adventurous travelers abc news. You can spend the day on deck in a lounge chair, reading your favorite book with no disturbances. If you are travelling on a freighter for the first time, a short trip is recommended as it is vastly different from passenger ship cruising. Many questions about freighter cruises are answered. Maris freighter cruise and travel club around the world cargo.
Booking a cargo freighter ship cruise is not quite as simple as booking a normal cruise. Cargo ship cruises are the most likely way to get from point a to point b on a low. The golden number in freighter travel is 12 this is the maximum number of passengers that any ship can carry without having to have a doctor onboard. All you need to know about booking a cargo ship cruise. Continues roundtrip voyages are offered, as well as longer one way voyages, between the continents only. It is always more expensive for a single to book a double cabin and always cheaper per person for double occupancy of a double cabin. We have teamed up with hamish jamieson at freightertravel nz, based in napier, new zealand, who have a register of almost every passenger carrying cargo ship in the world and provide a worldwide booking service for freighter ship cruises. This site has evolved over the past three years, based mainly on my own experiences aboard ship and in dealings with agents, shipping companies, and the officers and crew of several ships. Win a trip on aboard an interlake freighter drawing september 16, 2011 winner. Container ships ply every ocean, and passengers can book intercontinental passage on both east and westbound cruises.
A typical freighter only can accommodate about 20 passengersand many take even fewer. Passengers are likely to meet some of the crew and get a peek into the nittygritty of shipboard life. But if a quiet, slower paced, more intimate way of travel and the opportunity to learn and experience different cultures around the world sounds interesting to you, then maybe youll want to consider booking passage on a cargo freighter. Cargo ship voyages is not the supplier or organizer of these voyages, acting as booking agent only of the shipping company. Niall doherty founder and lead editor at ebiz facts. Can i work on a freighter for all or part of my passage. The ocean travels from halifax to montreal three times a week. A wellkept secret in these days of airport anxiety is that it is still possible to book a regularly scheduled sea passage to most parts of the world. Only one company, polish ocean lines, maintains an office in the united states for booking passengers.
Just remember to book your passage in advance because you cant just show up at a port to jump on a ship on a whim. The senior cutoff age ranges from 70 to 85 years, depending on the shipping line, and seniors over 65 may need a doctors. A word of advice to the cargo ship traveler, be flexible. It is not overstating it to say that some people think that freighter cruising is a life changer. Unfortunately due to covid19, no freighter ships are taking passengers at this time and we cannot book any journeys for you. West coast to australianew zealand and return takes about 46 days. Travelling on a cargo ship is a unique experience, offering an exclusive and authentic insight into the world of commercial shipping. Big kanu in indonesia indonesian sea trek malaysia to china plus short. Todays passenger freighters are mostly containerships, french and german, with 2025 international officers and crew on board, and 2 to 6 passengers max. Check with the freighter line for an estimate of how stable the ship will be in the conditions of seas typical during your intended season of travel. Cargo vessels usually take no more than 12 passengers along, as by.
Rose george, the speaker, took passage on the maersk kendal to learn about ocean freight shipping on a container ship. A voyage on a cargo ship can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. Shorter trips will run for a few weeks, which is likely the case with great lakes freighter cruises. May 04, 2015 in fact, heres a youtube video from mrmf22 chronicling his trip across the ocean as a passenger on a cargo container ship. But if a quiet, slower paced, more intimate way of travel and the opportunity to learn and experience different cultures around the world sounds interesting to you, then maybe youll want to consider booking. Freighter travel is a less crowded alternative for crossing a sea or ocean, not using airplanes or commercial cruise ships or ferries. The beginning of my journey crossing the pacific ocean by container ship. No, you are not on a standard commercial cruise ship. Below is a report by one of our clients about her experience of travelling on container ships by heather c.
You can travel from one port to another or around the world by freighter. In this article youre going to learn everything you need to know about booking a cargo ship travel adventure. How to travel by cargo ship around the world transitions abroad. Traveling by freighter is a great way to see the sights of alaska without the hurry and congestion of commercial cruises. Most passengercarrying freighters have a maximum capacity of from one to twelve passengers. Some people will choose to spend several months traveling across the ocean and even around the world. Travel by freighter to europe, mediterranean, south pacific. Feb 04, 2008 part 1 of a macgellan report featuring a tour of a container freighter ship at sea south of australia january 31, 2008. One of the most unique ways to travel to alaska is by freighter, or cargo ship. Most freighter passengers are retired, and many are women. Jan 06, 2011 most freighter lines have minimum and maximum ages for passengers.
Ill also tell you about my own trip across the pacific ocean on a cargo ship. The passage conditions of the shipping company are valid, binding and nonnegotiable. This is the most frequently asked question i get via email. Whether a cargo ship has 1 or 101 passengers onboard, it will still sail and. Book your passage, either through the travel agency or directly through the shipping companys agent or manager. We are able to offer voyages on several different types of vessel such as container ships, bulk carriers and carvehicle carriers. The average length of a freighter voyage is 40 to 50 days, though there are some shorter trips available last a couple of weeks. The popular oldschool romantic notion of showing up penniless at a dock with a rucksack and then earning your passage by swabbing the decks will have to remain in robert louis stevenson novels. The last few years the markets have been stormy for the shipping industry, with the overcapacity and low freight rates exacerbating each other. Cargo ships usually offer single, twin or double bed cabins. They give an additional spirit to your sabbatical year or help people in special situations, such as after a burnoutsyndrome to get the required break. Whether a cargo ship has 1 or 101 passengers onboard, it will still sail and use just as much fuel, making your journey almost completely carbon neutral.
Many people are surprised when they find out that freighter travel is often more expensive than flying and i just looked at the website of the australian company freighter expeditions and found most of the trips listed even more expensive. Oct 18, 2018 the specific length of your stay will depend on the ship line. Trip auction aboard the saginaw bidding ends august 1. The cost should include any port fees, room and meals. In these regions, ships may have to wait for days to be given access to the final port, facilities are bad, you likely have to bring your own food, and service is sporadic and unreliable you will have to check. Slowtravel specialist in freighter travel worldwide. Freighter travel is here to advise you on all aspects of cargo travel and to assist you in planning a trip to remember. The small passenger capacity is due to lack of medical staff on board. Tips for booking passage on a freighter ship its a. Freighter travel specialists in cargo passenger travel. Slowtravel specialist in freighter travel worldwide langsamreisen. Its relatively inexpensive compared to other cruise ships and easy to do as more and more freighter companies come on board to offer passenger service. How many passengers are typically carried on a freighter.
Cargo ship cruises are the most likely way to get from point a to point b on a low carbon dioxide level for experiencing a freighter cruise around the world for instance. You must be under 77 or 80 depending on the shipping line to do a cargo ship cruise. Many ships will have accommodation for fewer than 12 passengers it is quite common for only 23 people to be onboard you could even have the entire ship to yourself. Freighter travel is a less crowded alternative for crossing a sea or ocean, not. Cruising on a container ship freighter expeditions. This may have been possible decades ago, but not anymore.
Maris freighter cruise and travel club intl, offering voyages from coastal and island specialties to oneway ocean crossings and aroundtheworld cruises. Many ships only have 2 to 4 cabins so you will usually need to book up to 6. Restructuring continues, creating new alliances, particularly on the worlds number one and two trade routes. We have a couple of such questions on the site, but not many. Becoming a crew member on a modern cargo ship requires years of study and training. Walking past a huge international shipyard twice today got me thinking about freighter travel. Cargo ship cruises how to book passage on a freighter.
Freighter travel is a cheap alternative to flying on a plane. Schedules can, and very often do change and when that happens, you will need to hop on and off more than one ship during the trip. Jan 07, 2020 new zealand freighter travel, londonbased cruise people, and maris freighter cruises. Crossing the ocean on a cargo ship the art of manliness. There are cruise ships that get around the act by taking on passengers in ensenada, mexico or vancouver, canada. Below is a report by one of our clients about her experience of travelling on container ships.
If youre happy to pay for your trip aboard a cargo ship, follow these steps to make a booking. Freighter travel plan and explore your cruise around the world. How to book passage on a freighter the new york times. The ship docked in busan at 11 am and departed at 6 pm, just long enough to load and unload containers. The sea of containers atop the cargo ship docked in busan, south korea. You absolutely cannot work aboard a cargo ship in exchange for passage. Info on freighter travel cost, and how you can take a cruise on a freighter ship. You might want to look into whether or not you can find freighter travel from either of those two cities. Yes, booking passage on a cargo freighter is completely different from a cruise ship. Many of us prefer that experience to a highly orchestrated shipboard experience. You will likely dine with the captain and officers of the ship, though direct contact with the crew is also part of the experience. Freighter travel for everybody travelling by freighter offers a good opportunity for people with fear of flying. Cargo ship travel things you should know freighter expeditions. No matter where you book, the average daily cost on a cargo ship will be between.
Freighter travel costs and questions gonomad travel. Hamish jamieson freightertravel nz 248 kennedy road, napier, new zealand. Freight tickets are usually cheaper than cruise ship prices, and availability is limited to fewer fellow travelers, usually around 10 people. We dont offer package voyages there are so many options available to you that we like to create a personalised itinerary to suit your needs. Freighter travel is virtually the only way to travel across the caspian sea and is a very common way to travel across the black sea.
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