Ever Taken A Trip On An Ocean Freighter? (fishing, craft, models)

[Purely Percherons]

I'm fascinated to no end with ocean freighters, oil tankers and the like.

I did alot of ocean fishing as a little girl and one of my favorite places to watch these magnificent ships was while crossing the freighter lanes outside of Ventura California. We'd head out to Santa Cruz island, anchor and I couldn't wait to watch the ships behind us from a distance. What stands out most in my mind, is how eery it was to see a ship in my sights, turn around for a few moments and as my eyes returned to that ship... it had progressed .. significantly. I know there were shipping companies at one time who would accept a limited group of people to travel to origins unknown. You could be on the ocean for 2 weeks or 3 months. perhaps more. I'd imagine you'd have to have some wear-with-all because no one's going to be dropping you off someplace should you encounter rough weather or a big old 10 day belly ache. I've always thought this would be an extraordinary experience. 20 years ago, I visited one related museum and that was the Ports O Call Museum in So.California where there were some beautifully crafted models and displays of big ships.

Has anyone here ever traveled for any length of time on a freighter of any kind? I'd love to hear your experiences. If no freighter travelers, anyone who loves freighters here, I'd love to hear your stories. I love submarines too.... in an eerie kind of way.

Thanks,

Angelea

[Badfish740]

Originally Posted by Purely Percherons

I'm fascinated to no end with ocean freighters, oil tankers and the like.

I did alot of ocean fishing as a little girl and one of my favorite places to watch these magnificent ships was while crossing the freighter lanes outside of Ventura California. We'd head out to Santa Cruz island, anchor and I couldn't wait to watch the ships behind us from a distance. What stands out most in my mind, is how eery it was to see a ship in my sights, turn around for a few moments and as my eyes returned to that ship... it had progressed .. significantly. I know there were shipping companies at one time who would accept a limited group of people to travel to origins unknown. You could be on the ocean for 2 weeks or 3 months. perhaps more. I'd imagine you'd have to have some wear-with-all because no one's going to be dropping you off someplace should you encounter rough weather or a big old 10 day belly ache. I've always thought this would be an extraordinary experience. 20 years ago, I visited one related museum and that was the Ports O Call Museum in So.California where there were some beautifully crafted models and displays of big ships.

Has anyone here ever traveled for any length of time on a freighter of any kind? I'd love to hear your experiences. If no freighter travelers, anyone who loves freighters here, I'd love to hear your stories. I love submarines too.... in an eerie kind of way.

Thanks,

Angelea

I've heard of this, but I wonder if terrorism fears have put a stop to it?

[Purely Percherons]

Originally Posted by Badfish740

I've heard of this, but I wonder if terrorism fears have put a stop to it?

Good point. I'll need to do some research on this.

[burdell]

Originally Posted by Purely Percherons

Good point. I'll need to do some research on this.

I'm interested in taking a freighter cruise and from what I've found it still seems fairly common. The problem is you need to find a non-container ship if you hope to spend any time in ports. I did finfd an Italian car carrier that circles the Mediterranean, sounded interesting and I'd hope cars are slower to on/off loadthan containers. I'd bet the food is great!

[Purely Percherons]

Originally Posted by burdell

I'm interested in taking a freighter cruise and from what I've found it still seems fairly common. The problem is you need to find a non-container ship if you hope to spend any time in ports. I did finfd an Italian car carrier that circles the Mediterranean, sounded interesting and I'd hope cars are slower to on/off loadthan containers. I'd bet the food is great!

Burdell:

Thanks for the reponse and for cripes sakes... make that trip. I hope you do... wow, what a rush! What an experience to behold.

My father traveled on a tanker to Europe sometime back in the 40's. According to him, 7-10 passengers was about the limit, the food was in deed excellent and he gained a new found appreciation for riding out small swells here in our calm Pacific. There were also a few complaining passengers. Some of the passengers felt they should have been entertained which is laughable. You get that on a cruise ship not a working freighter. However, overall, a trip of great solitude and most passengers utilized their many hours aboard by writing and just thinking.
Making new friends they would go on to know for a life time. What better an atmosphere to simply sit and get lost in time. One of the passengers entertained everyone aboard and were invited back by the crew for another journey. It is what you make of it.

I find it relative to train travel. I've done thousands and thousands of miles on trains-cross country and locally both...obsure routes, rough track, slow orders... even an overheated traction motor caught fire heading up the Cascades at 2am on the "Starlate". When people ask about train travel, I tell them if you are willing to accept some delays, some inconveniences and at times, some inherent less than ideal conditions, you won't be disappointed. And there have been times when everything went near perfect as well. You won't be dissapointed if you keep your expectations reasonable.

I'd imagine the same applies to traveling by ship as well. And I think one must be very honest with themselves to what they are and are not willing to live with for sometimes an unspecified time. Thank you for the info.


Angelea

[burdell]

Originally Posted by Purely Percherons

Burdell:

Thanks for the reponse and for cripes sakes... make that trip. I hope you do... wow, what a rush! What an experience to behold.

I'm in the process of hopefully selling my house and relocating, a trip is high on the list after all that's taken care of.

Originally Posted by Purely Percherons

I find it relative to train travel. I've done thousands and thousands of miles on trains-cross country and locally both...obsure routes, rough track, slow orders... even an overheated traction motor caught fire heading up the Cascades at 2am on the "Starlate". When people ask about train travel, I tell them if you are willing to accept some delays, some inconveniences and at times, some inherent less than ideal conditions, you won't be disappointed. And there have been times when everything went near perfect as well. You won't be dissapointed if you keep your expectations reasonable.

Sadly, that applies all too well to air travel these days, I'd much rather be delayed in some exotic port than be sitting in a tin-can on a runway for hours

Originally Posted by Purely Percherons

I'd imagine the same applies to traveling by ship as well. And I think one must be very honest with themselves to what they are and are not willing to live with for sometimes an unspecified time. Thank you for the info.

Angelea

I'd like a freighter trip as much for the trip itself as getting somewhere. I've never been at sea for anything but sport fishing but I love the water The Mediterranean coastline is loaded with history and I'd rather walk through Roman ruins than loll around a pool at some glitzy resort.

[Purely Percherons]

Burdell:

Agreed. I wish you all the best with your house sale & trip. To what destination would be your first choice to travel?

It would be interesting to see a detailed map of all the places these ships travel. You know... the routes, the ports, travel time ... all the stats. Like you said, travel aboard these big ships is possible. One (me) just needs to get off their A$$ and check it out. I simply enjoy driving down to the port here locally, sitting and watching the ships come and go. More interesting on the water though.

[burdell]

Originally Posted by Purely Percherons

Burdell:

Agreed. I wish you all the best with your house sale & trip. To what destination would be your first choice to travel?

It would be interesting to see a detailed map of all the places these ships travel. You know... the routes, the ports, travel time ... all the stats. Like you said, travel aboard these big ships is possible. One (me) just needs to get off their A$$ and check it out. I simply enjoy driving down to the port here locally, sitting and watching the ships come and go. More interesting on the water though.

If I was bucks up, and in today's market it seems unlikely, I'd be looking into an around the world trips, as it is I'd love maybe 30 days around the Mediterranean, I'd especially like to see Herculaneum and Carthage (outside Tunis )

[M3 Mitch]

I Googled "Freighter Travel" or something like that, there are companies that do it, but the prices quoted seem pretty high. I would have thought if you travel on a freighter, the only added expense is to feed you and whatever hot water and other utilities you use, so the price ought to be low (at least cheaper than air fare). So far, the prices on offer for example for an Atlantic crossing are more than air fare, most more than first class.

[k350]

I have done a few freighter trips escorting weapons.

It is painfully dull and boring, better bring a computer and some games.

I do not see why anyone would ever want to travel that way as it takes forvever to get to your destination and when you are in port you are not there very long, plus for the cost, you can travel way more efficently.