Freighter Travel FAQ

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Some commonly asked questions about freighter passenger travel that may be helpful for first-time freighter travelers.

What Is The Age Limit?
Most freighters have a maximum age limit of 79 or 80, although sometimes as low as 75. This rule is necessary because freighters do not have doctors onboard. Some ships will also require a medical certificate from your doctor, for passengers over the age of 65.
No shipping company will accept children less than 5 years of age and some will set a minimum of up to 10 years of age.

Where Can You Go?
Freighters only travel to countries that import or export goods – so there are a few areas of the world that are hard to get to, like Alaska. It is also next to impossible to book very short voyages.

Can I Just Book A Sector Of A Voyage?
It is quite common for shipping lines to allow one way bookings, or other lengthy sectors, on their longer voyages – you can either fly home, or take another ship back a few weeks or months later – but they very rarely allow bookings for small sectors of voyages, lasting only a few days.

For example, a ship which travels from the USA to Australia and back, on a round trip voyage of 40 days, would almost certainly let you book a one way voyage of 20 days – but a smaller voyage departing from Miami on a 14 day tour of the Caribbean, will almost certainly only take bookings for the complete round trip – you can’t just hop between islands, spending a few nights onboard.

How Much Does It Cost?
Freighter voyages typically average about US$100-125 per day, although some tramp voyages can be a little cheaper. There will also be port taxes & deviation insurance to pay, which will usually add around $300 per person to the cost – this fee is the same, whatever the length of your voyage.

What If My Voyage Takes Longer?
Most shipping lines will operate on the basis of a fixed price, based on the number of days your voyage is scheduled to last – If your voyage is a few days shorter you will receive no refund, but if it is a few days longer you are not charged extra.

However, if there is a major alteration to your schedule and a large chunk of your voyage is lost, you will usually be offered a refund based on the number of days lost.

How Do I Book?
You will need to contact a specialist freighter travel agency.

If you know exactly when and where you plan to travel, or you want to secure a particular cabin on a certain ship, it is best to make your reservation as early as possible – the most popular ships, during peak season, can be booked up to a year in advance.

However, if you are more flexible in your travel arrangements, there are always plenty of ships with cabin space available heading somewhere – but I would advise you to give your agent at least 1 months notice if possible.

Agents will require a deposit when you book (usually around 25%), with the balance payable a few weeks prior to departure.

Booking Time Needed
I can’t stress this strongly enough – if you want to travel by freighter, you really should book well in advance – shipping lines and freighter agents can’t process last minute bookings.

Most agents will not even consider a booking request less than 30 days before your planned departure date – experienced travelers usually book around 3-12 months in advance.

Last minute bookings are sometimes possible if you travel on a tramp ship – but this is only an option for super flexible travelers – regular liner services will not consider last minute bookings under any circumstances

Passport, Visa & Medical Requirements
You will need a valid passport, with an expiry date that extends 6 months beyond your intended return date – the visas and inoculations required will depend on your own nationality and your voyage destination.

It is your responsibility to make sure these are in place – if you do not have the necessary visa or inoculation certificates, you may be forced to remain onboard ship when it arrives in a foreign port for which you do not have the correct documentation.

Can I Work A Passage?
Definitely not – there is no way of getting a free or reduced price fare by offering to work. This may have been possible many years ago, but modern insurance and union regulations now make this impossible – so just sit back and enjoy the voyage.

Do Freighters Have Telephone Fax & Email?
Yes they do, but these are very expensive satellite connections – maybe $4 to $5 per minute to use the telephone – so you will only want to use them in an emergency!

The best method of staying in touch with home is by email, this is available either for a modest fee, or sometimes provided free of charge.

Do Freighter Have Stabilizers?
No, but freighters are designed differently to cruise ships, they run much deeper in the water – which means that stabilizers are not as necessary anyway.

If a smooth voyage is something that particularly concerns you, it is best to travel on the largest container ships – the bigger the ship, the smoother the ride.

Can Disabled People Travel On Freighters?
This will depend on your level of mobility. Unfortunately, if you are not able to climb stairs, you will not be permitted to travel.

Are Ships Safe?
Freighter ships are subjected to thorough inspection processes, just like regular cruise liners. The days of the rusty old tramp steamer are long gone!

How Much Luggage Can I Take?
There is no strict luggage weight allowance similar to those imposed by airlines – although you obviously need to bear this in mind if you are sailing one way and flying home.
As a general guide, you would have no problem taking as much as you are comfortably capable of carrying – say 2 large suitcases – if you plan to take more than that clarify the situation with your agent when booking.

What about Spending Money Onboard?
You will need cash for onboard purchases – usually US dollars or Euros – credit cards and traveler’s checks will not be accepted.

What About Using Electrical Appliances?
Most ships operate on 220 volts.

Can I Ship My Car Or Motorcycle?
A passenger freighter booking agent can’t arrange for cars or motorcycles to be transported – they can only book your cabin – you must contact a separate freight forwarding company to arrange transportation of vehicles.

If you are booking well in advance, it is possible that you may be able to arrange transport for your vehicle on the same ship that you are traveling on as a passenger – as long as the type of ship is one that carries vehicles – but you should be prepared for the possibility that you may have to travel on different ships.

Can I Take My Pet?
Generally, the answer to this will be no. It is extremely rare to find a freighter shipping line that is prepared to allow pets to travel with their owners.

What Size Are The Ships?
The largest container ships can be over 1000 feet long and 70,000 tons – of course, there are plenty of much smaller ships too!

How Many Passengers Are Onboard?
The golden number in freighter travel is 12 – this is the maximum number of passengers that any ship can carry without having to have a doctor onboard.

Many ships will have accommodation for fewer than 12 passengers – it is quite common for only 2-3 people to be onboard – you could even have the entire ship to yourself!

There are a small number of ships that are designed as passenger cargo liners – a kind of cross between a freighter and a cruise ship. These ships will have a doctor onboard and therefore not be subject to the usual maximum of 12.

Receive Maris Freighter and Specialty Cruises magazine. Published monthly, the 16-page magazine (5.50″ x 8.50″) offers information on voyage itineraries, ships, accommodations and prices. It’s a well-illustrated, up-to-date guide also featuring news and firsthand stories, often being the only publication available anywhere for many of these voyages.

Bon voyage!

Eday Cafe

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