Once a popular pastime of nomads, authors, students and professors on sabbatical, retirees with time on their hands, and the adventurous wealthy class, freighter cruising dropped to near extinction in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. In 1986, there were only 45 ships a year sailing from US ports. Today, over 150 passengers traverse the waters of the globe on a regular basis. So, why the resurgence of interest in a method of travel thought to be outdated not so long ago? Because, for those fascinated by the sea and those who live on it nothing compares to a freighter cruise.
Revival of a nomadic travel tradition
By Lisa Klassen, staff writer
Published: July, 2005
Once a popular pastime of nomads, authors, students and professors on sabbatical, retirees with time on their hands, and the adventurous wealthy class, freighter cruising dropped to near extinction in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. In 1986, there were only 45 ships a year sailing from US ports. Today, over 150 passengers traverse the waters of the globe on a regular basis. So, why the resurgence of interest in a method of travel thought to be outdated not so long ago? Because, for those fascinated by the sea and those who live on it nothing compares to a freighter cruise.
Unlike the impersonal environment of a regular cruise ship, wherein a month thousands upon thousands of passengers will come and go each week freighting cruises are intimate and interactive (the ability to retain names is a much sought after crew ability), most freighter cruises carry 12 passengers or less. More than that would mean having to employ an additional and expensive ship’s doctor.
Another social appeal is that freight ship passengers are like staff without chores; they are given freedom to wander into the kitchen to grab a midnight snack, or throw on a movie in the lounge. Passengers socialize with the ship’s officers and share meals, stories and experiences with one another; they are never just a random face.
The stops freighters make in ports tend to be more exotic and off the beaten path, and not your average tourist traps, like many cruise line stopovers. Freighters spend one to three days in port on average, ample time to explore both the day and night life. Most cruise ships tend to have a series of 12-hour stopovers, disembarking in the morning and setting sail again during the evening, which doesn’t allow much time for adventuring. Older travelers and those with disabilities should note that freighters drop their own gangway into every port they go in and out of, which means climbing up and down stairs that run from 10-40 feet high. Something to reckon into your travel plans.
As for cost, cruising on a freighter average around $80 to $100 per person per day, which is half the daily cost of traveling on the average cruise ship. However, while the daily rate of sailing on a freighter cruise is cheaper, and because the cruises are so much longer, it may end up costing more than cruise ship fare. But if you’re looking for a long sea adventure, the price can’t be beat.
Traveling by freighter sounds good, but what’s the catch? Flexibility, for one. It’s rare for passengers on freighting cruises to know when their departure will be, until a week or two before the actual date. Sea voyages on a freighter cruise can last anywhere from 21 to 90 days depending on the final destination of the ship. If time and schedules are an issue, a flight or a commercial cruise ship might be a better bet.
Now, for the ultimate in random sea exploits, tramp steamers are the way to go. You never know where on the globe you may end up. Tramp steamers are like the bike couriers of the sea, wandering here and there according to dispatch, picking up and delivering to various locales as they receive their orders. What’s especially nice for those looking for extra adventure is that if the trip takes longer than it’s supposed to, which happens often, passengers sail the seas for free on the additional days, on most ships.
Research is a key part of booking passage on a freighting cruise or tramp steamer, along with the ability to be able to travel on short notice, and the willingness to wait a while for the ocean journey of a lifetime. Traveling by freight ship is a great place to start an adventure and a superlative way to voyage over the oceans of the world. Bon voyage!
