freighter passenger voyages

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Freighter Travel Costs and Questions

Travel by Cargo Ship: What You Should Know about Freighter Travel

By R.F. Ahern, “The Freighterman”

LISTEN TO OUR FREIGHTER TRAVEL PODCAST EPISODE

Remember the old stories of adventurers who would hop a cargo ship to get to an exotic port of call, traveling like a sailor or Merchant Marine? Well, the good news is that it’s still possible. Travel by cargo ship continues to interest our most curious and intrepid readers.

Freighter Travel is Popular

You can travel from one port to another or around the world by freighter. It’s relatively inexpensive (compared to other cruise ships) and easy to do as more and more freighter companies come on board to offer passenger service.

Freighter Travel

Most freighters only have room for a limited number of passengers, and, while you won’t be bunking with the crew anymore, traveling by freighter is still enough of an alternative mode of transportation to keep regular cruise tourists standing in the buffet line.

Your accommodations will be quite adequate–sometimes even a reconfigured Captain’s berth! – and all your meals while at sea will be provided. But unlike a regular cruise ship, you won’t find an onboard disco or gambling casino.

On the other hand, you may have more than one-night playing cards with the crew or sitting quietly on the deck watching the stars. Some freight ships have swimming pools!

Check out these FAQs on freighter travel , provided by R.F. Ahern, “The Freighterman,” who has traveled around the world and then some by freighter ship. Then hop a freighter and sail the seven seas like a real voyager!

WHERE CAN I GO BY FREIGHTER?

You can travel from just about any major port in the world to any other port. Some freighters also go to places you’ve never even heard of. Most lines have regular routes and transatlantic crossings. Frequently you can catch a “tramp” that has no fixed ports of call. Americans cannot travel between one U.S. port and another. From South America to Asia, the ships cross all of the world’s oceans.

CAN ANYONE TRAVEL ON A FREIGHTER?

No. Usually, the upper age limit is 79, the lower is about 5 years. These upper and lower limits may vary from one shipping company to another. If you are over 65, you will generally be required to get a medical certificate from your physician certifying you are fit to travel. Pregnant women are usually not permitted.

If you have difficulty negotiating stairs, this will also preclude you from travel on a freighter. Since all of the passenger-carrying containerships are sailing under a foreign flag they are not subject to American laws requiring accommodation of disabled individuals

HOW LONG IS A FREIGHTER VOYAGE?

The average length of a freighter voyage is 40 to 50 days, though there are some shorter trips available last a couple of weeks. A roundtrip from the U.S. West Coast to Australia/New Zealand and return takes about 46 days. An around the world voyage lasts generally 80 to 100 days or more. Hong Kong China to Los Angeles USA, has an estimated average time between 18 to 20 days of transit port to port.

A westbound voyage from Los Angles, CA. to Hamburg , Germany is about 41 days.

CAN I TAKE A SEGMENTED CARGO SHIP TRIP?

Many people do not like to take a roundabout freighter travel voyage, having neither the time nor the money. Segmented trips are possible with a stopover in port for as long as you want. You can resume your voyage or fly home by plane. These kinds of voyages are popular with people who only have a couple of weeks to travel, and only want to spend some it at sea.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO TRAVEL ON A FREIGHTER?

Travel by freighter, the average cost of a voyage is just about $100.00 US per day, for a single person traveling in a single cabin. It is always more expensive for a single to book a double cabin and always cheaper per person for double occupancy of a double cabin.

There is an additional charge of about $262.00 for deviation insurance and a $12.50 customs charge per person departing or entering the country. Keep in mind that more than one owner/charter may have vessels on a given route. The fare charged by different owners on the same route can vary considerably. Shop around.

Historically, German owners have had a two-tier pricing system, with euro prices lower than the prices quoted in US dollars. If you want to convert euros to dollars, you can use a currency converter. I have been advised that American agents are striving for a single pricing system so that the cost of a voyage is exactly the same for a given ship, regardless of where the traveler calls home, or currency of payment.

HOW DO I BOOK A FREIGHTER VOYAGE?

Most travel agents do not book freighter voyages. You will have to book through an agent that specializes in freighter cruises or directly through the ship’s agent/manager. Remember that there may be voyages available that the travel agent is not advertising on the Internet or elsewhere. If you want to go on a particular voyage, ask the agent what they have available. Remember also that not all agents offer the same voyages.

WHEN SHOULD I MAKE MY TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS?

Unlike an airline, you cannot call your travel agent on a Friday evening and expect to leave on Monday (except for hopping a Tramp Voyage–covered later). Allow several months to plan your trip. I usually start early in January to arrange for a mid-April departure. However, some routes are very popular and you may have to arrange for your voyage many months ahead of your desired departure date. While some freighters depart on exact date and time, others have a window for departure. Be flexible.

New offerings are becoming available every month, so it is possible you can schedule a trip on short notice, but it is better to plan far in advance. Remain flexible with your travel plans. I recently booked a voyage only to be notified the ship I was to board in Los Angeles had grounded and would be unavailable for more than a month after my planned departure date.

Luckily, I was able to hop another ship leaving a few days earlier than I had planned.

WHAT IS A FREIGHTER TRAVEL OPTION?

An option is a period of time within which the pre-payment of a portion of the cost of a voyage must be made. Once your travel agent tenders your voyage, your agent will ask for payment of $500.00, to be paid within a couple of weeks, if you live in the US, to secure your cabin. Full payment is due usually 60 days before the ship’s departure.

If you live in Europe it is customary to be required to make a deposit equivalent to 25% of the cost of the voyage. One agent told me that it is customary in some European countries for the agent to expect payment in full once you have contracted for a voyage, even if you are required to cancel the trip.

WHAT IS A TRAMP VOYAGE

Tramps are cargo ships that have no fixed schedule or ports of call; they go where the cargo is and drop it off where it’s supposed to go. Often, tramp voyages have passenger rooms and travelers can book them. The advantage is that you can get a cheaper voyage to a remote destination at the last minute.

The downside is that you might not be able to get away from that port until another tramp comes along. Tramp voyages are often listed in booking agency’s “Last Minute Specials.”

WHAT SIZE OF SHIP IS BEST?

Having traveled on small container ships (those carrying 1,000 or fewer containers, under 15,000 d.w.t. and about 485 feet) and large ones (4,500 containers or more, over 63,000 d.w.t. and 950 feet in length) I much prefer the former. Traveling on large ships is like being on a cruise ship. By this, I mean it is very stable. The majority of the time you are unaware of the fact that you are at sea!

So, if you like the feel of the sea, think small. Another potential disadvantage of a larger ship is the possibility that it may berth at a newer pier and thus, it may be inconvenient or far away to get from the ship to the port city (for example, the Port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan ).

Large ships obviously have larger engines. Accordingly, the engine air intakes, usually on the “A” deck, generate a lot of noise outside of the vessel. These large engines produce a lot of carbon discharge, making decks D and E, where passenger cabins are usually located, quite dirty.

Video: What’s It Like Inside a Cabin on a Freighter Ship?

CAN I WORK ON A FREIGHTER FOR ALL OR PART OF MY PASSAGE?

The answer is simple. NO! Sit back and enjoy the ride.

SO WHAT CAN I DO ON A FREIGHTER?

Remember, that a freighter is a working ship and passengers are secondary. Thus, there is no such thing as a cruise director or any planned activities other than watching a VCR or doing your laundry. But there’s plenty of time to read, get some sun, hang out on the bridge. What is life on board a freighter trip like? What is the daily routine?

Meals are something I looked forward to as they provided an opportunity for some interesting conversation with the ship’s officers. Some ships have pools, often below the main deck. One smaller container ship that I was on was only able to fill the pool half full to prevent the water from sloshing out in rough weather. Bring plenty of books or your Kindle filled with reading.

You can buy all the beer and hard liquor you want to mellow out, tax-free. But, don’t expect to find your favorite Scotch or Rye whiskey on board. Selections are limited, but there is enough booze on board to keep any hardcore alcoholic happy.

WILL I GET SEASICK?

Could be. Unlike cruise ships, there are no stabilizers on a cargo ship voyage. Accordingly, there can be a significant amount of pitch and roll, depending on the size of the ship, the amount of cargo, and the weather. Most of the time, waves do not exceed 15 feet (about 3 meters), usually less.

There are two things to remember about being seasick: You feel like you are going to die and then you realize that you won’t! As a general rule, the bigger the ship and the more cargo aboard, the smoother the “ride”. I recently sailed on the Cho Yang Atlas, a 965-foot, and 4,500 T.E.U. container ship and was not even aware of the fact that I was at sea.

CAN I BRING ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES?

All ships have a 220-volt power supply. The U.S. standard is 110 volts. Accordingly, you should check to see if your computer, razor, radio, etc., have a 110-220V-option switch. If not, you will need a converter. If you are from the U.S., you will need a plug converter (square to round prongs, but you can usually find one on the ship). A small, portable, AM/FM/SW radio is nice to have along, so you can stay in touch with what’s going on in the world.

WHAT CAN I BUY ON-BOARD?

Cigarettes, beer, soft drinks, toothpaste, and the like. All transactions are in U.S. dollars, no checks, or credit cards; often the price of these items is quoted in the currency of the country of registry or vessel ownership, but there may be exceptions. There is no tax on items purchased on the high sea, however, the ship’s “slop chest” is locked while the ship is in port.

WHAT SHOULD I PACK TO WEAR?

It depends on where you are going and the time of year. Attire is very informal. Jeans, T-shirts, and shorts will work. Leave your coats and ties at home as well as any fancy dresses, unless you want to wear them ashore. Rubber-soled shoes (not boat shoes) are a must. Leather-soled shoes should be left at home. Since shoes are removed in all carpeted areas of the ship they should be easy to take on and off. This is important as often the deck is wet or has residue from the engine’s exhaust.

IS A FREIGHTER NOISY?

Not really, unless you like to hang out in the engine room. There is a much higher noise level than on a cruise ship, but, like vibration, it is minimal.

One exception is the noise generated by the engine intake fans located on the main deck or first deck. Engine exhaust noise is felt and heard on large ships, though not to the extent that it is annoying.

WHAT LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN ABOARD SHIP?

English, but not necessarily American English. On my last cruise, the Belgian Captain spoke excellent English, but the Ukrainian officers had limited ability with English. Most of the Filipino crew had a decent command of the language.

WHAT ABOUT SHIPBOARD ETIQUETTE?

All members of the ship’s crew are addressed as “Mister” unless they tell you to call them by their first name. Do not go on the bridge without asking for permission. Usually, passengers have access to the bridge at all times.

The only exception may be during the period the harbor pilot is aboard. As you will be in an entirely new environment, it will take a few days to get a feeling for the ship and its crew.

It is a good idea to learn the name of all officers and crew (there are only 17-20) as soon as possible. It is also recommended that you learn a few words or phrases in the native language or languages of the crew members.

CAN I BRING MY PET?

No. However, you can ship your four or five favorite polo ponies from here to there in a container! Of course, the owner is required to have them accompanied by a trainer/keeper, and they will be subject to quarantine regulations.

WHAT ABOUT VISAS?

Check with your travel agent to be sure of the visa requirements of the various countries. Non-US citizens must have a visa to enter the United States by cargo ship. Australia requires a visa for all foreign nationals arriving by ship. Ditto for China , but not Hong Kong. The fact that you never leave the vessel is of no consequence. Most countries do not even bother to stamp your passport, though they do check it.

It has been my experience that the Captain will ask for your passport after you board and you may be invited to his cabin for a “chat” with immigration officials after docking, though in this is not the case in most large ports, such as Hong Kong.

Again, it depends on where you are going. No immunizations are required for travel between Europe, the U.S., Canada , and Australia. However, for the transit of either Panama or Suez Canal, you will need an inoculation for yellow fever and cholera. In the U.S., these will cost $50 to $60 each. To find physicians or clinics in your area, call your local Public Health Department. Your travel agent can advise you as to the inoculations you will require.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Plan what you are going to need on your voyage; bring a short wave radio, DVDs, reading material, a camera, or whatever. A laptop computer makes for a handy companion. The ship might have one available for your use, but don’t count on it.
• Once your ship leaves port, that’s it; there is no going back. Ships have many stairs and they are steep, so hold on at all times. A few have elevators. After a couple of days (weeks) you will get used to them (smile)
• When booking a cabin, get one as high as possible in the superstructure, assuming you have available options. If you do not, containers will block your forward view. Almost always cabins are outside with a view forward, port, or starboard; some have two views.
• Of course, the downside to higher cabins is that you will have to go down several flights of stairs to get to the officer’s mess, which is usually located on the poop deck (one deck above the main deck on ships not stowing containers aft of the superstructure) or the main deck. Usually, passenger cabins are on the fourth or fifth deck.
• Visit this great updated 2020 Freighter Travel site
• Tipping is optional. Other than the mess steward, there is no one to tip other than the cook, and then only if the food is exceptional. The steward may make up your bed and empty your wastebasket daily; then again, it might be only on a weekly basis, so tip accordingly, if at all.
• If you need information about shipping cargo, such as your car (in a container), household goods, etc., here is the place to start to get information. Cargo can be transported on the same vessel you travel on, however, you are probably better off shipping with the line usually used by the freighter forwarding company.

Freighter Travel in South America

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60 thoughts on “ Freighter Travel Costs and Questions ”

I was looking at a short trip from Brisbane Australia to New Zealand in the North Island/Auckland.,Tauranga in September..are there many options to do this and do I have time to do this?

“These faqs are helpful if you ask me. They answer all the questions that one might have, so I am delighted that I read all about these faqs and whatnot. “

Great info.,worth the read.

Do you know if there is any chance of me traveling w my Harley Davidson on a ship from eastern US to Panama or Costa Rica ?

You post is not originally this taken directly from Cargotravel.com

Travel by cargo ship with dog with cargoholidays. No. However, you can ship your four or five favorite polo ponies from here to there in a container! Of course, the owner is required to have them accompanied by a trainer/keeper, and they will be subject to quarantine regulations

How may I travel between US NY-NJ Ports and Iran Ports? any experience, recommendations, or guidance?

Very doubtful you can do this on a freighter. Too many restrictions plus Covid.

thanks for this article. Very helpful. Would love information about How to get to the US (east coast) from Sweden. (Im in Stockholm). Any freighters still leaving from Gothenburg to the US that accept passengers? or we have to find another out- port going across the Atlantic? thx Ewa

I am wanting to go Capetown SA from the US. I live in the Baltimore Washington area with that be possible

do they have ship longbeach to manila

can one take a dog/pet with you on a container ship? i am trying to find an alternative to putting my dog on a 24 hour flight.

No, you can’t bring any pets on a cargo ship. NO.

I think you need to be a little more clear. Maybe something like “the one I went on does not allow it” or “Its a standard that every single cargo ship I know of does not allow it”.

When I read your answer it makes me believe that your just saying no to the cargo ship you have been on and other companies may allow it. But then again I know less than you about this industry… in fact I know nothing.

Finding a cargo ship is the last effort I have before either giving up my 2 dogs or chartering a private jet just to move them to south America from the US. No airline will take them and you can not drive it.

“No, you can’t bring any pets on a cargo ship. NO.”

How could it possibly be any clearer that pets aren’t allowed on cargo ships?

The guy posting this article is an expert on cargo ships… and I think it’s pretty clear where he says: NO you cannot bring pets onboard the cargo ship. As for shipping your dogs via the airline, I’m not sure why it would be a 24 hour flight – can’t you put the dogs (per standard procedure) in the dog crate area of the plane, and be flying on that same flight, which will NOT take 24 hours?

what is the point travelling like this? This is the most expensive way, not cheap at all.

Hi I am looking for a cargo freighter to travel from South Africa to Australia with motor bike at the end of 2022?

Back in 1971 I took a cargo ship from South Africa to Australia with my BSA Bantam on which I actually ended up going round the world. i was allowed 40 cub.ft in the hold as accompanied ‘baggage’ and my bike was approx that size. It actually went in a room, never in a crate. And that was true of: Bombay to Mombasa; S. Africa to Australia; Australia to nZ; nZ to Singapore and Bangkok to Hong Kong. I was always a passenger. What the conditions are nowadays I know not. But good luck.

A FOURTY CUBIC FEET BSA BANTAM – Really? My ex-Bro-in-Law worked Tankeres as a Second Officer back in the day for SHELMEX in their first SUPER TANKERS and both my sister and sometimes his Mum and Dad travelled with him. I believe ‘the missus’ went free but Mum and Dad had to pay. My son was an Officer i the RAF for eight byears and I used to visit heim regularly [I was myself and ex-EArmourer Sergeant] for the odd weekend. Atbthe time [the late 90’s it cost nhim the princely sum for rather excellent Full Board and Lodgings for me from Friday Evening to Monday Morning ££5.00 aand bar prices wer about 1/5th and probably still are of normal Pub Prices. I monce went nto mthe Officers Mess New Years Eve Party. It had to be experienced to be believed – a WHOLE BLOODY FUNFAIR for starters. Talk about the AIR STAFF letting their hair down on the Bumper Cars!!!!

Are there any cargo ships taking passengers from Southern Africa to Australia?

Is it safe for a woman over age 60 for a voyager? Are most ports are safe to travel to during the day?

I have the same question and don’t see any answers

How reliable is the Satellite Hotspot? Is it safe for a woman over 60 to travel solo? How do you find out the layout of the ship before choosing the cabin?

No need to play the gender card. Everyone is welcome subject to their age limits, and if it wasn’t safe, they wouldn’t go.

Thank you for this article. I was especially interested in the difficulty of moving around the ship. As a former navy man I forgot just how hard it was to go up and down the stairs. At my current age, I do not believe I could do that much anymore. Too bad.

This was an interesting article. I recall a long time ago hearing about such methods of travel and must have just forgotten about it. I was just reminded in an old movie. There were a lot of good comments that answered some questions. I also watched the video of the fellow showing us his room. It looked quite adequate and not at all cramped. I’m 72 years old but I don’t look it and I’m in good physical condition. I did read that some of these companies do have age restrictions, and I can understand why. But going up and down some steep stairs isn’t an issue for me and I do swim every day in my pool. Getting a certificate for this from my doctor wouldn’t pose a problem. I have to say that taking a cruise on a regular cruise ship has had no appeal to me. I’ve watched videos and talked with family who do that and it’s just not something I want. They seem way too crowded and just not for me. I do however enjoy a nice Hindricks and tonic, smooth jazz, and interesting conversation. Those things seem to be plentiful on one of these ships. I would have to bring my own Hindricks (gin), my laptop, some reading material and maybe my Xbox. It all sounds much more interesting to me than the alternative. Going up on the bridge, conversations with the Captain and crew, that all sounds great. I’m glad I found this article.

Who or where can I get detailed info on what freighter ships offer this service from Los Angeles to Manila/Cebu Philippines? I don’t even know where to start. TIA for any info on this subject!

I’m in the same Boat, no pun intended. I want to go to the Philippines from either Portland Oregon, or Seattle Washington but can find no one who ships there. I cannot believe no vessels travel from Major US Ports such as Portland and Seattle. Any help you can give us would be greatly appreciated. Thank You, Mike

HOW OLD is this article?? Its telling people to bring videotapes to watch and talked about the cost of film. How many people use a film camera anymore, 1 out of a hundred? Who has videotapes lying around?!?!

Yes, that story was published in 2000, but we have edited the copy so it’s been updated for 2021. Thank you, dear reader.

You are so polite to some of these commenters.

Many tnx for the response. Can you please update what online services like wifi and email are available???

Vickie and Paul say: what are you doing looking at cargo ship cruises? If that’s you… Please write. Paul

Hi I am looking for a cargo freighter to travel from Vancouver to China the shortest route cause I can’t take flight due to my conditions. Thanks

Hello Zoey, Did you make it from Vancouver to China by ship? I’m trying to do the same trip. Would like to know more.

Thank you so much!

I am hoping to travel from the Seattle area to Costa Rica on a cargo ship… can anybody tell me if the ports in Costa Rica are open now (August 2020) and how can I travel in one of these ships? Thank you for your help!

I had no idea that from Europe to the US, shipments can take about 41 days. Since we just started offering an online shipping option, I wonder if we should look into a contract with a port agent to help us get our products shipped without too much delay between getting an order placed. I would imagine it would be easiest to get a warehouse in the countries we will ship to and then fulfill orders from those warehouses.

Do cargo ships have internet access? Thanks

yes they almost always do. But it might be slow and it will cost money in most cases.

Hey R.F. Ahern and fellow boaters! Thank you for the article I really enjoyed reading it and I did not know that you can travel on a cargo ship! That’s really amazing. Me and my husband have a world travel vlog called Dawn Hunters where we post our sailing adventures and also tips for travelers (well, currently we are fixing our 1985 steel motorsailer, so there is much more boatyard adventures for now). I’ve just started special series for aspiring digital nomads and posted a video called Digital Nomad Series – How to Travel for Free and Get Paid – Hopscotch the Globe on a Boat about crewseekers so you might want to see the video if you are looking into boat travels – they have super cool and unexpected opportunities for cheap or even free travels on boats. They do NOT have cargo ships over there, but maybe not everyone here wants to go on one? Anyways I thought that might be useful for some people!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTpW5uIJE7E

Also would love to collaborate on the blog/vlog to make an interview or a podcast for some interesting “boaters” stories if you are interested – shoot us an email.

Thank you for sharing! Dawn Hunters

Wow, I never knew this! I wish I were not so prone to seasickness, this sounds incredible. I would definitely go for the experience, the opportunity to visit other countries and take in the sights and sounds, plus the operations of a cargo ship are seriously impressive.

I am trying to get to Southeast Asia from Saudi Arabia. I am trying to leave in May. Because of COVID the airlines are grounded. Is there anyway I can book on a cargo ship?

great site thanks for all the info. I am looking to go from Barcelona to USA May of 2021, thanks in advance for any help

I have read that one can’t go to Hawai’i, Alaska, or any of the US insular terretories (Guam, Northern Marianas, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, USVI), by freighter because US-flagged freighters don’t take passengers, and foreign-flagged freighters (try saying that three times fast!) are not allowed to take passengers (or cargo, for that matter) between US ports.

However, would it be possible to take a freighter to these places from a Mexican or Canadian port?

Not that I’m a professional traveler, but why pay over $4k to travel in less luxury, and for over a month? You could go an an actual cruise for that money, or if you’re purely looking to travel, fly for a whole lot less. Is it just for the experience?

JR, I think the appeal of freighter travel is that you don’t have to deal with the huge crowds on a regular cruise ship, if you just want time to write, think, look at the ocean and chill totally, that’s the attraction. Yes it’s costly because the cruises are longer!

Some of us hate to fly.

Outside of the mental/health appeal of slow travel, it is much more environmentally friendly (as freighters carry cargo regardless of passenger, so your journey is essentially carbon neutral). Additionally, it is more expensive than a flight, but you’re also paying for several days of lodging and food.

I think some people are “simple” and don’t want luxury or to be pampered. I learned a lot about myself and personality over the years. I hold multiple college degrees—including a post-graduate degree in business. However, I learned and realized that I am happiest and most satisfied working on blue collar skilled trade industries. I learned that I don’t like suits and ties. I don’t like snooty people. I don’t like all the pomp and circumstance of luxury. I enjoy being around everyday working people. I think it will always be that way no matter how much money I have. I feel out of place in luxury places, but I feel right at home around everyday people. I love quiet and having lots of reflection time. I wear working man’s jeans and work boots everywhere I go. I think that living with humility and humbleness makes me feel comfortable.

Are there often any medicines not allowed on freighters?

lookin to travel from Miami to Portsmouth any ideas of cost and travel time

What about wifi?

Forget about wifi!

If one must, one can always bring a satellite phone or a satellite modem. With a satellite phone you pay per minute. With a satellite modem you pay for data. Both can be expensive so I highly suggest you not use, say, a satellite modem to watch YouTube videos or Netflix, but you can do email or chat or even place a phone call via GooglePhone or free VoIP Calls top actual phone numbers via TextNow.com and you can link your laptop to it!! So, you don’t have to be fully off-line. Or you could, if you must, here’s a “low-cost” option: https://satellitephonestore.com/catalog/sale/details/iridium-go-252 No, I don’t work for them. lol -but it’s the type of thing I’ve seen. Good for emails and chat or iMessaging. Just don’t do big Powder Puff attachments. lol Enjoy!

Did the Satellite modem or phone work out as you expected? Is it reliable? Which part of the world did you travel to? Does the cargo ship has wifi for their staff or captain?

I’m planning on a move to Japan and would like to know what freight ship companies handle transit between the U.S. (Port of Seattle Washington) and Japan. Unlike people doing really early planning for a trip later in the year, I’m aiming to make my move in a very short period of time (1-2 weeks). My last concern is if there are any direct shipping routes between the U.S. and Japan. I’d prefer as direct as possible for the quickest trip. I’m certainly not worried about finances.

How can i travel from Toronto to india by frieght

Put your car on the ship. Then you get on. There you go.

I traveled from Japan to southern California in summer 1985. From the above article now in the age of Internet, it looks like you have to (1) find what cargo companies travel your routes, (2) contact each one to get availability/price/procedure, (3) take the trip!

How can I travel one way from the US on a cargo ship, and take my own car on the same ship? I’d like to travel from the north-east US coast (possibly New York,…) to a northern port in France, Belgium, Netherlands, or Germany.

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Freighter travel

• 1 Understand
• 2 Eat and sleep
• 3 See and do
• 4 Stay safe and healthy
• 5 Travel agencies
• 6 Shipping companies

Freighter travel is a less crowded and much slower alternative for crossing a sea or ocean, not using airplanes or commercial cruise ships or ferries. In some regions such as the Caspian Sea, they may be your only option for getting around.

Understand [ edit ]

A well-kept secret in these days of airport anxiety and worry about aircraft emissions is that it is still possible to book a regularly scheduled sea passage to most parts of the world. While the world-famous ocean liner Queen Mary 2 offers sometimes two departures in a month between Southampton and New York , many cargo-passenger services offer sailings every week of the year.

Freighter travel is different from using ropax ferries, which often live on the cargo, but follow passenger ship regulations to be able to ship the truck drivers as well and have other passengers as a supplemental income. These are much more like cruise ferries, although sometimes quite spartan.

It is a common myth that freighter travel is cheaper than other forms of transportation, but save for a select number of regional freighters, this is essentially never the case. The overhead of carrying supplies and setting aside rooms is quite significant, compared to a long-haul flight. Comparing is difficult of course: are you paying for transport, or for food, accommodation and the experience?

A tour of ports tells you what’s going on. From Southampton, for example, there are four weekly sailings, two each to the Far East and the Mediterranean, from Long Beach , there is a sailing nearly every week to the Far East, from Le Havre a weekly sailing to Martinique and Guadeloupe and so on. In all, there are now about seven or eight regularly-scheduled weekly services accepting passengers. In addition, there are frequent sailings to Australia and New Zealand , South America , the Far East and West and South Africa . Freighter travel is also possible in some smaller and/or third world countries. Freighter travel is virtually the only way to travel across the Caspian Sea and is a very common way to travel across the Black Sea. In these regions, ships may have to wait for days to be given access to the final port, facilities are bad, you likely have to bring your own food, and service is sporadic and unreliable (you will have to check every morning for departing ships).

Essentially, you are paying a cargo vessel to transport you along with whatever they are ferrying across the sea, usually containers these days, although some multi-purpose ships still survive and you can sail from the USA and Europe to China and Japan in a heavy-lift ship or from the Great Lakes to Europe in a grain carrier. Imagine having your own 100,000-tonner for just five passengers instead of the 5,000 that a similar-sized cruise ship might carry – many of the new container ships that serve the Far East from Europe and from California are now in this category.

Passengers on freighters are mainly retired and early retired people who can afford the time (it takes about a day of sea travel to cover the same distance as an hour of air travel). There are also many returning students, relocating executives and their families, and people who are simply tired of air travel. The vessels usually take no more than 12 passengers along, as taking more (infants not counted) will make them a passenger ship, with significant extra requirements.

Transatlantic passages vary between 8 and 12 days each way, while a voyage can be made around the world in between 80 and 120 days. A trip from Marseille to Cape Town could take up to 25 days.

The freighters sometimes call in ports on the way, to load or unload cargo, which can take from 12 to 36 hours. You will need to have all visas for these stops in your passport to be allowed to travel. It does mean though that you are able to spend some time on land.

You will probably need someone to introduce you into the freighter world, because it is a bit of a fuss for a company to take a passenger when they also take a multi million dollar cargo. However the crews seem to enjoy the company of passengers since the work is very monotonous.

There are some agents arranging trips, who charge around US$75–100 (€100–120) a day. With an introduction it might be as cheap as US$50 (€85), but don't count on it as many freighter trips, especially tramp trips that were cheaper, have been withdrawn since 2001.

Bear in mind though that you can take as much luggage as you can stow in your cabin so for people moving to a new place this might save a lot on shipping your things out there by air.

A cheaper alternative is becoming part of the crew. This is only available to credentialed mariners. It can take quite some time to gain sufficient experience, and the regulations are becoming onerous.

Eat and sleep [ edit ]

Typically, you will have a small cabin and access to crew facilities, such as lounge, mess hall and common areas. Dinner is usually served to you with the ship's crew. On some German ships, there are cabins that include a day room, a bedroom, and en suite facilities. All freighter cabins are usually outside rooms; on Grimaldi Lines, there are also inside cabins. With most travel agencies, passengers receive cabins which have both shower and toilet.

Single travellers really benefit as single supplements are usually limited to between 10% and 25% (compared to 50 to 100% on cruise ships) and some ships have single cabins that are sold at the same fares as the double cabins.

Wine, beer and spirits are available at duty free prices (cruise ships now charge shore prices), and on French and Italian ships table wine is included with lunch and dinner.

While many travel books mention ferries across the Caspian Sea , these are actually cargo ships. What is more, in contrast with such in some other areas, you will be required to bring your own food and it is best to bring some bottled water too. On these ships, plan to bring more than you would need for the time specified, as ships can wait up to a week to enter ports.

See and do [ edit ]

There are no major activities, restaurants (besides the mess hall), or other diversions aboard. At sea there will likely be no TV but shortwave radio may be available, and there may be a video and book library. Some ships have a (sea-water) pool and sauna, a gym and table tennis on board. The main activities are enjoying the sea, the weather, the birds and dolphins and the landscape while near port or close to land or even transiting canals if that is the voyage you have chosen. Other important preoccupations are exploring the ship and interacting with the crew.

Stay safe and healthy [ edit ]

Because of international regulations, unless the ship has a doctor aboard, the ship can only carry up to 12 passengers (infants not counted). For the company not to get trouble from health issues there are also age limits, usually up to somewhere between 70 and 79, depending on the line, and a medical certificate provided by the line normally has to be completed by your doctor before travel. Also small children are often not allowed on board.

A freighter is, above all, an industrial workplace, and must be treated as one. Be aware of hazards like high thresholds, oily decks, severe pitching and rolling, and extreme heat or cold. You must bring sturdy, non-skid shoes, and warm hats and jackets may be worth their weight in gold during cold weather. Many mariners keep a small flashlight with them at all times, for good reason – unless you're near an exterior window, a loss of power means complete darkness. Also, those with periods be warned: flushing tampons down a ship's delicate toilet system is very likely to produce a clog as well as a furious crew member knowing exactly whose trash ruined their day.

Because there are not many passengers, there is a lot of time that one has to oneself. Passengers are likely to receive a basic instruction on boat safety, weather and pirate danger.

Travel agencies [ edit ]

A few travel agencies specialise in freighter travel. It is believed that Grimaldi will take passengers up to 85 years of age whereas most companies will not take those over 79. There may be age limit for children as well.

• Frachtschiff-Touristik Kapitän Zylmann GmbH .  
• Viajar en un barco mercante .  
• Slowtravel-Experience/Langsamreisen .  
• A la Carte Freighter Travel .  
• Freighter Passenger Voyages .  
• Cargo Ship Voyages .  
• Maris Freighter & Specialty Cruises .  
• Grimaldi Group .  
• Strand Travel .  
• Hamburg Süd Reiseagentur .  
• Neptunia Cruises & Ferries .  
• CptnZeppos . ( updated Feb 2021 )
• The Cruise People .  
• Ship`n`Train .  

Shipping companies [ edit ]

Some shipping companies offer freighter travel directly.

• CMA CGM , ☏ +33 4 88 66 65 02 , [email protected] . ( updated Apr 2015 )

Shipping companies providing passenger transport in the Netherlands/Belgium on cargo vessels include:

• Anthony Veder .  
• Nederlands Transport Bureau .  
• Deckers & Wirtz .  
• Grisar & Velge .  
• VCK Zeereizen .  
• PSAL .  

Books [ edit ]

• Travel by cargo ship by H. Verlomme ISBN 1860110355
• Vleugels van de brug, reizen per vrachtschip by A. Zuidhoek
• Enkele reis realiteit by W. Hulselmans ISBN 9789022337431

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Travelling on a cargo ship is a unique experience.  Whether you love the sea, are conscious of your carbon footprint, don't like flying or simply prefer to sail in a relaxed atmosphere , away from the crowds, then travelling by cargo ship is the right choice for you.

We've been doing this for over 30 years and are passionate about providing a personalised service tailored to your needs. Alas, carriage of passengers on cargo ships is discretionary and since the pandemic available vessels are in sharp decline; we cannot speculate which routes or owners might accept passengers in future.

A NUMBER OF CRUISE SHIP  'VOYAGE OPTIONS'  HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE WEBSITE TO OFFER AN ALTERNATIVE TO FLYING AND IN THE ABSENCE OF CARGO SHIP OPTIONS. THERE ARE TRANSATLANTIC, SOUTH AMERICA, SOUTH AFRICA VOYAGES, MORE WILL BE ADDED IN THE COMING WEEKS - PLEASE ASK IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC CRUISE 'VOYAGE OPTION' YOU MIGHT LIKE TO FIND WE HAVE ACCESS TO MOST LINES.

WE ARE NOT OFFERING SHORT DURATION HOLIDAY CRUISES, ONLY POINT TO POINT LINE VOYAGES WITH A PURPOSE AND IN MOST CASES ONLY ABLE TO SELL TO UK RESIDENTS AT PRESENT OWING TO RESTRICTIVE CRUISE LINE PRICING PRACTICES.

www.voyageoptions.com  (under construction), Facebook.com/voyageoptions, Twitter @voyageoptions).

Do please take some time to check our website for available routes, also our ‘Ask the Captain’ section for frequently asked questions BEFORE contacting us!

+++ NEWS +++

LAST UPDATED April  2024  

WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS, DEEP SEA INTERNATIONAL CARGO SHIP VOYAGES ARE NO LONGER POSSIBLE AS MAJOR SHIPOWNERS AND/OR THEIR CHARTERERS HAVE INDEFINITELY WITHDRAWN FROM THIS ACTIVITY.

- No transatlantic voyages

- No Australia/New Zealand/Europe voyages

- No Europe/South America voyages

- No transpacific voyages

- No round the world voyages

- No voyages in around Asia or Oceania

- No bookable availability Europe to/from South Africa until mid 2025 (waitlist/standby only 2024 @ 6 weeks notice) 

Some short haul European, Mediterranean, Baltic are bookable however 2024 availability is limited on some routes.

French Polynesia (mv Aranui V), mv Bella Desgagnes (St Lawrence River, Canada) are available & mv St Helena global voyages supporting the Extreme E organisation are likely to be available again in 2025.

Our website is updated regularly with bookable options; please do not contact us regarding cargo voyages that are not listed!

There may be cruise ship alternatives, please ask if you have a specific voyage in mind.

Try us and travel the world your way!

Follow @CargoShipVoyage

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Cargo Ship Travel  

• Cargo ships often cover less touristy parts of the world which are not serviced by cruise ships
• Not only is it real travel but it's one of the greenest forms of travel as you form a very small part of the container ships total cargo
• Cargo ships travel throughout the year unlike cruise ships which are influenced by passenger demand, this means that cruise ships often only sail in the high season (usually the summer)
• When you are a passenger on a cargo ship you usually get to dine with the captain of the ship and his officers
• The standard of passenger accommodation is generally very good with most cargo ship passenger cabins having their own toilet and shower (you don't have to sleep in a container!)
• Cargo ships usually accommodated just 12 or fewer passengers (a doctor is required for more than this), so the cargo ship is not going to be over crowded with other passengers

There are quite a few websites out there which specifically focus on alternative travel by cargo ship, we have listed all the sites that we are aware of. To save you time trawling through all the websites below, email us at [email protected] and we will forward your query to select agents who can help you book your freighter trip, if the route you want to do is possible.

Although the sites below offer some very useful information we would also recommend phoning the harbour master for your preferred passenger departure point. They will often provide you with local contacts and up to date and local information.

Useful Websites

• UK agencies booking passenger travel on cargo ships are: Cargo Ship Voyages , Strand Travel , The Cruise People Ltd , Pathfinder & Sea Travel Ltd
• CMA CGM is a French cargo transportation and shipping company and is the third largest cargo shipping company in the world. - www.cma-cgm.com , you can book direct or via several of the agents listed above
• German freighters, Hamburh SED, have a useful website that details numerous routes and prices for cargo ship travel around the globe. - www.hamburgsued-frachtschiffreisen.de
• Italian freighter company, Grimaldi Line - covers routes to and from Europe to South America and Africa. www.grimaldi.co.uk/ , Pathfinder ( www.safemariner.co.uk ) and Cruise Cyprus ( www.cruisecyprus.com ) act as agents for Grimaldi Line
• German freighter company, Rickmers-Linie with cargo ship travel routes around the world. - www.rickmers-linie.de
• Neptune Orient Lines (NOL), global cargo transportation company centred in Singapore. - www.nol.com.sg
• FAQ's & general information on passenger travel by cargo ship: Gonomad.com , Seaplus.com , A la Carte Freighter Travel & Freightertrips.com

Featured Routes

There are a number of popular passenger ship routes on cargo ships, we have featured a few interesting ones below to help inspire you to take a trip which is a real travel alternative to traditional modes of travel.

TransPacific

The South Korea (Busan) to California crossing on the Hanjin Dallas cargo ship was featured on the BBC series "Around the world in 80 days" for Children in need (2009). The crossing should take ten days but departure times are unpredictable. There are a number of other cargo ships which carry passengers and cross the Pacific Ocean which are detailed in some of the web sites listed in the above section. Contact details for Hanjin can be found on their website www.hanjin.com .

The Royal Mail Ship St Helena

This is sold as a magnificent island cruise from Cape Town to the island of St Helena in the Atlantic Ocean, just south of the Equator. This cargo/passenger ship also calls in at Luderitz and Walvis Bay in Namibia where the desert meets the sea. Go to www.aws.co.uk for more details.

French Polynesia

Sail around Tahiti and the Marquesas islands over 14 days on the Aranui www.aranui.com . The Aranui is a mixed passenger/cargo ship which offers comfortable, air-conditioned accommodations for about two hundred passengers. Passengers are able to sunbathe on deck and swim in the pool. The ship operates under the French flag, and her crew are all local Polynesians.

Imagine for a moment that you are on the deck of a ship, sipping a glass of wine. You turn your head towards the water just in time to spot a pod of dolphins swimming by or flying fish, providing company in the ocean. After lingering in the sunshine for a while, it's time to head inside for a 3-course evening meal and a splash in the pool before retiring to bed.

Now, what kind of vessel are you on?

No, you are not on a standard commercial cruise ship. You are not on a packed luxury liner hopping between Caribbean islands. You are aboard a modern freighter. Hundreds of cargo ships, carrying everything from fire engines to apples, are crossing the world's oceans, and many are happy to take you along for the ride. Adventurous travelers, including the Transitions Abroad family, have been doing so for years, as have many long before us.

What Does Travel on a Cargo Ship Feel Like?

A far more intimate and relaxed experience than you might imagine! The experience on board contrasts sharply with the rough and industrial outward appearance a container ship tends to project. You will be one of a handful of passengers among a crew likely to number up to a dozen or a few more. There will be no evening cabaret shows as on a standard cruise, though you may have access to TV, video, and board games in a common area on the ship where passengers may meet the crew. You may even play cards with the crew under the night skies. You might be invited to karaoke with the sailors, and you will almost always dine alongside the captain, who is far more likely to turn up in shorts and a t-shirt than in full uniform. Some cargo ships also offer equipped exercise rooms or pools.

Here was our first taste of the wonders of sea travel. Our introduction to freighter travel was a relatively short 5-day sailing between Australia and New Zealand. We joined the French ship CMA CGM Utrillo in the busy port of Melbourne, where our luggage — including two bicycles and bags — was quickly hauled on board and into a spacious cabin by a host of cheery Filipino deckhands.

What are the Costs of Cargo Ship Travel?

Depending upon your destination (Transatlantic, Transpacific, South Seas, Worldwide, and other special combinations), your daily freighter travel costs will be about $100-$130 per day per person per day with a luggage allowance of approximately 30kg-100kg (66-220lbs) depending on the line you are taking. Generally, US dollars are the primary currency used onboard to buy soft drinks, snacks, beer, and toiletries. You can then use your credit cards at each location you disembark.

What kind of Hospitality Can You Expect on Board?

Our next surprise was how quickly we felt part of the family. Just moments after arriving, our fellow passenger (a French woman "going around the world in 80 days”) hinted that the captain was sure to throw us a welcome barbecue. “He does that for every one new,” she said with a wink. Sure enough, the next evening was spent on the back deck of the ship, feasting on grilled fish and chatting with the seamen as the sun went down.

One of our concerns before sailing was that we'd find the days long. It was just the opposite. There were three square meals a day (hearty plates of meat and vegetables for workers) and our time between eating was filled with strolls around the deck and trips up to the bridge to check our position and ask questions.

Had there ever been stowaways? Yes, once a harmless passenger was allowed to board. What about pirates? Not here, but there were off the coast of Africa. And just how much fuel did a cargo ship need? In the current era of relatively low oil prices, $60,000 U.S. a day will generally cover the trip.

Why is it a Relaxing Way to Travel?

With our curiosity temporarily curbed, we would return to our cabin for reading our books or Kindle, journal writing, and a bit of table tennis if we felt especially energetic. Far away from the hustle and bustle of life on firm land, we were truly relaxed. The experience was in complete contrast to our usual hurried airplane trips.

For Hamish Jamieson, the owner of Freighter Travel NZ and one of only a handful of travel agents in the world licensed to book tickets on cargo ships, the simplicity of being at sea is the main attraction.

“When you're sitting up the front of the bow of the ship, on your own, and all you see is the sea going past and you hear the wind and waves, you're in heaven. For me, an afternoon...sitting right on the bow, watching the world go by with my binoculars, that's my heaven,” he said.

What Kind of Flexibility is Needed for Freighter Travel?

Of course, nothing in life is all smooth sailing. While we didn't encounter any problems during our trip, we did struggle with the uncertain nature of freighter travel before we boarded. Our initial departure date jumped forward first by three days and then seemed to bounce around by 12-24 hours every time we called to check the latest news. Ours was not an uncommon experience and you must prepare yourself for flexibility.

Even ports of call are not guaranteed because on a cargo ship, freight comes first, not the passengers. If the demand is not there for a certain stop, the ship will go where the business is.

“Our trip from the USA to Europe changed three times after initial booking,” said Rebecca Hogue and Scott Drennan, then on a journey around the world without using airplanes . Their initial trip from South Carolina to Belgium was from Florida to Italy. “Had we not been flexible with our departure times and locations, things would not have worked out.”

As Mr. Jamieson is fond of telling his passengers, when you go to sea, there are two things you must pack: a sense of humor and a sense of patience.

What are the Practical Issues?

Your trip may also involve some red tape, particularly concerning U.S. stops. American citizens are not permitted, for example, to travel within their country by cargo ship, although they can make international journeys. Meanwhile, travelers to the United States must have a visa, even if they would not need one to arrive by air. Only Canadians are exempt from this rule.

Be sure to budget time and money to get vaccinations like Yellow Fever if you are going through the Suez and Panama canals. A medical certificate declaring you in generally good health is another typical requirement.

Where in the World Do You Want to Go?

The hardest part of booking your cargo ship voyage is deciding where to go. Will it be to South America and around Cape Horn? How about a 55-day round trip from California to Australia and New Zealand via Tahiti and Mexico? Mr. Jamieson offers a few more ideas and favorite voyages based on years of experience.

“For me the ultimate voyage is from Auckland, in New Zealand, to Singapore. It takes 40-45 days to sail what you can fly in just under 12 hours but it visits nearly every island in the Pacific on the way and it stops for 2-3 days. The second choice for me would be from Singapore through to Houston in Texas. It goes up through Thailand, Vietnam, half a dozen ports in China, into Japan, then straight across the Pacific and through the Panama Canal.”

With enough time and money at your disposal--round-the-world trips can take 80 to 100 days or more--there are few places a cargo ship can't reach. Voyage destinations on cargo ships can change, so the many options available will often surprise you. You need to be adventurous enough to do your research, find a specialized cargo ship travel agent (see resources below), and then get on board.

The Golden Rules of Cargo Ship Travel

• Be prepared to make your own fun. There are seldom programmed activities aside from the odd safety drill.
• Go before you're too old. An upper age limit of 77-80 years is not uncommon, as no doctor on board and there are often plenty of stairs.
• Check that your travel insurance covers freighter travel.
• Be flexible. Schedules can and do change frequently. You may need 2-3 ships to reach your destination.
• Book in advance. Cabins are limited and the most popular routes can be sold out by ships months ahead.
• Forget about working in exchange for your passage. Current union rules mean this is no longer permitted.
• Take a good supply of seasickness pills. While not very common, rough weather can occur, sending tables, chairs, and your stomach flying across the room.
• Wifi and other modern electronics are now often available on cargo ships for travelers . If connectivity is important to you, ask whether those options are accessible and free in advance.

Friedel Rother gave up her job as a journalist for Reuters to ride a bicycle around the world with her husband. They have published two books in addition to cycling.

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Passenger Freighters Voyage List to travel on freight ship

Schedules can, and fairly often do change and when that occurs, you will need to hop on and off multiple ship during the journey. Before the pandemic, about 4,000 passengers a year sailed with commercial cargo ships. Cargo ships used to carry as much as 12 passengers as passenger on freight ship on no-frills international voyages. Now, fans of the minimalist travel possibility are hoping it will begin up once more soon.

We walked up the ramp, cars and machinery flying previous us, to achieve the within of the 56,000 tonne ship to travel on freight ship. Rather than interact him on a debate on European politics, I opted for the silent route and smiled. 10 minutes handed and a hand appeared out of that window motioning for us to gather our passports. It’s over 20 years since I had been properly at sea. I don’t mean sailing on a car ferry from Marseille to Tunisia for 36 hours both. Mr. Walsh, the creator, mentioned his greatest fear in getting again on a freighter isn’t essentially a Covid-19 outbreak but the potential for getting trapped on a ship out at sea as passenger on freight ship.

Another note is that it’s not possible to get “cheap” cabins and it’s not potential to bring one’s personal meals onboard in change for a lowered fare. And I do have the best under Chapter 6 life boat management section 2, article 1.4 of the Ship’s Officers Handbook , another thrilling learn I found onboard. Sailing was delayed by 24 hours as a end result of Stevedores don’t work on Sundays. Well they do but the transport line didn’t want to pay them double time. It seems an extra day in Antwerp is a much less expensive possibility. You will quickly discover that the freighter environment is a tough but pleasant one; assume plenty of steel and salt water to travel on freight ship .

Only in 1958 Herta and Otto Pfeiffer embarked on the cargo ship “Pollux” of the transport company Neptun and made a spherical trip from Bremen to the Mediterranean and again. Therefore in 1967 Otto and his son Werner sailed with the “Hestia”, additionally transport firm Neptun, to jap Spain. 1971 Herta and Otto Pfeiffer were traveling again for Cargo ship journey from usa to europe . The “Brunsgard”, a “banana hunter”, was their ship on the spherical journey through the Panama Canal to Guayaquil in Ecuador. Crossing the pond by cargo ship brings new meaning to gradual travel in cargo ship holidays . It’s slightly recognized reality that you get nearly wherever on the earth as a passenger on a cargo ship , with out having to be a) an inanimate object or b) stowed away in a transport container on ship travel.

For Customers traveling between Hawaiian Islands from September 6 via December 31, the Pet Fare is $35 each method per pet service. We will accept pets on a first-come, first-served basis until we attain our six-carrier capability. However, generally we are going to enable greater than six carriers. Pets are not allowed to journey on worldwide flights or any itinerary that features a global flight. There are age restrictions, however they will not have an effect on most wannabe voyagers.

Leave your coats and ties at residence as well as any fancy dresses, until you need to put on them ashore. Since sneakers are removed in all carpeted areas of the ship they should be straightforward to take on and off for cargo ship holidays . This is essential as typically the deck is moist or has residue from the engine’s exhaust. If you reside in Europe it is customary to be required to make a deposit equivalent to 25% of the value of the voyage. One agent told me that it is customary in some European countries for the agent to expect fee in full once you have contracted for a voyage, even in case you are required to cancel the trip.

Also most ships have a small duty free store, the place the captain sells alcohol, chocolate and so on for the crew . Of course if you wish to take the booze off the ship the custom laws of that country dictate how much you’ll have the ability to take off. But for you own private use on board, it shouldn’t be an issue to take wine on board. Make certain to examine out our Resources Page the place we highlight all the good corporations that we trust after we are touring.

I’d like to journey from the north-east US coast (possibly New York,…) to a northern port in France, Belgium, Netherlands, or Germany cruise ship and cargo ship. Thank you for the article I actually loved studying it and I didn’t know that you can journey on a cargo ship ! When I read your reply it makes me consider that your just saying no to the cargo ship you’ve been on and other corporations could allow it. But then again I know less than you about this industry… actually I know nothing.

The few individuals on board weren’t sufficient to even half-fill the large floating office-block and they had been pretty much at all times working on far-flung areas of the 280 metre lengthy ship anyway as a cruise ship and cargo ship. Visit the Travel Writers Exchange for an interview with Maria about how she wrote the e-book. Tomorrow, Maria’s new book More Stories of Time Zones and Containers shall be launched on her blog Scribbles of an Author and Freelance Writer. Gudde suggests bringing a guide, watching a film, or exploring the nooks and crannies of the ship to travel on cargo ships for free.

Freighter Expeditions offers details about cargo ship journey and itineraries worldwide. With our curiosity quickly curbed, we’d return to our cabin for studying, journal writing, and possibly a bit of desk tennis if we felt especially energetic. Far away from the hustle and bustle of life on agency land, we had been really relaxed. The expertise was in full distinction to our usual hurried airplane journeys. Yes, once a innocent passenger was allowed to board to travel on cargo ships for free.

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Gaza aid flotilla plans to challenge Israeli blockade, organizers say

ISTANBUL — A flotilla of ships bound for the Gaza Strip is preparing to sail from Turkey in the coming days, organizers say, on a mission aimed at breaching Israel’s naval blockade and highlighting the lack of aid reaching Palestinians in the besieged enclave.

The organizers, gathered under the banner of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, have participated in similar missions for years, an effort that gained worldwide attention in 2010 after an Israeli raid on a flotilla that included a Turkish ship , the Mavi Marmara, killed 10 people and sparked a diplomatic crisis between Turkey and Israel.

But the flotilla’s well-traveled route — the Mediterranean — has gained new relevance during the current conflict as governments and relief organizations alike turn to sea deliveries to circumvent what aid groups say is Israel’s persistent obstruction of deliveries to Gaza over land.

The latest flotilla mission, which will include a cargo ship carrying more than 5,000 tons of aid, comes as global attention on Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis has waned, shifting to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. Apparent Turkish sensitivities over whether to allow the ships to depart have caused organizers to hedge on when exactly the voyage, which was scheduled to begin Sunday, would get underway.

The regional dynamics are “challenging,” Ann Wright, one of the flotilla organizers, said in a phone interview last week from Istanbul, where activists planning to join the maritime convoy were gathering. The mission is also at the “mercy of the port authorities” in Turkey, said Wright, a retired U.S. diplomat and former Army colonel who resigned from her State Department position in opposition to the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

“The ships are ready,” she said.

At a news conference Friday aboard one of the ships, Huwaida Arraf, a Palestinian American human rights attorney who has joined previous flotillas to Gaza, said, “Our governments have thus far done nothing but we call on them to start now, to uphold their own obligations under international law, to demand that Israel allow the flotilla safe passage to Gaza.

“We expect that Turkey will not be bought off and we will indeed sail,” she said. “Anything less than this is collaborating with the illegal siege on Gaza, and we don’t think that is what the Turkish government will do.”

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request to comment on the flotilla’s mission. Israeli channel N12 reported Saturday that “security preparations” had begun, including for taking over the flotilla. One of the groups participating in the voyage — a Turkish Islamic charity organization, IHH — is designated as a terrorist group by Israel. The group has denied links to terrorism.

Israel has argued for years that the naval blockade is justified to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas and other militant groups in Gaza — a policy that Arraf said was part of Israel’s “hermetic closure” of the territory that amounted to collective punishment of its population, and a war crime.

A report by a U.N. panel on the May 2010 Israeli raid called the naval blockade a “legitimate security measure,” but said that Israel’s boarding of the vessels “with such substantial force at a great distance from the blockade zone” was “excessive and unreasonable.”

Since October, Israel’s hindrance of aid deliveries by land, as well its attacks on relief organizations, have helped fuel a humanitarian crisis that has caused northern Gaza to slide into famine, according to aid officials and human rights groups.

The killing of seven World Central Kitchen workers by Israeli forces on April 1 highlighted the dangerous environment in which relief agencies operate. In the aftermath, the Biden administration warned Israel to swiftly address civilian suffering in Gaza or risk future U.S. support.

“This is a completely man-made and preventable situation,” Andrea De Domenico, the head of the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the occupied Palestinian territory, said during a press briefing last week. “I think there has been a lot of effort from our side and the Israeli side to some extent to increase the volume of aid that is going to the north,” he said, while adding that significant obstacles remained.

In a six-day period this month, “41 percent of our requests for operations in the north have been denied,” he said. For Gaza’s residents, “every day is literally a struggle to survive.”

In March, President Biden announced a plan to establish a maritime aid corridor to Gaza, shortly after the United States joined other countries in dropping relief supplies by air on the enclave. Humanitarian officials said that while any additional deliveries were welcome, they were no substitute for aid delivered by trucks.

Wright said the flotilla would include a cargo ship carrying food packages, water, ambulances and medical supplies including anesthesia. “We are trying to stop the starvation,” she said. “It’s not nearly enough. It will make a dent,” she said.

Flotilla participants were conducting nonviolence training last week, in advance of the scheduled departure, she said. “We hope that we can get into Gaza,” Wright said. But they were preparing for the myriad ways they could be turned back.

Many of the governments in the region had participated in stymieing previous Gaza missions, including Greece, which stopped boats from departing in 2011. The United States had warned its citizens not to participate in the missions, and offered “very little assistance” when American activists on the flotillas were detained and then deported by Israel, she said.

If the current mission got underway, they were possibly facing an “armada,” she said, with U.S. warships stationed in the waters off Israel.

Mustafa Ozbek, the media coordinator for IHH, said the organizers had notified the Turkish government, the United Nations and other international institutions about the mission.

Dylan Saba, a 31-year-old writer and attorney who was planning to travel with the flotilla, said he was joining in part because “there is an obligation for citizens of the world to act, where governments have failed, and to act in the spirit of international law.”

As a Palestinian whose father was born in Gaza, he said there was a “lot of symbolic value in being able to accompany this aid that we are attempting to deliver, not just to my distant family members who are living there, but all of the Palestinians of Gaza.”

“I feel very confident that this is the right thing for me to do,” he said. “But I would be lying to you if I said that I was not scared.”

Alon Rom in Tel Aviv contributed to this report.

Israel-Gaza war

The Israel-Gaza war has gone on for six months, and tensions have spilled into the surrounding region .

The war: On Oct. 7, Hamas militants launched an unprecedented cross-border attack on Israel that included the taking of civilian hostages at a music festival . (See photos and videos of how the deadly assault unfolded ). Israel declared war on Hamas in response, launching a ground invasion that fueled the biggest displacement in the region since Israel’s creation in 1948 .

Gaza crisis: In the Gaza Strip, Israel has waged one of this century’s most destructive wars , killing tens of thousands and plunging at least half of the population into “ famine-like conditions. ” For months, Israel has resisted pressure from Western allies to allow more humanitarian aid into the enclave .

U.S. involvement: Despite tensions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and some U.S. politicians , including President Biden, the United States supports Israel with weapons , funds aid packages , and has vetoed or abstained from the United Nations’ cease-fire resolutions.

History: The roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and mistrust are deep and complex, predating the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 . Read more on the history of the Gaza Strip .

• Israel strikes Iran, Israeli official says; White House declines to comment on attack April 19, 2024 Israel strikes Iran, Israeli official says; White House declines to comment on attack April 19, 2024
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Australians join unauthorised activist mission to challenge Israeli blockade and deliver 5,500 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Gaza

Just weeks after aid worker Zomi Frankcom was killed in Israeli air strikes, three Australians are embarking on an unauthorised mission to deliver food and medical supplies to war-torn Gaza.

"We all feel like this horror is too much to bear, that something desperately has to be done," Surya McEwen said.

The 38-year-old care worker from New South Wales said he was among 1,000 international activists who will set sail for Gaza on one of three ships, carrying 5,500 tonnes of humanitarian aid with them.

The aim of the mission, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), is to breach Israel's naval blockade of the Palestinian enclave, where the United Nations says 1.1 million people are in danger from a looming famine .

University of Queensland educator Helen O'Sullivan and New South Welshman Daniel Coward have also said they would take part in the flotilla mission.

The ABC understands they are all expected to depart from Türkiye this week, but the exact date is being kept a secret.

"This type of operation has never been done in an active war zone. This accentuates the risk and necessity," Mr McEwen said from Istanbul.

Israel has maintained a sea, land and air blockade on Gaza since Hamas's takeover in 2007, citing the risk of weapons smuggling and the security threat posed by the militant group.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) said in a statement on Sunday that those who wish to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza should do so "through established channels".

"We urge Australians not to try and break the naval blockade," a spokesperson said.

In a joint statement on Tuesday, the three flotilla participants from Australia said DFAT's response was "deeply disappointing".

"I want the Australian government to put humanity first, not politics. And ensure that this aid is delivered to Gaza safely," Mr McEwen said.

Mr Coward said providing the aid was part of the "duty we have as citizens".

"Not sailing, and not providing this humanitarian aid that is ready to go, goes against the duty we have as citizens," he said.

Out of dozens of unauthorised flotillas that have challenged the blockade over the past decade, only five have reached Gaza's shores without being intercepted, according to the FFC.

Nine Gaza-bound flotilla activists were killed in 2010, with the UN Human Rights Council  (UNHRC) finding Israel had used "excessive" force and that the activists had acted "recklessly" in attempting to breach the blockade.

Following Hamas's terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, which Israeli officials say killed at least 1,200 Israelis and foreigners, Israel invaded Gaza and imposed what it called a  "total" blockade  on the territory of 2.2 million people, cutting off electricity, food and water. 

Now, the FFC says it has brought together humanitarian and activist organisations from 35 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, the US and UK, with the aim of "breaking" this blockade.

Human rights groups like  Amnesty  and Human Rights Watch have called the blockade "illegal" and a form of "collective punishment" because they say it restricts the flow of essential goods and endangers the lives of innocent civilians.

Israel began allowing humanitarian relief to enter Gaza on October 18, 2023, though the UNHRC said last week that Israel was still imposing "unlawful restrictions" on the flow of aid.

Israel has repeatedly denied hindering the distribution of relief, saying the problem is caused by international aid groups' inability to get it to those in need.

Earlier this month, Israel agreed to open a seaport and some additional land crossings to get aid into Gaza, after coming under  international pressure for the Israeli strikes that killed seven relief workers, including Australian Ms Frankcom.

FFC's flotilla mission will not be using these channels as spokesperson James Godfrey said the transnational network "doesn't recognise that Israel has authority to control Palestinian waters".

"We haven't sought permission and we don't intend to seek permission," he said.

Ms O'Sullivan, who describes herself as a proud mother of three and a grateful grandmother of seven, said she felt compelled to join the flotilla to draw attention to the plight of Palestinians in Gaza.

According to the latest figures from the Hamas-run health ministry, at least 33,729 Palestinians have died from Israeli strikes since the war started six months ago.

"This journey to Gaza is not what I imagined doing at this stage of my life, but like many around, I have felt overwhelmed by the genocide we witness on our screens daily," Ms O'Sullivan said.

"I want our children to know that we have to speak up in defence of those who cannot. I am a social work field educator — social justice is at the core of our practice. I have to walk the talk."

Israel has vehemently rejected allegations of genocide  levelled in the UN's top court, saying it has a right to defend itself from Hamas after the group took at least 250 hostages back to Gaza.

The International Court of Justice has not yet ruled on whether Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, as the process could take years .

It issued a provisional ruling in January stating that Israel must take all measures in its power to prevent and punish "the direct and public incitement to commit genocide" against Palestinians in Gaza.

The UN has warned that  "famine is imminent" in northern areas of Gaza, where  31 per cent of children under two years of age are suffering from acute malnutrition.

The World Food Programme's latest report on hunger describes a "catastrophic" condition for the Palestinians living in the enclave, with more than 90 per cent of the entire population facing "acute food insecurity".

"This is an emergency mission as the situation in Gaza is dire," the FFC said in a statement about its motivations for launching the flotilla.

Mr Godfrey said the group had made plans for the distribution of its aid in coordination with Türkiye's Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) and Malaysia's humanitarian organisation MyCare.

"Partners are making contingency plans to be able to successfully arrive and they're doing it under constant bombardment."

He added the mission was being funded through online crowdsourcing and donations from individuals. 

'I understand and accept the risks'

Between 2008 and 2018, international activists launched 35 flotillas to challenge Israel's naval blockade.

According to Mr Godfrey, only five of those flotillas managed to reach Gaza's shores and they all docked in 2008 under the sponsorship of the Free Gaza Movement.

DFAT warned on Sunday that previous attempts to break the naval blockade along Gaza's coast "have resulted in injury, death, arrest and the deportation of foreigners".

Following May 2010's highly publicised incident, a  UNHRC panel found  that nine activists were killed and "many others seriously wounded" by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) after they raided a flotilla of six ships.

They said Israel's use of force on activists had been "excessive and unreasonable", with the forensic evidence showing that most of those who died had been shot multiple times, including in the back, or at close range.

The UNHRC panel also found that "several" IDF troops were wounded and three had been "captured, mistreated and placed at risk" by passengers on board one of the flotilla ships.

"Although people are entitled to express their political views, the flotilla acted recklessly in attempting to breach the naval blockade," the UNHRC panel said in their report published in 2011.

"The majority of the flotilla participants had no violent intentions, but there exist serious questions about the conduct, true nature and objectives of the flotilla organisers, particularly IHH."

The report recommended that future humanitarian missions wishing to assist the Gaza population should do so "through established procedures and the designated land crossings in consultation with the government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority".

The humanitarian organisation IHH referred to in the report is the same one that has partnered with the FFC to organise this week's flotilla mission. 

The FFC said it was "a non-violent coalition", with all of its flotilla participants having undertaken two days of de-escalation training ahead of the voyage.

"We hope the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, is paying attention to make sure our people are kept safe and our ships are kept safe," Mr Godfrey said.

"We need to be successful this time. Time is running out for the Palestinian people in Gaza."

Mr McEwen said it was a "possibility" that IDF troops would board the flotilla ships upon approaching the blockade zone, but he emphasised the activists would be presenting themselves in the "most peaceful way possible".

"One of the biggest ways that we're keeping ourselves safe is by building movements of people who amplify and come along the journey with us through communications and social media," he said.

Mr McEwen and Ms O'Sullivan said they would continue to document their sailing journey to Gaza on social media in the hopes that it would prevent the escalation of conflict.

"I understand and accept the risks, however, the people of Palestine face these risks and more every second of every day," Ms O'Sullivan said.

"The Australian government needs to be stronger in their stance on what is happening in Palestine.

"Please help keep us safe by keeping your eyes on me and ensuring our elected representatives do the same."

DFAT said the Australian government was using its voice to advocate for an immediate ceasefire "to enable the facilitation of aid into Gaza at scale and the release of hostages".

"We have been clear with Israel that it must comply with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice, including to enable the provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance at scale," a spokesperson said.

Since the war started, Australia has committed $52.5 million in humanitarian assistance to address essential needs in Gaza.

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Flights from istanbul to stavropol.

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Stavropol Shpakovskoye Airport

At present, there are no direct flights from Istanbul to Stavropol.

However, there are several flights from IST to STW with a stopover.

Select a stopover airport from the list below to see which airlines operate flights from IST to STW, and to see what flight schedules are available.

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-->Airlines flying from Istanbul to Stavropol

In total there are 2 airlines that cover the full route from Istanbul IST to Stavropol STW. These airlines are:

All other flights from Istanbul to Stavropol are operated by a combination of multiple carriers, which are listed below:

-->Alliances flying from Istanbul to Stavropol

Unfortunately, there are no alliances that cover the full route (with 1 stopover) from Istanbul IST to Stavropol STW at this moment.

-->Classes on this route

You can fly the full journey from IST to STW in either Economy or Business Class. Premium Economy and First Class are not available on this route, at least not on the full route with just 1 stopover.

However, for the first part of this route, Economy, Premium Economy and Business Class are available. This depends on the stopover airport of your choice though.

Again depending on your stopover airport, available classes for the second part of this route are Economy and Business Class.

-->Aircrafts flying from IST to STW

In total there are 2 aircraft types that cover the full route from Istanbul to Stavropol. These aircrafts are:

All other flights from Istanbul to Stavropol are operated by a combination of multiple aircraft types.

-->Distance between Istanbul and Stavropol

The distance between Istanbul and Stavropol is 725 miles (1,166 kilometers).

However, because there are no direct flights between IST and STW, the distance of the full journey varies between 747 and 1,864 miles (or 1,202 and 3,000 kilometers), depending on your stopover airport.

-->Flight time from IST to STW

Flights from Istanbul to Stavropol take from 3 hours and 10 minutes up to 8 hours and 15 minutes, depending on your stopover airport.

Please note that these times refer to the actual flight times, excluding the stopover time in between connecting flights, as this depends on your stopover airport as well as your date(s) of travel.

Frequently asked questions - FAQ

How many airports are there in stavropol.

There is 1 airport in Stavropol: Stavropol Shpakovskoye Airport (STW).

How long does it take to fly from Istanbul to Stavropol?

From 3 hours and 10 minutes up to 8 hours and 15 minutes, depending on your stopover airport.

Note that this excludes the layover time in between connecting flights.

How far is Stavropol from Istanbul?

Because there are no direct flights between IST and STW, the total distance of the full journey varies between 747 and 1,864 miles (or 1,202 and 3,000 kilometers), depending on your stopover airport.

What airlines fly from IST airport to STW airport?

Aeroflot and Azimuth are flying the full route from Istanbul to Stavropol.

Ural Airlines, IrAero and Red Wings operate several connecting flights, but only partly.

What alliances have flights from Istanbul to Stavropol?

There are no alliances flying from Istanbul to Stavropol at this moment.

What classes are available from Istanbul to Stavropol?

You can fly the full route from Istanbul to Stavropol (with 1 stopover) in Economy and Business Class.

What aircraft types fly from Istanbul to Stavropol?

• Sukhoi Superjet 100-95
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