Freighter Cruises

[Simon Brown]

Nick, it sounds like us Timaruvian's have the freighter travel bug !!

Back in 2005 I made the 'voyage home' on the CMA CGM LA TOUR from Rotterdam to Auckland via the Pananam Canal, Pacific Islands and Australia and it really was a high light. Maybe I was lucky as the only passenger onboard during the whole 50 day trip but it was everything I expected. A big adventure.A great round the world round route. I had the total run of the ship, no restrictions, day or night. Master and crew we just great, so enjoyble to have a morning coffee most days with Captain Bosnic on the bridge, talking about the Balkan wars and everything else wrong in the world as we slide down the New Foundland coast towards New York.. Really the fun bit was always the adventure of exploring the local environs when we got alongside, finding a way off the ship through the terminal and to freedom for a few hours. St Paddy's Day in Savannah with the English cadets from onboard..they drink! In New York at the Red Hook Container Terminal (closest commercial vessel berth to Manhattan I have to say!) I managed to 'walk to Manhattan', finding my way to the Brooklyn Bridge, no yellow cab for me.. Even in Papeete a day out to Moorea for a look and an explore. Nothing planned..follow your nose sort of thing, even Melbourne was great with a big dinner out with the master, chief engineer and the nice lady provedore in Port Melbourne. It had a lucky trip!

I started planning through the company in Napier but but eventually talked with the CMA CGM travel 'lady' in Marseille which work out perfectly.

I saw some English looking 'freighter travellers' arrive in Manzanillo on a German flagged vessel and I was thinking that they were on the wrong type of ship. All boxie and no decks, no good viewing spots. The LA TOUR had lots of decks and roaming spaces but some more recent designs just lack outside spaces and no views so you have to get the right ship. The LA TOUR was perfect.

Anyway I was totally happy with my voyage home..and it beats airline travel if you have a spare bit of cash !

Simon

[Andre Brandao]

Simon any photos of your trip online?

[Simon Brown]

Hi Andre.

Some years ago I uploaded lots of photos of the trip to pbase.com but I only managed to get up until Panama, or just a few days into the Pacific leg..so I never got it finished which is a bit sad. This is the link below;

http://www.pbase.com/kiwinz/home_by_sea

Lets say I will try and finish it some day. Some good photos I think. Hope you enjoy them.

I always felt it's a special thing to see with world of from ocean. What 99% of people never get to experience, the smell, sound and views. It's a special feeling and you get to understand the vastness of the worlds oceans and how 'small' one can feel when you in the middle of say the Pacific, 7 days from land in every direction!

Regards,
Simon

[b47b56]

Hello,
2 years ago I worked on Unifeeder conteinership. There were 4 or 5 tourist during my contract.
Region - Baltic, North Sea; Duration - from 7 to 10 days. They visited Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Denmark.
As I remember on Unifeeder's site there are marked all vessels which have possibility to take tourists.

Regards, Yevgeniy.