"Freighter cruise" is really an oxymoron: About the only similarity between a conventional cruise an

Editor's cruises hawaii Note: This story was originally published on August 11, 2008. To see the most recent cruises hawaii SmarterTravel articles on related topics, please click on any of the following links: AskEd & AnswerEd , cruise , Ed Perkins .
Traveling on a seagoing freighter has long been an intriguing but mysterious option. One reader recently asked: "I would like to travel from the Eastern U.S. to Europe on a freighter. How can I arrange that?"
The short answer is to arrange a trip through one of the several agencies that specialize in freighter travel, including Maris Freighter Cruises , Freighter World Cruises cruises hawaii , and TravLtips . Available trips include Houston, cruises hawaii New Orleans, Savannah, and Port Everglades to several cruises hawaii ports in Spain and Italy; cruises hawaii and New York and Savannah to ports in Spain and Italy. The cost of the shortest transatlantic crossing I could find, at 13 days from Savannah to Valencia, is about $1,700 per person plus about $400 in fees.
A few large freight cruises hawaii ships include accommodations for small numbers of paying passengers. Some hold as few as four two cabins although cruises hawaii many accommodate up to 12, and a few accommodate more. Individual travelers can book those accommodations cruises hawaii through agencies I cite above. As far as I know, no freighter line sells directly to the public and I've never seen freighter accommodations posted on the large conventional cruise agency websites.
Freighter travelers generally have meals with the ships' officers and they have access to any officers' lounges and any other recreational facilities the ship might carry. Some have swimming pools for crew use. As far as I know, none of the passenger-carrying ships provides any special facilities just for passengers.
Most freighter cabin accommodations have twin beds, but some ships carry one or two single cabins. Freighter cabins are typically considerably larger than typical cruises hawaii cruise cabins. Most include separate bedroom and sitting areas and private bath and shower; most have either forward or side views. Deluxe "owners' cabins" on some ships, when available, are the best onboard accommodations. The Ultimate "Un-Cruise"
"Freighter cruise" is really an oxymoron: About the only similarity between a conventional cruise and a freighter trip is that both involve being on the ocean. Beyond that, they're entirely different. Freighter itineraries are determined by freight requirements, not appeal to passengers.
Most freighter lines establish minimum and maximum ages of travelers they'll accommodate. Typically that means no children under 13, and the senior cutoff ages range from 75 to 85. In addition, senior travelers cruises hawaii may need doctors' certificates of health.
All in all, freighter travel is for healthy individuals and couples who would enjoy several weeks at sea with almost no distractions and maybe a large stack of books. It's ideal for two couples that would like nothing better than two or three solid weeks of nonstop bridge, with no distractions. Arranging a Freighter Trip
In addition, the U.K.-based site The Cruise People cruises hawaii Ltd arranges freighter travel cruises hawaii along with other specialty trips, geared to a European audience. It's especially cruises hawaii good for regularly scheduled passenger/cargo runs that serve the U.K. Routes and Prices
Freighter agencies generally cruises hawaii group their trips by round-the-world, transatlantic, transpacific (north), South Pacific, South America, Caribbean, and round-the-world, plus regional trips in some of these areas.
Transatlantic freighter trips depart from several U.S. ports, on the Gulf and Atlantic; transpacific trips generally depart from Seattle, San Francisco, or Los Angeles. One line with regular trips departs from Great Lakes ports, passing through the Welland Canal and St. Lawrence Seaway.
Freighter trips are generally longer than the most popular conventional cruises. From originating cruises hawaii port to final destination, a one-way freighter trip usually cruises hawaii takes several weeks and many take longer than a month, and a round-trip can take two or more months. Ditto for round-the-world trips.
Prices on most freighter cruises hawaii trips these days are set in euros. Typical prices for double cabins are in the range of 90 to 100 (about $138 to $153; see XE.com cruises hawaii for current exchange rates) per person per day, plus some extra fees and taxes.
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