ALL ABOARD: Travel by cargo
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ALL ABOARD: Travel by cargo
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The marine equivalent of a freight train is increasing in popularity. Those who have tried it will tell you, there is nothing quite like it.
pros:
The biggest luxury a cargo ship offers is time. Meals are organised in a military fashion( breakfast at 7.00 am, lunch at 11.30 am and dinner at 5.00 pm) but passengers are free to enjoy the rest of the day as they please.“ The hours just expand when you are at sea. It’ s magic,” says Pablo Guerrero, a 27-year-old carpenter who traveled by cargo ship from Brisbane to Hong Kong.
Workers in shipping agencies know that cargo travellers are unconventional, which increases the chances of making interesting acquaintances on board. Not to mention the crew who are often eager to share their impressive stories.
Storage space is ample- no need to squeeze everything into a small bag or pay overweight baggage charges.
Last, but not the least, being at sea provides the perfect excuse to not answer your phone. cons:
Cargo passengers can say goodbye to their WiFi addiction. It may be blissful to ignore your inbox but those expecting important emails should beware; internet at sea is often unreliable.
It is hard to know how the body will react to 14 days on a boat but being seasick is always a possibilty. Though its a rarity on large ships, the first few days of travel are usually accompanied by drowsiness.“ I didn’ t mind being drowsy because I suffer from insomnia and it helped me sleep,” says Olga Palet, a TV producer that boarded a ship from Spain to Turkey.
Food is usually abundant but its type and quality depends entirely on the skill of the chef.
Boredom can easily be an issue. There is no other entertainment than the changing sky, the roaring of the engine and the ticking away of the hours. tips:
- The best people to be friends on the boat with are the cook and the captain.
- It is good to pack food for the soul in the form of books and music.
- If a person is trying to stay away from alcohol, boarding a cargo ship is not the best idea.
- Freighters usually carry between five to 12 passengers.
- The cost of travelling by cargo ship is around £ 70 a day per person including meals.
- Most agencies require passengers to take out an International Health and Accident Insurance
- Some countries sometimes have special visa regulations for those arriving by sea.
- Bookings can be easily made through websites like Cargoshipvoyage. com and Crossocean. com
// Laura Secorun bridget coila
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