Freighter Cruises

Author Message   Doris Noblet Senior Member Username: Dorknob Post Number: 997 Registered: 09-2003 Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 10:08 pm:    I have a nephew who, before he retired, was a Chief Engineer on one of those container ships. I asked him recently what he thought about passengers on the ships. He didn't think it was such a good idea. For example, if you should get sick or fall and break a bone, or whatever, there would be no doctor on board to treat you. It would be very expensive for the ship to put into a port that wasn't on their schedule so that you could be treated. Whether you would have to foot the bill, I don't know. If we were younger, I would think it would be a great adventure, though.   Marv Feldman Senior Member Username: Marv Post Number: 1112 Registered: 02-2005 Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 09:34 pm:    Last time I checked, the price was about $100 per day (of sailing) per person i.e. a five day trip cost $500. Happy traveling, Marv   JOHN M. NETTLE New member Username: Sail_on Post Number: 4 Registered: 09-2007 Posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008 - 08:37 pm:    We took a container ship cruise about seven years ago. We left out of Houston and visited ports throughout the Carribean and Vera Cruz Mexico. We were on the water and ports 21 days. We were the only passengers. I loved it; my wife was bored. She read 14 books during the cruise. There's little to do except use the exercise equipment or salt water (small) pool. I brought a hammock and relaxed a great deal of the time. The captain & officers were mostly Romanian along with a German chief engineer. You couldn't meet a more pleasant group of men. The crew was Philipino. They treated us with great respect. Yes, we ate with the officers but the crew threw us a (Fan Tail) BBQ and it was memorable to say the least. The food was acceptable and we usually had a choice of a few dishes. If all failed, there was alway chicken or ham that the cook would fix for us. I would go again, but the wife says no. If you decide to give it a try, travel with another couple or two. They usually carry anwhere from 4 to 12 passengers. 12 is the limit; if more are carried there has to be a doctor on board. Regular cruise lines are less expensive but if you're looking for something unique that you can talk about for a long time, try it. If there's anyone who's going and you want company, give me a yell. With others traveling my wife may change her mind.   Mike McCrystal Advanced Member Username: Stinkin_badges Post Number: 33 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Monday, May 26, 2008 - 01:26 pm:    Try freightercruises.com. Used to be known as Maris Cruises. We almost took one around the Caribbean. A glitch in the ship's schedule affected our plans at the last minute and we had to cancel. As the posts below stated, they aren't for everyone. One good thing though, as you may be the only pax, you'll eat with the captain and crew. Better bring some good reading material.   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 3490 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Sunday, May 25, 2008 - 08:16 pm:    A few years ago we, too, looked into freighter trips. After reading the accounts of several people who had voyaged on some of them, we too decided against it. The ships dock in very industrial areas with little or no available transportation to local towns or sights, and you are at the mercy of the ship's schedule so often they will stay very short times in any port and/or change the schedule so you have to be back much sooner than you hoped (or else miss the sailing). We would love the time at sea, but would also want to get to see some of the fabulous sights in places where we docked (not just be stuck the pier!). Also since they carry so few passengers, if you have an unpleasant shipmate that can cause real problems because you are unable to avoid him or her. Unfortunately, I cannot recall where we found those web sites but I bet if you search around you'll discover some that discuss such trips in great detail.   Kenneth Intermediate Member Username: Keno Post Number: 21 Registered: 07-2006 Posted on Sunday, May 25, 2008 - 05:41 pm:    Joe, There is a newsletter through TravLtips.com which will give you further information. We looked into taking a Freighter Cruise several years ago, but deceided against it as most of the time the ports utilized are way out into the "boonies" and limited time in any given area.   Joe Lippo Senior Member Username: Momojoe Post Number: 151 Registered: 06-2006 Posted on Sunday, May 25, 2008 - 05:29 pm:    I looked this up on the internet. Looks cool, but of course I would like to solicit input from anyone who has been on a cruise on a cargo ship. Doesn't seem like the longer ones would be so good for the kids, but the shorter ones to more popuplar locations appear to be pretty reasonably priced. Any opinions?