(Newswire.net — July 4, 2016) — Going on a freight cruise is probably the least-known form of travel there is today. Not exactly tourism as we know it; a well-kept secret in the days of airport anxiety is that it is still possible to book a regularly scheduled sea passage to most parts of the world. Freighter travel is a less crowded, alternative way of crossing a sea or ocean, not using airplanes or commercial cruise ships or ferries. Freighter travel is also virtually the only way to travel across the Caspian Sea and is a very common way to travel across the Black Sea.
The global shipping industry is huge – think of how many ports welcome cargo ships every day. Travelers can journey between continents across oceans and high seas, and share in the daily life of the crew while discovering the world’s busiest ports. Traveling aboard container ships, which are among the biggest in the world, is to experience a completely different way of cruising the oceans.
Freight travel is not quite as precise as booking a flight with a specific time and leave date. It requires some flexibility and planning. Ships can face delays, occasionally arrive in port at night or decide to bypass a port at the last minute.
This unusual style of voyage serves travelers that aren’t on a tight schedule. Being prepared for travel a few days ahead of time is required as a ship may reach port a few days early, requiring you to leave sooner than expected.
Unlike an airline, you can’t call your travel agent on a Wednesday evening and expect to leave on Friday evening. Research on routes and ships is important and should be done several months ahead of time as should bookings. Some routes tend to be more popular than others and are therefore booked for months in advance.
Sailing routes and itineraries can range from two weeks to 120 days in duration, depending where you board. They can be a short one way trip or a round-the-world trip. If you’re a self-reliant soul, someone who enjoys self-reflecting, adventure, exploring, and the open seas, a cargo ship could be your very own giant 2,000 foot private yacht.
Port cities are generally off-the-grid locations compared to average cruises and tourist stops. Very often, you’ll discover and explore exotic and unspoiled attraction that you never knew existed a short distance away. The average port time is one day which gives a freight cruise passenger longer to explore than on a typical cruise ship, though some smaller vessels may be in port for 2-3 days.
On any cargo ship voyage, there will rarely be more than 11 other paying travelers on board because if a ship has more than 12 passengers it’s legally required to have a doctor on board… [the complete article with additional details continued at aenlogistics.com/general-interest/the-ins-and-outs-of-cargo-ship-tourism]