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Hello everyone. I'll be retiring soon and plan on taking a world cruise, but want to do it on a working ship.
Been doing a little research and the best price I've found so far is $9,990 for an eighty-four day voyage on a container ship operated by The French Line CMA CGM. I know I must update my passport, purchase insurance, get a Visa for Australia, get a physical, and get a shot for yellow fever.
What reason would there be to spend $10,000 and leave the comforts and security of home for three months? Adventure, thrill of travel, meet new people, are all good reasons, but they seem trivial. From past travels I know that an extended trip in unfamiliar surroundings strips away our blanket of routine, producing a stimulating experience. That is my objective.
Anyone have any experience traveling by frieghter?
I'll be retiring soon and plan on taking a world cruise...
Been doing a little research and the best price I've found so far is $9,990 for an eighty-four day voyage...
The idea of taking a berth on a freighter for any one leg of a long trip certainly has appeal...
but frankly I'd be leery of committing myself to one ship and THEIR schedule for 3 months.
Could you post their itinerary and not how many days in each port they plan for?
Vessels vary, but from what I've read specialized container ships make relatively fast voyages and operate on rigid time schedules, rarely staying in port for more than 24 hours. Ocean frieghters carry, on average about six passengers. Accommodations are simple but good, often in cabins used for owners or officials of the shipping line. You take meals with the crew.
Itinerary:
1. New York, USA
2. Norfolk, USA
3. Savannah, USA
4. Manzanillo, Panama
5. Panama Canel Transit
6. Papeete, Tahiti 18.
7. Auckland, New Zealand
8. Noumea, New Caledonia
9. Sydney, Australia
10. Melbourne Aus
11. Adelaide, Aus
12. Fremantle, Aus
13. Singapore
14. Jeddah, Saudia Arabia
15. Damietta, Egypt
16. Suez Canel Transit
17. Malta
18. La Spezia, Italy
19. Tilbury, England
20. Hamburg, Germany
21. Rotterdam, Holland
22. Dunkirk, France
23. Le Havre, France.
24. New York, USA
Only about 1 percent of the world's fleet will carry passengers, but thats still about 300 ships. It is common to join a ship for an interesting segment of its itinerary, and then fly home or get off and pick up another ship later. For me time will not be an issue. The slower the better. I think I can survive a voyage with no casinos, no swimming pools and no late night buffets.
...container ships make relatively fast voyages and operate on rigid time schedules, rarely staying in port for more than 24 hours.
This is my understanding as well... and the basis for my reservation about the plan.
I wouldn't need a week in every spot but less than one day in the interesting places? No thanks.
Quote:
I think I can survive a voyage with no casinos, no swimming pools and no late night buffets.
After being aboard ship for a week or three you might begin to realize why cruise ships have pools and casino's and bars and even those late night buffets.
Quote:
It is common to join a ship for an interesting segment of its itinerary, and then fly home or get off and pick up another ship later.
Now your talking!
For any one leg of an extended 'round the world trip I think it would be a great option.
My intention isn't to rain on your parade, so... Bon Voyage.
I hope you enjoy the trip.
Last edited by MrRational; 07-01-2012 at 10:32 AM..
No problems MrRational. I have an umberella. Thanks for the comments. I was just wondering if anyone had cruised on a freighter and what it was like. I was in the Navy and have spent a fair amount of time at sea. I enjoy being at sea.
I realize on a working ship passengers are at the low end of the priority list and are responsible for their own well being and responsible for our own diversions. But you will have private quarters, have access to areas off limits on cruise ships, and dine with the officers. Always wanted to do it.
A freighter will not be a "cruise experience" by any means. It's transportation...food for food's sake, not for the pleasure of dining....and no fun "ports of call"....
Not something I'd like to do!
It sounds like camping vs. a resort! I'll take the resort anyday!
A freighter will not be a "cruise experience" by any means. It's transportation...food for food's sake, not for the pleasure of dining....and no fun "ports of call"....
Not something I'd like to do!
It sounds like camping vs. a resort! I'll take the resort anyday!
Agree^^^
I'd not want to spend $10,000 on a ship just to watch it load and unload at a few ports. You probably won't be able to get off the ship, or if you do a few hours in a port isn't seeing much. Then there's probably only card playing entertainment, maybe some video games and general food that you won't have the opportunity to choose from a menu. Will you need visa's at any of the ports if you do get off. Some can be costly.
Seas on a freighter can be rough. Freighters are to get from point A to point B asap for profitability, not pleasure.
Hello everyone. I'll be retiring soon and plan on taking a world cruise, but want to do it on a working ship.
Been doing a little research and the best price I've found so far is $9,990 for an eighty-four day voyage on a container ship operated by The French Line CMA CGM. I know I must update my passport, purchase insurance, get a Visa for Australia, get a physical, and get a shot for yellow fever.
What reason would there be to spend $10,000 and leave the comforts and security of home for three months? Adventure, thrill of travel, meet new people, are all good reasons, but they seem trivial. From past travels I know that an extended trip in unfamiliar surroundings strips away our blanket of routine, producing a stimulating experience. That is my objective.
Anyone have any experience traveling by frieghter?
My brother wanted to do this once when we were in high school. I thought he was crazy because I figured freighters didn't do this. After reading the thread, I stand corrected. Seems adventurous and different! But only 24 hours in each port means that out of 80 days you're only on land for about a third of the time. All that ocean time with no fellow travelers would get old after a while. Unless I'm working on the ship that would get boring.
You are going to spend $10k to watch ships load/unload in some ports? And you consider this a vacation?
What ever floats your boat I guess, I could think of a lot better way to vacation for that amount of money, and would see and experience a heck of a lot more.
Not to be critical of your plans, but I am seriously wondering what you find so vacationing and nice about being on a freighter for basically 80 days straight, the boredom would leave me in a coma, the crew does it for money as their incentive. And you are paying $10k for it! I could see doing it for free or a few hundred bucks just for the experience, but not $10k.
I have done some freighter runs before while in the military as part of a security detachment for ships transiting from the Med to the Gulf, and even that short time was a mind numbing dull experience. There is absolutely nothing to do on board one of those things, the crew basically after their watch retreat to their rooms and play games on their laptop.
My advice would be to allot that $10k for a much better vacation.
No way in hell would I do this....most of the time you'll be at sea, and there are NO amenities like big dining rooms, midnight buffets, pools, stage shows, casino's, bars, etc.
Try finding a far shorter version of this, like NYC to Rotterdam and back, or one that transits the Panama Canal. A new class of massive container ships will come into the market next year and will transit the Panama Canal on a route between China and Baltimore...that might be pretty cool.
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because I figured freighters didn't do this. After reading the thread, I stand corrected. Seems adventurous and different! But only 24 hours in each port means that out of 80 days you're only on land for about a third of the time. All that ocean time with no fellow travelers would get old after a while. Unless I'm working on the ship that would get boring.
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