Post: #1

I'm wondering if anyone from RVF gotten a ride to a foreign country via cargo ship or private vessel?

I've heard that this is a much cheaper way to travel than paying top dollar for plane fare. It also seems like an interesting adventure.

Post: #2

I knew a girl who traveled from Buenos Aires to Hamburg via cargo ship. It was significantly more expensive than a flight and took something like 4 weeks. You also have to be below deck most of the time. The crew was a weird mix of nationalities and I think no one except the captain spoke proper English. Don't really know much else, and I don't have contact with her anymore, but it seemed like a terrible idea.

Post: #3

I've always wanted to cross the Atlantic on a cargo ship.
But indeed, i've heard that it's a very ineffective way of travel, in terms of value for money. Most likely it depends on the ship, surely there are some sites out there that review the conditions on-board. And 4 weeks without pussy is hard to stomach
.

Post: #4

(11-16-2015 09:10 PM)portofmanteau Wrote:  I knew a girl who traveled from Buenos Aires to Hamburg via cargo ship. It was significantly more expensive than a flight and took something like 4 weeks. You also have to be below deck most of the time. The crew was a weird mix of nationalities and I think no one except the captain spoke proper English. Don't really know much else, and I don't have contact with her anymore, but it seemed like a terrible idea.

That's kind of disappointing to hear. I had hoped it would at least be cheaper than flying. But 4 weeks, plus more money? To hell with that!

Post: #5

If your really up for a boat trip. The only way to Antartica is by boat. Fly to Southern Argentina and go for it. However, cost I believe is like $5,000. Don't quote that number. Never went but looked it up a couple times, it was tempting to go hit all every continent.

But there are plenty of boat trips in the world between countries. Im not sure if you are talking about something more specific with "private vessel"

For example: Buenos Aires to Uruguay. Helsinki to Talinn. Spanish Coast to North Africa. Hong Kong to Macau. Japan to South Korea.

Post: #6

(11-17-2015 01:03 PM)godzilla Wrote:  If your really up for a boat trip. The only way to Antartica is by boat. Fly to Southern Argentina and go for it. However, cost I believe is like $5,000. Don't quote that number. Never went but looked it up a couple times, it was tempting to go hit all every continent.

For more info on this, read SpectrumWalker's great datasheet on his voyage to Antartica.

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Post: #7

Boat travel, at least the dedicated passenger services I'm familiar with (I've no idea about cargo ships and the like), is surprisingly expensive. Still, I took a few ferries in Europe when the cost/logistics made sense and it was rather interesting, a definite change of pace from the usual modes of transport. Entering a beautiful city by water has an inimitable aesthetic that many travelers will appreciate, I think.

Post: #8

I used own a 31 foot sailboat. My ex wife and I sailed down the East Coast and around the Caribbean for a year and a half. This was an awesome trip! I became a serious waterman and it helped to make me the all around man I am today. I plan to do more sailing adventures in the future. Ultimately I would like to do a transatlantic or even an around the world trip. The deep Ocean is an almost unreal deep blue color. Although it can be very overwhelming and uncomfortable, you get into its rhythm when you are offshore for a few days.

My trip was full of adventure and I saw and did some crazy, awesome stuff. A few times, I spearfished while sharks were hanging out waiting for me to maim a fish so they could grab it.

Keep in mind that if you go cruising in a sailboat your first priority has to be the boat. This could mess up your game and logistics. However, a sailboat will take you to places you cannot get to via other forms of transportation. Imagine all the deserted islands and beaches, not to mention all the island girls.

While I was in the Philippines this year, I thought about how amazing it would be to get a Filipino boat and cruise around the islands. There would be long passages between islands, discomfort and deprivations but there would also be amazing beauty, friendships and amazing bangs with practically virgin island women

Post: #9

OP...what you want is a re-positioning cruise! They travel at only certain times during the year to go from Europe to Miami for example. They cost around 50 bucks a day and you get the luxury environment with all entertainment and food you can handle! Google for more information...there are plenty of sites you can book these at!

Post: #10

If you add up the cost of food for all the weeks you're going to spend on a boat doing an economic 21 knots, it's easy to see that it's never going to be cheaper than a flight that covers the same distance in half a day or less.

Post: #11

Life's just too short for cargo ship nonsense.

Post: #12

Thanks for the replies.

I have looked into it and Suits is right, it is far more expensive and time consuming than travel by air. While the fact that it takes long isn't a shock (obviously) for some reason I had thought that it would be at least cheaper than flight.

I suppose it's a fanciful notion; arriving on a dock and haggling your way onto a ship. Oh well!

@Robert plant, that sounds like an amazing experience. I'm a novice traveler so I suppose I should stick to the conventional means of travel.