Passenger Freighter Cruises From the Port of New York And New Jersey
Freighter Cruises - Different Than All The Rest.
Freighter cruises are
ideal for people who
Are flexible and do not have time
constraints because freighter cruises can be extended a few days to
a week depending on the addition of ports of call.
Have a spirit
of adventure.
Like to see the world in a casual environment.
Can occupy themselves and are comfortable reading a book, viewing
movies, relaxing, conversing with other passengers and crew.
Are
in good general health - since most freighters do not have a medical
staff.
Like a solitary vacation experience.
Enjoy many days at
seas.
Can afford a month of more of vacation.
People who are
flexible and do not expect perfection.
Freighter accommodations are normally:
Clean.
Functional.
Air-Conditioned.
Have a television
and possibly a VCR or DVD player.
Have ample storage.
Accommodate between 4 to 12 passengers depending on the number of
cabins available.
Notes:
Forward and rear facing cabins may have their visibility
obstructed by containers or deck cargo.
Electricity: Normally a
two prong adapter is required to use North American Appliances.
Cabins are cleaned once per week.
Public Spaces
Most ships offer a gym, small dining
room, library, lounge and pool,
Public rooms are shared with the
crew and officers.
Dining rooms are usually smoking free. Smoking
is normally permitted in other public areas.
Some ships have
elevators but most do not. Be prepared to navigate the stairs.
Washers and driers are available for use.
Deck may be slipper due
to the sea spray, weather conditions and general maintenance.
Itinerary:
Ports can be
added to the itinerary or skipped depending on cargo demand.
Added stops could elongate your vacation - Yippee free cruise days!
Ports can also be eliminated reducing the length of the trip. In
these cases, no refunds are provided.
The amount of time spent in
port will vary based on the time required to load and unload cargo.
Normally one day is spent in each port.
Normally freighter
cruises dock away from the center of town and main tourist areas
(Container terminals are usually located on the outskirts where
there is vast land to store and move containers), therefore you will
need to arrange or negotiate your own transportation.
Life On Board:
Food is good - but more traditional and less fancy. ADVERTISERS END ADVERTISERS
Following the
European tradition, lunch is usually the largest meal of the day.
Most freighters have a small dining room able to accommodate diners
in a single sitting,
There are three meals a day served at set
times.
Some freighter have complimentary wine at lunch and
dinner.
The ships usually have an open kitchen/pantry policy,
where if you are hungry you can go into the refrigerator and get a
snack.
No special diets can be accommodated.
In general
travelers tend to be 65+ years of age.
Even though freighters
only carry a small amount of passengers, there is the possibility
that the ship may not be fully booked.
The ship is staffed by an
international crew.
English is normally spoken, although the crew
or officers may use their native language when speaking to each
other.
Entertainment:
Freighter cruises tend to have many days at sea.
Unlike
cruise ships, freighters do not have shows or organized
entertainment. Most entertainment is in the form of chatting with
the crew and fellow passengers, a small library for your reading
pleasure, a limited DVD, VHS movie collection and sun bathing.
Some freighters have a small swimming pool and/or gym.
No shore
excursions are offered by the freighter company.
Weather:
Understand that the
weather in your destinations may be markedly different than you
departure port. You may need to bring clothing for multiple seasons.
Things to Bring:
iPod or
CD Player with music collection.
Your favorite movies (check with
the freighter company to see if your cabin has a DVD player or VCR).
A selection of reading materials.
Deck of cards.
Sun tan
lotion.
Sweater.
Comfortable walking shoes and shoes with good
grips for walking on wet decks.
Sunglasses.
Items that support
your interests - paints, sketch pads, laptop, etc.
Guide books
for the areas that you are visiting.
Puzzle books.
Passports
and Visa's (if required.).
In general - things to keep you
occupied.
Price:
At
one time freighter cruising was significantly less than the cost of
a traditional cruise experience.
Now freighter cruises cost about
the same as traditional cruise vacation.
There are three factors
which have dictated the increase in price:
Originally freight
operators pursued passengers, because freight ships carrying
passengers were give priority berthing in ports which had limited
facilities, This helped shippers have an edge on the competition and
be able to keep their ships on schedule, Since priority berthing is
no longer a concern, freight companies do not have to assure that
they have passengers on every sailing.
The prices of traditional
cruise vacations have come down over the past 10 years, due to
competition, over-capacity and the need to fill older ships. This
reduction has made traditional cruises and freighter cruises on par
as far as price.
The reduction in the number of freight companies
offering passenger service, along with the romance associated with
freighter cruising, has increased the demand.
Restrictions and
Requirements:
French ships will accept travelers up to
74 years of age. German ships 79 years of age.
Your doctor will
need to provide a letter providing details about your physical
ability to travel and general heath.
Passengers are required to
have a valid passport. The expiration date should NOT be less than 6
months from the end date of you travel plans.
Some ports visited
will require Visas. You will need to be obtained the required Visas
before sailing.
Depending on the destinations, you will need to
assure that all of your inoculations are up to date, In addition,
there may be additional vaccinations required.
Mandatory
International Health and Accident Insurance is required.
Trip
Interruption and Cancellation Insurance is highly recommended.
The freighter company and/or travel agent will provide the details
of the requirements.
Most passenger freighter are owned by French
or German operators and can fly the flag of various countries.
Port charges and fees are additional.
Passenger Freighter Operators
·
Grimaldi Line Freighter Cruises/ Information on
Freighters & routes (Rickmer sold thru agents)
Sites Specializing in Freighter
Cruises
·
www,cruisepeople.co.uk/freighters.htm
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