cargo passenger travel

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UPDATED SPRING 2024

Travelling on a cargo ship is a unique experience.  Whether you love the sea, are conscious of your carbon footprint, don't like flying or simply prefer to sail in a relaxed atmosphere, away from the crowds, then travelling by cargo ship is the right choice for you.

We've been doing this for over 30 years and are passionate about providing a personalised service tailored to your needs.

Alas, since the pandemic and with only a few exceptions, deep sea intercontinental voyages are no longer possible; shipowners and/or their charterers have withdrawn this discretionary activity, we are seeing little enthusiasm from them to resume the activity any time soon.

That means:

- No transatlantic voyages

- No Australia/New Zealand/Europe voyages

- No Europe/South America voyages

- No transpacific voyages

- No round the world voyages

- No voyages in around Asia or Oceania

However, still possible are:

- short haul European, Mediterranean, Baltic are bookable however 2024 availability is already limited on some routes.

- Europe/South Africa/Europe voyages but are fully booked well into 2025; waitlisting/standby is possible for additional cargo induced voyages on a rolling 6-week basis.

- French Polynesian voyages (mv Aranui V)

- mv Bella Desgagnes (St Lawrence River, Canada)

- mv St Helena, global voyages supporting the Extreme E organisation are available but bookable only close to departure.

There may be cruise ship alternatives, please ask if you have a specific voyage in mind as several Voyage Options are possible on some of the routes popular with cargo ship travellers. Note please that owing to the restrictive policies of the major cruise lines, in most cases you may only book cruises through a travel agent in your country of residence. 

Do please take some time to check our website for available routes, also our ‘Ask the Captain’ section for frequently asked questions BEFORE contacting us!

Our website is updated regularly with currently bookable options; please do not contact us regarding deep sea international cargo voyages that are not listed as without the support and co-operation of willing shipowners we can no longer viably respond.

Try us and travel the world your way!

Follow @CargoShipVoyage

GoNOMAD Travel

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Freighter Travel Costs and Questions

Travel by Cargo Ship: What You Should Know about Freighter Travel

By R.F. Ahern, “The Freighterman”

LISTEN TO OUR FREIGHTER TRAVEL PODCAST EPISODE

Remember the old stories of adventurers who would hop a cargo ship to get to an exotic port of call, traveling like a sailor or Merchant Marine? Well, the good news is that it’s still possible. Travel by cargo ship continues to interest our most curious and intrepid readers.

Freighter Travel is Popular

You can travel from one port to another or around the world by freighter. It’s relatively inexpensive (compared to other cruise ships) and easy to do as more and more freighter companies come on board to offer passenger service.

Freighter Travel

Most freighters only have room for a limited number of passengers, and, while you won’t be bunking with the crew anymore, traveling by freighter is still enough of an alternative mode of transportation to keep regular cruise tourists standing in the buffet line.

Your accommodations will be quite adequate–sometimes even a reconfigured Captain’s berth! – and all your meals while at sea will be provided. But unlike a regular cruise ship, you won’t find an onboard disco or gambling casino.

On the other hand, you may have more than one-night playing cards with the crew or sitting quietly on the deck watching the stars. Some freight ships have swimming pools!

Check out these FAQs on freighter travel , provided by R.F. Ahern, “The Freighterman,” who has traveled around the world and then some by freighter ship. Then hop a freighter and sail the seven seas like a real voyager!

WHERE CAN I GO BY FREIGHTER?

You can travel from just about any major port in the world to any other port. Some freighters also go to places you’ve never even heard of. Most lines have regular routes and transatlantic crossings. Frequently you can catch a “tramp” that has no fixed ports of call. Americans cannot travel between one U.S. port and another. From South America to Asia, the ships cross all of the world’s oceans.

CAN ANYONE TRAVEL ON A FREIGHTER?

No. Usually, the upper age limit is 79, the lower is about 5 years. These upper and lower limits may vary from one shipping company to another. If you are over 65, you will generally be required to get a medical certificate from your physician certifying you are fit to travel. Pregnant women are usually not permitted.

If you have difficulty negotiating stairs, this will also preclude you from travel on a freighter. Since all of the passenger-carrying containerships are sailing under a foreign flag they are not subject to American laws requiring accommodation of disabled individuals

HOW LONG IS A FREIGHTER VOYAGE?

The average length of a freighter voyage is 40 to 50 days, though there are some shorter trips available last a couple of weeks. A roundtrip from the U.S. West Coast to Australia/New Zealand and return takes about 46 days. An around the world voyage lasts generally 80 to 100 days or more. Hong Kong China to Los Angeles USA, has an estimated average time between 18 to 20 days of transit port to port.

A westbound voyage from Los Angles, CA. to Hamburg , Germany is about 41 days.

CAN I TAKE A SEGMENTED CARGO SHIP TRIP?

Many people do not like to take a roundabout freighter travel voyage, having neither the time nor the money. Segmented trips are possible with a stopover in port for as long as you want. You can resume your voyage or fly home by plane. These kinds of voyages are popular with people who only have a couple of weeks to travel, and only want to spend some it at sea.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO TRAVEL ON A FREIGHTER?

Travel by freighter, the average cost of a voyage is just about $100.00 US per day, for a single person traveling in a single cabin. It is always more expensive for a single to book a double cabin and always cheaper per person for double occupancy of a double cabin.

There is an additional charge of about $262.00 for deviation insurance and a $12.50 customs charge per person departing or entering the country. Keep in mind that more than one owner/charter may have vessels on a given route. The fare charged by different owners on the same route can vary considerably. Shop around.

Historically, German owners have had a two-tier pricing system, with euro prices lower than the prices quoted in US dollars. If you want to convert euros to dollars, you can use a currency converter. I have been advised that American agents are striving for a single pricing system so that the cost of a voyage is exactly the same for a given ship, regardless of where the traveler calls home, or currency of payment.

HOW DO I BOOK A FREIGHTER VOYAGE?

Most travel agents do not book freighter voyages. You will have to book through an agent that specializes in freighter cruises or directly through the ship’s agent/manager. Remember that there may be voyages available that the travel agent is not advertising on the Internet or elsewhere. If you want to go on a particular voyage, ask the agent what they have available. Remember also that not all agents offer the same voyages.

WHEN SHOULD I MAKE MY TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS?

Unlike an airline, you cannot call your travel agent on a Friday evening and expect to leave on Monday (except for hopping a Tramp Voyage–covered later). Allow several months to plan your trip. I usually start early in January to arrange for a mid-April departure. However, some routes are very popular and you may have to arrange for your voyage many months ahead of your desired departure date. While some freighters depart on exact date and time, others have a window for departure. Be flexible.

New offerings are becoming available every month, so it is possible you can schedule a trip on short notice, but it is better to plan far in advance. Remain flexible with your travel plans. I recently booked a voyage only to be notified the ship I was to board in Los Angeles had grounded and would be unavailable for more than a month after my planned departure date.

Luckily, I was able to hop another ship leaving a few days earlier than I had planned.

WHAT IS A FREIGHTER TRAVEL OPTION?

An option is a period of time within which the pre-payment of a portion of the cost of a voyage must be made. Once your travel agent tenders your voyage, your agent will ask for payment of $500.00, to be paid within a couple of weeks, if you live in the US, to secure your cabin. Full payment is due usually 60 days before the ship’s departure.

If you live in Europe it is customary to be required to make a deposit equivalent to 25% of the cost of the voyage. One agent told me that it is customary in some European countries for the agent to expect payment in full once you have contracted for a voyage, even if you are required to cancel the trip.

WHAT IS A TRAMP VOYAGE

Tramps are cargo ships that have no fixed schedule or ports of call; they go where the cargo is and drop it off where it’s supposed to go. Often, tramp voyages have passenger rooms and travelers can book them. The advantage is that you can get a cheaper voyage to a remote destination at the last minute.

The downside is that you might not be able to get away from that port until another tramp comes along. Tramp voyages are often listed in booking agency’s “Last Minute Specials.”

WHAT SIZE OF SHIP IS BEST?

Having traveled on small container ships (those carrying 1,000 or fewer containers, under 15,000 d.w.t. and about 485 feet) and large ones (4,500 containers or more, over 63,000 d.w.t. and 950 feet in length) I much prefer the former. Traveling on large ships is like being on a cruise ship. By this, I mean it is very stable. The majority of the time you are unaware of the fact that you are at sea!

So, if you like the feel of the sea, think small. Another potential disadvantage of a larger ship is the possibility that it may berth at a newer pier and thus, it may be inconvenient or far away to get from the ship to the port city (for example, the Port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan ).

Large ships obviously have larger engines. Accordingly, the engine air intakes, usually on the “A” deck, generate a lot of noise outside of the vessel. These large engines produce a lot of carbon discharge, making decks D and E, where passenger cabins are usually located, quite dirty.

Video: What’s It Like Inside a Cabin on a Freighter Ship?

CAN I WORK ON A FREIGHTER FOR ALL OR PART OF MY PASSAGE?

The answer is simple. NO! Sit back and enjoy the ride.

SO WHAT CAN I DO ON A FREIGHTER?

Remember, that a freighter is a working ship and passengers are secondary. Thus, there is no such thing as a cruise director or any planned activities other than watching a VCR or doing your laundry. But there’s plenty of time to read, get some sun, hang out on the bridge. What is life on board a freighter trip like? What is the daily routine?

Meals are something I looked forward to as they provided an opportunity for some interesting conversation with the ship’s officers. Some ships have pools, often below the main deck. One smaller container ship that I was on was only able to fill the pool half full to prevent the water from sloshing out in rough weather. Bring plenty of books or your Kindle filled with reading.

You can buy all the beer and hard liquor you want to mellow out, tax-free. But, don’t expect to find your favorite Scotch or Rye whiskey on board. Selections are limited, but there is enough booze on board to keep any hardcore alcoholic happy.

WILL I GET SEASICK?

Could be. Unlike cruise ships, there are no stabilizers on a cargo ship voyage. Accordingly, there can be a significant amount of pitch and roll, depending on the size of the ship, the amount of cargo, and the weather. Most of the time, waves do not exceed 15 feet (about 3 meters), usually less.

There are two things to remember about being seasick: You feel like you are going to die and then you realize that you won’t! As a general rule, the bigger the ship and the more cargo aboard, the smoother the “ride”. I recently sailed on the Cho Yang Atlas, a 965-foot, and 4,500 T.E.U. container ship and was not even aware of the fact that I was at sea.

CAN I BRING ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES?

All ships have a 220-volt power supply. The U.S. standard is 110 volts. Accordingly, you should check to see if your computer, razor, radio, etc., have a 110-220V-option switch. If not, you will need a converter. If you are from the U.S., you will need a plug converter (square to round prongs, but you can usually find one on the ship). A small, portable, AM/FM/SW radio is nice to have along, so you can stay in touch with what’s going on in the world.

WHAT CAN I BUY ON-BOARD?

Cigarettes, beer, soft drinks, toothpaste, and the like. All transactions are in U.S. dollars, no checks, or credit cards; often the price of these items is quoted in the currency of the country of registry or vessel ownership, but there may be exceptions. There is no tax on items purchased on the high sea, however, the ship’s “slop chest” is locked while the ship is in port.

WHAT SHOULD I PACK TO WEAR?

It depends on where you are going and the time of year. Attire is very informal. Jeans, T-shirts, and shorts will work. Leave your coats and ties at home as well as any fancy dresses, unless you want to wear them ashore. Rubber-soled shoes (not boat shoes) are a must. Leather-soled shoes should be left at home. Since shoes are removed in all carpeted areas of the ship they should be easy to take on and off. This is important as often the deck is wet or has residue from the engine’s exhaust.

IS A FREIGHTER NOISY?

Not really, unless you like to hang out in the engine room. There is a much higher noise level than on a cruise ship, but, like vibration, it is minimal.

One exception is the noise generated by the engine intake fans located on the main deck or first deck. Engine exhaust noise is felt and heard on large ships, though not to the extent that it is annoying.

WHAT LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN ABOARD SHIP?

English, but not necessarily American English. On my last cruise, the Belgian Captain spoke excellent English, but the Ukrainian officers had limited ability with English. Most of the Filipino crew had a decent command of the language.

WHAT ABOUT SHIPBOARD ETIQUETTE?

All members of the ship’s crew are addressed as “Mister” unless they tell you to call them by their first name. Do not go on the bridge without asking for permission. Usually, passengers have access to the bridge at all times.

The only exception may be during the period the harbor pilot is aboard. As you will be in an entirely new environment, it will take a few days to get a feeling for the ship and its crew.

It is a good idea to learn the name of all officers and crew (there are only 17-20) as soon as possible. It is also recommended that you learn a few words or phrases in the native language or languages of the crew members.

CAN I BRING MY PET?

No. However, you can ship your four or five favorite polo ponies from here to there in a container! Of course, the owner is required to have them accompanied by a trainer/keeper, and they will be subject to quarantine regulations.

WHAT ABOUT VISAS?

Check with your travel agent to be sure of the visa requirements of the various countries. Non-US citizens must have a visa to enter the United States by cargo ship. Australia requires a visa for all foreign nationals arriving by ship. Ditto for China , but not Hong Kong. The fact that you never leave the vessel is of no consequence. Most countries do not even bother to stamp your passport, though they do check it.

It has been my experience that the Captain will ask for your passport after you board and you may be invited to his cabin for a “chat” with immigration officials after docking, though in this is not the case in most large ports, such as Hong Kong.

Again, it depends on where you are going. No immunizations are required for travel between Europe, the U.S., Canada , and Australia. However, for the transit of either Panama or Suez Canal, you will need an inoculation for yellow fever and cholera. In the U.S., these will cost $50 to $60 each. To find physicians or clinics in your area, call your local Public Health Department. Your travel agent can advise you as to the inoculations you will require.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Plan what you are going to need on your voyage; bring a short wave radio, DVDs, reading material, a camera, or whatever. A laptop computer makes for a handy companion. The ship might have one available for your use, but don’t count on it.
• Once your ship leaves port, that’s it; there is no going back. Ships have many stairs and they are steep, so hold on at all times. A few have elevators. After a couple of days (weeks) you will get used to them (smile)
• When booking a cabin, get one as high as possible in the superstructure, assuming you have available options. If you do not, containers will block your forward view. Almost always cabins are outside with a view forward, port, or starboard; some have two views.
• Of course, the downside to higher cabins is that you will have to go down several flights of stairs to get to the officer’s mess, which is usually located on the poop deck (one deck above the main deck on ships not stowing containers aft of the superstructure) or the main deck. Usually, passenger cabins are on the fourth or fifth deck.
• Visit this great updated 2020 Freighter Travel site
• Tipping is optional. Other than the mess steward, there is no one to tip other than the cook, and then only if the food is exceptional. The steward may make up your bed and empty your wastebasket daily; then again, it might be only on a weekly basis, so tip accordingly, if at all.
• If you need information about shipping cargo, such as your car (in a container), household goods, etc., here is the place to start to get information. Cargo can be transported on the same vessel you travel on, however, you are probably better off shipping with the line usually used by the freighter forwarding company.

Freighter Travel in South America

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60 thoughts on “ Freighter Travel Costs and Questions ”

I was looking at a short trip from Brisbane Australia to New Zealand in the North Island/Auckland.,Tauranga in September..are there many options to do this and do I have time to do this?

“These faqs are helpful if you ask me. They answer all the questions that one might have, so I am delighted that I read all about these faqs and whatnot. “

Great info.,worth the read.

Do you know if there is any chance of me traveling w my Harley Davidson on a ship from eastern US to Panama or Costa Rica ?

You post is not originally this taken directly from Cargotravel.com

Travel by cargo ship with dog with cargoholidays. No. However, you can ship your four or five favorite polo ponies from here to there in a container! Of course, the owner is required to have them accompanied by a trainer/keeper, and they will be subject to quarantine regulations

How may I travel between US NY-NJ Ports and Iran Ports? any experience, recommendations, or guidance?

Very doubtful you can do this on a freighter. Too many restrictions plus Covid.

thanks for this article. Very helpful. Would love information about How to get to the US (east coast) from Sweden. (Im in Stockholm). Any freighters still leaving from Gothenburg to the US that accept passengers? or we have to find another out- port going across the Atlantic? thx Ewa

I am wanting to go Capetown SA from the US. I live in the Baltimore Washington area with that be possible

do they have ship longbeach to manila

can one take a dog/pet with you on a container ship? i am trying to find an alternative to putting my dog on a 24 hour flight.

No, you can’t bring any pets on a cargo ship. NO.

I think you need to be a little more clear. Maybe something like “the one I went on does not allow it” or “Its a standard that every single cargo ship I know of does not allow it”.

When I read your answer it makes me believe that your just saying no to the cargo ship you have been on and other companies may allow it. But then again I know less than you about this industry… in fact I know nothing.

Finding a cargo ship is the last effort I have before either giving up my 2 dogs or chartering a private jet just to move them to south America from the US. No airline will take them and you can not drive it.

“No, you can’t bring any pets on a cargo ship. NO.”

How could it possibly be any clearer that pets aren’t allowed on cargo ships?

The guy posting this article is an expert on cargo ships… and I think it’s pretty clear where he says: NO you cannot bring pets onboard the cargo ship. As for shipping your dogs via the airline, I’m not sure why it would be a 24 hour flight – can’t you put the dogs (per standard procedure) in the dog crate area of the plane, and be flying on that same flight, which will NOT take 24 hours?

what is the point travelling like this? This is the most expensive way, not cheap at all.

Hi I am looking for a cargo freighter to travel from South Africa to Australia with motor bike at the end of 2022?

Back in 1971 I took a cargo ship from South Africa to Australia with my BSA Bantam on which I actually ended up going round the world. i was allowed 40 cub.ft in the hold as accompanied ‘baggage’ and my bike was approx that size. It actually went in a room, never in a crate. And that was true of: Bombay to Mombasa; S. Africa to Australia; Australia to nZ; nZ to Singapore and Bangkok to Hong Kong. I was always a passenger. What the conditions are nowadays I know not. But good luck.

A FOURTY CUBIC FEET BSA BANTAM – Really? My ex-Bro-in-Law worked Tankeres as a Second Officer back in the day for SHELMEX in their first SUPER TANKERS and both my sister and sometimes his Mum and Dad travelled with him. I believe ‘the missus’ went free but Mum and Dad had to pay. My son was an Officer i the RAF for eight byears and I used to visit heim regularly [I was myself and ex-EArmourer Sergeant] for the odd weekend. Atbthe time [the late 90’s it cost nhim the princely sum for rather excellent Full Board and Lodgings for me from Friday Evening to Monday Morning ££5.00 aand bar prices wer about 1/5th and probably still are of normal Pub Prices. I monce went nto mthe Officers Mess New Years Eve Party. It had to be experienced to be believed – a WHOLE BLOODY FUNFAIR for starters. Talk about the AIR STAFF letting their hair down on the Bumper Cars!!!!

Are there any cargo ships taking passengers from Southern Africa to Australia?

Is it safe for a woman over age 60 for a voyager? Are most ports are safe to travel to during the day?

I have the same question and don’t see any answers

How reliable is the Satellite Hotspot? Is it safe for a woman over 60 to travel solo? How do you find out the layout of the ship before choosing the cabin?

No need to play the gender card. Everyone is welcome subject to their age limits, and if it wasn’t safe, they wouldn’t go.

Thank you for this article. I was especially interested in the difficulty of moving around the ship. As a former navy man I forgot just how hard it was to go up and down the stairs. At my current age, I do not believe I could do that much anymore. Too bad.

This was an interesting article. I recall a long time ago hearing about such methods of travel and must have just forgotten about it. I was just reminded in an old movie. There were a lot of good comments that answered some questions. I also watched the video of the fellow showing us his room. It looked quite adequate and not at all cramped. I’m 72 years old but I don’t look it and I’m in good physical condition. I did read that some of these companies do have age restrictions, and I can understand why. But going up and down some steep stairs isn’t an issue for me and I do swim every day in my pool. Getting a certificate for this from my doctor wouldn’t pose a problem. I have to say that taking a cruise on a regular cruise ship has had no appeal to me. I’ve watched videos and talked with family who do that and it’s just not something I want. They seem way too crowded and just not for me. I do however enjoy a nice Hindricks and tonic, smooth jazz, and interesting conversation. Those things seem to be plentiful on one of these ships. I would have to bring my own Hindricks (gin), my laptop, some reading material and maybe my Xbox. It all sounds much more interesting to me than the alternative. Going up on the bridge, conversations with the Captain and crew, that all sounds great. I’m glad I found this article.

Who or where can I get detailed info on what freighter ships offer this service from Los Angeles to Manila/Cebu Philippines? I don’t even know where to start. TIA for any info on this subject!

I’m in the same Boat, no pun intended. I want to go to the Philippines from either Portland Oregon, or Seattle Washington but can find no one who ships there. I cannot believe no vessels travel from Major US Ports such as Portland and Seattle. Any help you can give us would be greatly appreciated. Thank You, Mike

HOW OLD is this article?? Its telling people to bring videotapes to watch and talked about the cost of film. How many people use a film camera anymore, 1 out of a hundred? Who has videotapes lying around?!?!

Yes, that story was published in 2000, but we have edited the copy so it’s been updated for 2021. Thank you, dear reader.

You are so polite to some of these commenters.

Many tnx for the response. Can you please update what online services like wifi and email are available???

Vickie and Paul say: what are you doing looking at cargo ship cruises? If that’s you… Please write. Paul

Hi I am looking for a cargo freighter to travel from Vancouver to China the shortest route cause I can’t take flight due to my conditions. Thanks

Hello Zoey, Did you make it from Vancouver to China by ship? I’m trying to do the same trip. Would like to know more.

Thank you so much!

I am hoping to travel from the Seattle area to Costa Rica on a cargo ship… can anybody tell me if the ports in Costa Rica are open now (August 2020) and how can I travel in one of these ships? Thank you for your help!

I had no idea that from Europe to the US, shipments can take about 41 days. Since we just started offering an online shipping option, I wonder if we should look into a contract with a port agent to help us get our products shipped without too much delay between getting an order placed. I would imagine it would be easiest to get a warehouse in the countries we will ship to and then fulfill orders from those warehouses.

Do cargo ships have internet access? Thanks

yes they almost always do. But it might be slow and it will cost money in most cases.

Hey R.F. Ahern and fellow boaters! Thank you for the article I really enjoyed reading it and I did not know that you can travel on a cargo ship! That’s really amazing. Me and my husband have a world travel vlog called Dawn Hunters where we post our sailing adventures and also tips for travelers (well, currently we are fixing our 1985 steel motorsailer, so there is much more boatyard adventures for now). I’ve just started special series for aspiring digital nomads and posted a video called Digital Nomad Series – How to Travel for Free and Get Paid – Hopscotch the Globe on a Boat about crewseekers so you might want to see the video if you are looking into boat travels – they have super cool and unexpected opportunities for cheap or even free travels on boats. They do NOT have cargo ships over there, but maybe not everyone here wants to go on one? Anyways I thought that might be useful for some people!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTpW5uIJE7E

Also would love to collaborate on the blog/vlog to make an interview or a podcast for some interesting “boaters” stories if you are interested – shoot us an email.

Thank you for sharing! Dawn Hunters

Wow, I never knew this! I wish I were not so prone to seasickness, this sounds incredible. I would definitely go for the experience, the opportunity to visit other countries and take in the sights and sounds, plus the operations of a cargo ship are seriously impressive.

I am trying to get to Southeast Asia from Saudi Arabia. I am trying to leave in May. Because of COVID the airlines are grounded. Is there anyway I can book on a cargo ship?

great site thanks for all the info. I am looking to go from Barcelona to USA May of 2021, thanks in advance for any help

I have read that one can’t go to Hawai’i, Alaska, or any of the US insular terretories (Guam, Northern Marianas, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, USVI), by freighter because US-flagged freighters don’t take passengers, and foreign-flagged freighters (try saying that three times fast!) are not allowed to take passengers (or cargo, for that matter) between US ports.

However, would it be possible to take a freighter to these places from a Mexican or Canadian port?

Not that I’m a professional traveler, but why pay over $4k to travel in less luxury, and for over a month? You could go an an actual cruise for that money, or if you’re purely looking to travel, fly for a whole lot less. Is it just for the experience?

JR, I think the appeal of freighter travel is that you don’t have to deal with the huge crowds on a regular cruise ship, if you just want time to write, think, look at the ocean and chill totally, that’s the attraction. Yes it’s costly because the cruises are longer!

Some of us hate to fly.

Outside of the mental/health appeal of slow travel, it is much more environmentally friendly (as freighters carry cargo regardless of passenger, so your journey is essentially carbon neutral). Additionally, it is more expensive than a flight, but you’re also paying for several days of lodging and food.

I think some people are “simple” and don’t want luxury or to be pampered. I learned a lot about myself and personality over the years. I hold multiple college degrees—including a post-graduate degree in business. However, I learned and realized that I am happiest and most satisfied working on blue collar skilled trade industries. I learned that I don’t like suits and ties. I don’t like snooty people. I don’t like all the pomp and circumstance of luxury. I enjoy being around everyday working people. I think it will always be that way no matter how much money I have. I feel out of place in luxury places, but I feel right at home around everyday people. I love quiet and having lots of reflection time. I wear working man’s jeans and work boots everywhere I go. I think that living with humility and humbleness makes me feel comfortable.

Are there often any medicines not allowed on freighters?

lookin to travel from Miami to Portsmouth any ideas of cost and travel time

What about wifi?

Forget about wifi!

If one must, one can always bring a satellite phone or a satellite modem. With a satellite phone you pay per minute. With a satellite modem you pay for data. Both can be expensive so I highly suggest you not use, say, a satellite modem to watch YouTube videos or Netflix, but you can do email or chat or even place a phone call via GooglePhone or free VoIP Calls top actual phone numbers via TextNow.com and you can link your laptop to it!! So, you don’t have to be fully off-line. Or you could, if you must, here’s a “low-cost” option: https://satellitephonestore.com/catalog/sale/details/iridium-go-252 No, I don’t work for them. lol -but it’s the type of thing I’ve seen. Good for emails and chat or iMessaging. Just don’t do big Powder Puff attachments. lol Enjoy!

Did the Satellite modem or phone work out as you expected? Is it reliable? Which part of the world did you travel to? Does the cargo ship has wifi for their staff or captain?

I’m planning on a move to Japan and would like to know what freight ship companies handle transit between the U.S. (Port of Seattle Washington) and Japan. Unlike people doing really early planning for a trip later in the year, I’m aiming to make my move in a very short period of time (1-2 weeks). My last concern is if there are any direct shipping routes between the U.S. and Japan. I’d prefer as direct as possible for the quickest trip. I’m certainly not worried about finances.

How can i travel from Toronto to india by frieght

Put your car on the ship. Then you get on. There you go.

I traveled from Japan to southern California in summer 1985. From the above article now in the age of Internet, it looks like you have to (1) find what cargo companies travel your routes, (2) contact each one to get availability/price/procedure, (3) take the trip!

How can I travel one way from the US on a cargo ship, and take my own car on the same ship? I’d like to travel from the north-east US coast (possibly New York,…) to a northern port in France, Belgium, Netherlands, or Germany.

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Cargo Ship Travel  

• Cargo ships often cover less touristy parts of the world which are not serviced by cruise ships
• Not only is it real travel but it's one of the greenest forms of travel as you form a very small part of the container ships total cargo
• Cargo ships travel throughout the year unlike cruise ships which are influenced by passenger demand, this means that cruise ships often only sail in the high season (usually the summer)
• When you are a passenger on a cargo ship you usually get to dine with the captain of the ship and his officers
• The standard of passenger accommodation is generally very good with most cargo ship passenger cabins having their own toilet and shower (you don't have to sleep in a container!)
• Cargo ships usually accommodated just 12 or fewer passengers (a doctor is required for more than this), so the cargo ship is not going to be over crowded with other passengers

There are quite a few websites out there which specifically focus on alternative travel by cargo ship, we have listed all the sites that we are aware of. To save you time trawling through all the websites below, email us at [email protected] and we will forward your query to select agents who can help you book your freighter trip, if the route you want to do is possible.

Although the sites below offer some very useful information we would also recommend phoning the harbour master for your preferred passenger departure point. They will often provide you with local contacts and up to date and local information.

Useful Websites

• UK agencies booking passenger travel on cargo ships are: Cargo Ship Voyages , Strand Travel , The Cruise People Ltd , Pathfinder & Sea Travel Ltd
• CMA CGM is a French cargo transportation and shipping company and is the third largest cargo shipping company in the world. - www.cma-cgm.com , you can book direct or via several of the agents listed above
• German freighters, Hamburh SED, have a useful website that details numerous routes and prices for cargo ship travel around the globe. - www.hamburgsued-frachtschiffreisen.de
• Italian freighter company, Grimaldi Line - covers routes to and from Europe to South America and Africa. www.grimaldi.co.uk/ , Pathfinder ( www.safemariner.co.uk ) and Cruise Cyprus ( www.cruisecyprus.com ) act as agents for Grimaldi Line
• German freighter company, Rickmers-Linie with cargo ship travel routes around the world. - www.rickmers-linie.de
• Neptune Orient Lines (NOL), global cargo transportation company centred in Singapore. - www.nol.com.sg
• FAQ's & general information on passenger travel by cargo ship: Gonomad.com , Seaplus.com , A la Carte Freighter Travel & Freightertrips.com

Featured Routes

There are a number of popular passenger ship routes on cargo ships, we have featured a few interesting ones below to help inspire you to take a trip which is a real travel alternative to traditional modes of travel.

TransPacific

The South Korea (Busan) to California crossing on the Hanjin Dallas cargo ship was featured on the BBC series "Around the world in 80 days" for Children in need (2009). The crossing should take ten days but departure times are unpredictable. There are a number of other cargo ships which carry passengers and cross the Pacific Ocean which are detailed in some of the web sites listed in the above section. Contact details for Hanjin can be found on their website www.hanjin.com .

The Royal Mail Ship St Helena

This is sold as a magnificent island cruise from Cape Town to the island of St Helena in the Atlantic Ocean, just south of the Equator. This cargo/passenger ship also calls in at Luderitz and Walvis Bay in Namibia where the desert meets the sea. Go to www.aws.co.uk for more details.

French Polynesia

Sail around Tahiti and the Marquesas islands over 14 days on the Aranui www.aranui.com . The Aranui is a mixed passenger/cargo ship which offers comfortable, air-conditioned accommodations for about two hundred passengers. Passengers are able to sunbathe on deck and swim in the pool. The ship operates under the French flag, and her crew are all local Polynesians.

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How to: Travel by Cargo Ship

Article updated on Sunday, September 10th, 2017.

I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED a collection of brown leather trunks with brightly colored stickers from all the world’s corners. They remind me of travelers in the early 1900s who spent days on the ocean in order to reach their destinations. Back then, arriving at the destination was as much a part of the trip as the destination itself.

• Taking a cargo ship to Southeast Asia? Here’s all the gear for backpacking Southeast Asia.
• Taking a cargo ship to Latin America? Here’s all the gear for trekking in Latin America.

So when I needed to get from Guadeloupe in the Caribbean to France I asked myself, “is it still possible to travel by boat?” There are, after all, still cargo ships that carry everything from automobiles to antiques over the ocean, so why couldn’t I just hop on one myself and enjoy an ocean voyage? A few months later I was on a CMA-CGM cargo ship headed from Pointe-à-Pitre to Dunkerque.

Note that if you are having your car shipped overseas and wonder if it were possible to travel with your vehicle and save a little money while having a fun experience, it is well worth asking the cargo line whether they offer passenger rooms on their ships.

Traveling on a cargo ship is very much possible, and while it isn’t considered a luxury cruise, it is still a great way to travel — even at a cost of roughly $100 USD daily, it is worth the time to find a spot on a ship.

My nine days on the Atlantic included gourmet French food, duty-free Porto, and hours spent mesmerized by the blinking lights of the GPS. Yes, you can still travel to many locations in the world by boat. It was by far one of the best trips I’ve ever taken.

Here are some pointers for researching and planning your own adventure on the high seas:

1. What exactly is traveling by cargo ship?

Most of the major global shipping lines including CMA-CGM offer paying passengers an opportunity to hop on one of their lines. As a paying passenger, you are accommodated in guest cabins and have access to most areas of the ship.

Cargo ships have a limited number of rooms for passengers, so be prepared to start planning your ventures, and book the trip at least 6 months in advance to ensure you have a spot on the ship. Your fare will usually include port fees as well as meals and your room.

Captains and crew spend a lot of time on the water, and they are usually happy to have a fresh face walking around their workplace, meaning that they may even invite you to eat with them, give you tours of the ship and maybe even have you over for an Officer’s happy hour.

2. Where can I go?

You can travel almost anywhere by cargo ship.

The global shipping industry is huge, and many ports like New York, Shanghai, Los Angeles, and Sydney welcome several ships daily.

Shipping companies have certain lines covering specific routes, and many of them will allow you to buy a ticket for one of these lines and disembark and board as you please if there is a ship leaving on your chosen day. Just remember to book your passage in advance because you can’t just show up at a port to jump on a ship on a whim.

A word of advice to the cargo ship traveler, be flexible. Schedules can, and very often do change and when that happens, you will need to hop on and off more than one ship during the trip.

This is often how round the world routes work: book your freighter ticket and then plan in a few weeks in every major port. With freighters, the possibilities for your adventure are almost endless. Just think: anywhere global commodities are shipped are places that you can disembark and spend time soaking up the local culture before re-boarding.

3. What will it cost?

A common misconception is that if you are willing to spend an extended amount of time on open water you can score an inexpensive mode of transportation to your next travel destination.

Traveling as a passenger on a cargo ship is, in fact, more expensive than your average airfare. But before you scoff at the price — plan on an average price of $80-140/day — consider this: your ticket pays for room, meals, and experiences that cannot be had anywhere else.

The days where a person could work for their passage are long gone. The cargo lines will not allow you to work your way across the Atlantic just so you can have a free trip overseas. You will, however, get to meet crew members and will most likely find yourself spending a great deal of time getting to know many of them when they take a break or have some time off to relax a little.

4. Life on a ship

As a passenger, you are surrounded by the everyday life of the vessel and her crew. Schedules revolve around meal times, which can be extravagant events depending on the chef.

If you are a gourmet traveler, consider traveling with one of the French companies which are known for their high-quality cuisine and table wine.

Besides meals, the rest of the day is spent as you please. Make your way up to the bridge and chat with the captain about sea navigation or schedule a tour with the head mechanic to see the vessel’s impressive technical insides. Officers on cargo ships are often willing to show you how things work to keep the ship afloat and to keep things safe.

You will quickly find that the freighter environment is a rough but enjoyable one; think lots of steel and salt water. Before the evening meal, meet for a pre-dinner drink with your co-passengers in the guest lounge area and discuss the events of the day.

You may think that a week on open water can give you a case of cabin fever, but a slower pace of life can be much welcomed and enjoyable.

There is something to note about health and fitness levels when traveling on a cargo ship. Because these ships usually do not have a doctor on board, you should be healthy and fit enough to take on such a voyage. This is a safety precaution as the ship wouldn’t want anyone being injured or in need of medical attention and be at sea without a doctor to help.

5. Planning

So you’ve decided that freighter travel is for you, what now? Do your internet research, there are several websites maintained by individuals seduced by traveling on the high seas with great tips and long lists of different routes around the world.

Go to the websites of the freighter companies and send them an email asking about passenger fares. Another option is travel agencies that specialize in freighter travel like A la Carte Freighter Travel based in Montreal.

Some helpful websites to get you started:

• https://www.freightercruises.com/
• http://www.hamburgsued-frachtschiffreisen.de/en/freightertravel/index.jsp

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Due to Covid, The CMA CGM have decided to permanently cease passenger services on their cargo ships. Without the French Line, the only large pre-Covid provider, our activity will remain based on Specialty Cruises only, such as the ARANUI and Bella Desgagnés

Travel on Cargo Ships: An Unconventional and Affordable Way to Explore the World

If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path travel experience that’s both adventurous and budget-friendly, you might want to consider traveling on cargo ships.

Contrary to popular belief, travel on cargo ships can be a viable alternative to traditional cruise ships, offering a unique opportunity to see the world while getting a glimpse of the day-to-day life of seafarers.

In this article, we’ll explore how can you travel on a cargo ship as a passenger, the ins and outs of traveling on cargo ships, including the pros and cons, how to book a trip, and what to expect during your voyage.

What is Cargo Ship Travel?

Cargo ship travel, also known as freighter travel, is a mode of transportation where passengers book a cabin on a commercial cargo ship and join the crew on their journey. This type of travel allows you to visit new destinations, experience life at sea, and enjoy a slower pace of life.

Cargo ship travel has a long and fascinating history that dates back to ancient times. Throughout history, ships were primarily used for transporting goods, but as time passed, they became a popular mode of transportation for people as well.

In the late 19th century, passenger liners started to become popular, offering luxurious amenities for travelers crossing the Atlantic. However, as air travel became more common in the mid-20th century, passenger ships began to lose popularity, and cargo ships became the dominant vessels on the seas.

Despite the decline in the popularity of passenger ships, travel on cargo ships has continued to be a niche way to travel for adventurous and curious travelers.

It offers a unique opportunity to experience life at sea, interact with the crew, and explore destinations that are often off the beaten path. In recent years, cargo ship travel has experienced a revival, with more and more travelers seeking a slower, more authentic way to explore the world.

Discover the rich history of cargo ship travel and how it has evolved from its origins as a mode of transporting goods to a unique and authentic way to explore the world.

The Benefits of Traveling on Cargo Ships

When it comes to traveling, there are a lot of options available. From traditional cruises to budget airlines, the possibilities can be overwhelming. However, one option that often gets overlooked is traveling on cargo ships. While it may not be the most convenient way to see the world, there are a number of benefits to choosing travel on cargo ships for your next adventure.

Unique Experience

One of the biggest draws of traveling on a cargo ship is the unique experience it offers. Unlike traditional cruises, where the focus is on entertainment and relaxation, cargo ships offer a chance to see the world from a different perspective. As a passenger on a working ship , you’ll get a glimpse into the daily routines of the crew, the challenges of life at sea, and the sights and sounds of the ocean.

Another major benefit of cargo ship travel is affordability. While luxury cruises and air travel can come with hefty price tags, traveling on a cargo ship is often much more budget-friendly.

Depending on the route and season, a one-way trip on a cargo ship can cost anywhere from $50 to $150 per day, with the average trip lasting between 10 and 30 days. The cheapest cargo ship travel is available in Northern Europe and the Mediterranian sea. There is plenty of regular short sea connections, for example, routes starting in Hamburg or Rotterdam to the UK or Norway are just 7 days and are under 1000$ per person.

Additionally, the cost of the trip usually includes meals and accommodations, making it a great value compared to traditional cruises or air travel.

Flexibility

Traveling on a cargo ship also offers a high degree of flexibility. Unlike scheduled flights or cruises, cargo ships typically have more flexible departure and arrival dates, allowing you to plan your trip around your schedule. Additionally, because cargo ships often stop at multiple ports along the way, you can choose to stay on board for the entire voyage or get off at any point along the route.

However, you should be familiar with the shipping industry which often meets delays due to unexpected reasons, mainly, during loading operations and weather. In most cases, containership lines are the least affected cargo ships.

Cultural Immersion

Another advantage of cargo ship travel is the opportunity for cultural immersion. As a passenger on a cargo ship, you’ll have the chance to visit ports that are off the beaten path, getting a glimpse into local cultures and customs that you might not experience on a more traditional vacation. Whether it’s trying new foods, exploring local markets, or meeting new people, cargo ship travel can offer a truly immersive travel experience.

Sustainability

Finally, traveling on a cargo ship can be a more sustainable way to travel. While air travel and cruises are known for their high carbon footprints, cargo ships are a more environmentally-friendly option.

Because cargo ships are already making the journey regardless of whether or not there are passengers on board, choosing to travel on a cargo ship means that you’re not contributing to additional emissions or environmental impact.

How to Book a Journey and Travel on Cargo Ships?

Booking a journey on a cargo ship is relatively straightforward. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process:

• Research cargo ship companies: Start by researching different cargo ship companies that offer passenger services. Look for companies that offer routes that interest you, and compare prices and amenities.
• Choose a route: Once you have found a few cargo ship companies that interest you, choose a route that fits your travel plans. Consider the duration of the journey, the destinations, and the time of year.
• Check availability: Contact the cargo ship company to check availability on your chosen route. Some cargo ships only accept a limited number of passengers, so it’s important to book in advance.
• Make a booking: Once you have confirmed availability, make a booking for your journey. Be sure to provide all required information, including your personal details, travel dates, and payment information.
• Prepare for your journey: Once your booking is confirmed, start preparing for your journey. Make sure to research the cargo ship you’ll be traveling on, including the conditions on board, what to bring, and what to expect during your journey.
• Enjoy your journey: Finally, sit back, relax, and enjoy your unique and unforgettable cargo ship travel experience. With its cost-effective prices, off-the-beaten-path destinations, and slow-paced lifestyle, cargo ship travel is a truly unique way to explore the world.

What Are Examples Of Companies Offering Traveling On Cargo Ships?

There are several companies that offer passenger services on cargo ships, here are a few examples:

• Freighter Expeditions : Freighter Expeditions offers passenger services on a variety of cargo ships, with routes spanning across the world.
• Cargo Holydays : France Cargo Ship Travel company offers a unique and authentic way to explore France and other destinations around the world via commercial cargo ships. With a focus on personalized service and cultural immersion, France Cargo Ship Travel is a top choice for adventurous travelers looking for a slower and more meaningful way to experience the world.
• Freighter World Cruises : Freighter World Cruises is an American-based company that offers passenger services on a variety of cargo ships, with routes spanning across the world.
• Sea Swift : Sea Swift is a unique travel company that offers passengers the opportunity to experience life on a commercial cargo ship while exploring the stunning waterways of the Coral Sea and the Torres Strait. Their flagship vessel, the MV Trinity Bay, transports vital supplies to several communities in Australia, providing a glimpse into the daily lives of locals. With its award-winning cruise operation and plans to expand to other remote areas of northern Australia, Sea Swift offers a truly unforgettable adventure for those seeking a unique and authentic travel experience.
• Cargo Ship Voyages : a premier provider of passenger services on travel on cargo ships, offering unique and affordable travel experiences to destinations worldwide. With a focus on safety, comfort, and personalized service, Cargo Ship Voyages is a top choice for adventurous travelers seeking a one-of-a-kind way to explore the world.

These are just a few examples of the many companies that offer cargo ship travel. When researching, make sure to consider your destination, budget, and travel preferences to find the best company for your needs.

Traveling on a cargo ship can be a unique and rewarding experience for those seeking a different type of travel adventure. With its cost-effective prices, off-the-beaten-path destinations, and slow-paced lifestyle, cargo ship travel offers a truly unforgettable experience. However, it’s important to be aware of the limited amenities, rougher seas, and long journeys that come with this mode of transportation. By properly researching and preparing, you can ensure that your cargo ship journey is a success.

How much does it cost to travel on a cargo ship?

The cost of cargo ship travel can vary depending on the route, duration of the journey, and the company you choose. On average, cargo ship travel can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per person.

Can you bring your family with you on a cargo ship?

Yes, cargo ship travel is suitable for families with children. Some cargo ship companies even offer special rates for children.

Is it safe to travel on a cargo ship?

Yes, cargo ships are equipped with safety equipment and trained crew members to ensure the safety of passengers. However, it’s always a good idea to research the safety record of a particular cargo ship company before booking your journey.

Can you work on a cargo ship while traveling?

Yes, some cargo ship companies offer work opportunities for travelers. This can include jobs such as working in the kitchen, assisting with cargo operations, or helping with maintenance tasks.

Are there any restrictions on what you can bring with you on a cargo ship?

Yes, cargo ships have restrictions on what passengers can bring with them. This can include restrictions on the number of bags, the size of bags, and the type of items that are allowed on board. Before your trip, make sure to research the restrictions for the specific cargo ship you’ll be traveling on.

About the author

I worked as an officer in the deck department on various types of vessels, including oil and chemical tankers, LPG carriers, and even reefer and TSHD in the early years. Currently employed as Marine Surveyor carrying cargo, draft, bunker, and warranty survey.

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All About Traveling on a Freighter

 Dan Barnes/Vetta/Getty Images

Cruising on a cargo ship might seem unusual if not absurd. But travelers do tag along for the ride on working vessels that frequently are transporting cargo and stopping at sometimes mundane ports.

Mundane might not sell cruises, but that word also could suggest an absence of gaudy tourism. Exotic, unspoiled attractions sometimes exist a short distance from an ordinary port city, and freighter cruise passengers generally have more time at a port for exploration.

So for the more adventuresome travelers among us, freighter cruises provide opportunities the vast majority of cruise passengers never experience. Are freighter cruises cheap? Price tags can be weighty, but the daily costs often work out to be quite reasonable. Also, keep in mind that you might need visas for some of the countries you stop at in the event you plan to disembark.

Freighter Cruise: Europe, Africa and Middle East

Mark D. Kahler

The Grimaldi Line  offers itineraries as short as 14 days from Southampton, U.K., but a more typical trip is of the 28- or 35-day variety. These trips can be booked through Maris Freighter Cruises starting at just more than 1,000 euros for the shortest trip and up to 3,600 euros or more for double-occupancy on the longest itinerary. The ports-of-call on these voyages are attractive. They include stops in Italy, Greece, Israel, and Turkey, as well as Dublin and Antwerp. 

The Royal Mail Ship RMS St. Helena makes frequent runs between Cape Town, South Africa, and the British island Ascension. 

The Bergen Line has grown into a passenger/cargo combination line. The ships delivered mail in Scandinavia, mainly along Norway's gorgeous western coast with trips to Iceland and Antarctica. Bergen now offers 11 ships that explore fairly small segments of that region.

Freighter Cruise: North and Central America

Mark Kahler

Hamburg Süd has freighter cruises leaving from a number of European ports with itinerary lengths of up to 84 days. It can cost from 600 euros to 1,300 euros to go to ports cities in Norway, Sweden, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Maris' FreighterCruises.com offers trans-Atlantic itineraries that explore a number of American ports , including Miami, New Orleans, and Savannah. Daily charges for these trips can be quite economical. It is about the price of a discounted traditional cruise. However, a hidden cost on these trips may also be "port and vessel fees" that be significant on some trips.

Note that on these trips, the itineraries sometimes begin and end in Europe with multiple stops in North America. For those who want to start and end a freighter cruise in North America, a lengthy (think months) commitment of time usually is needed to sail to another continent and back again.

Freighter cruise: South America

Freighter cruises that explore South American ports typically leave from Europe. Embarkation takes place in Antwerp and Hamburg. You can also find trips leaving from Hong Kong.

Grimaldi offers departures about every nine days for South America from Tilbury, England, via West Africa. Yellow fever inoculations are compulsory. Another shorter freighter cruise ends in Buenos Aires. Costs for an inside cabin are paid in euros.

Hamburg Süd offers South American freighter itineraries that vary between about one to three months. Because the number of days is large, the costs mount quickly. But the ports-of-call would be hard to match on many conventional cruise lines. Included in the trip itinerary: Rio de Janeiro, Santos, Zárate, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, and Paranagua.

Freighter cruise: Asia and Australia

CMA CGN offers a Trans-Pacific itinerary connecting the Americas with China and Japan.

Hamburg Süd has a few long-transit options between Singapore and Hamburg. Daily costs are low, but again, remember that the number of days at sea can result in a large bill. Quite a few ports-of-call are along the Pacific Rim. These voyages are for people who are willing to leave home for months at a time. If you're planning a trip of this magnitude, you should compare prices and itineraries with traditional cruises and other freighter lines.

Hamburg Süd also offers an East Asia/Far East route, on "the largest container vessel of the world." 

The Aranui 3 line operates round-trip cruises from Tahiti and will arrange picnic lunches and shore excursions for its passengers. Unlike many freighter cruise operations, Aranui will even make arrangements for special diets if given proper notice.

Freighter Cruise Pros

So, why should you even consider a freighter cruise? Take a look at the savings: fares are often under $200 per person per day, according to Margi Mostue, retired president of Freighter World Cruises. Many traditional cruises run that much or more per passenger, per day.

There are no planned activities, but the trade-off is a high degree of privacy. A typical freighter only can accommodate about 20 passengers—and many take even fewer. You can spend the day on deck in a lounge chair, reading your favorite book with no disturbances. Many of us prefer that experience to a highly orchestrated shipboard experience.

Many freighters do offer basics like an exercise room, reading room, and a movie collection at your disposal. A few even have swimming pools.

One traditional cruise activity that should be better on a freighter is the bridge tour. The ship's officers are likely to have much more time for your questions. Mostue says many freighter passengers actually forge life-long friendships with crew members. Obviously, this will vary from ship to ship and crew to crew.

Cruise lines tend to target ports that are favored tourist destinations. While this is not a bad thing, it can mean incredible congestion. Some relatively small port cities host several large luxury liners at the same time. Freighter captains pull into ports to deliver cargo. The odds are slim that you will put into a small port congested with tourists.

Freighter Cruise Cons

Taking on a few paying passengers to create an added revenue stream is nice, but it is not priority one on a freighter cruise. For that reason alone, this is not a good option for many budget travelers.

For example, if the crew decides for business reasons to bypass a port you have targeted, you will probably get a brief explanation and perhaps an apology. That's it. The cargo comes first. You must accept that before leaving port, and for many budget travelers, this is not acceptable.

Passenger cruise ships are engineered for comfort, and all but a few of the oldest ships have modern stabilizers that steady the ship in rougher seas. On a cargo ship, you might need your sea legs. So, if you are someone who is prone to motion sickness, think carefully about booking passage on a cargo ship. Check with the freighter line for an estimate of how stable the ship will be in the conditions of seas typical during your intended season of travel.

The odds of traveling with a qualified ship's doctor are smaller than what is found aboard a traditional cruise. Maximum and minimum ages are often part of the agreement.

Delays can occur as shipments of freight are weighed, loaded, or unloaded. Also, if you want to dress up for dinner with the captain, attend lavish cocktail parties, and experience culinary pleasures like ice carvings, you will not get that and may be disappointed. Special dietary needs may not also be accommodated. 

In short, if you require a lot of attention from the staff, freight cruising might not be a good choice. These trips are for people who have no qualms about landing in port, making their own local arrangements, and taking off for a day of exploring. Prepaid shore excursions through the line are not an option. 

Accommodations differ from traditional luxury cruises, too. Although cabins might be bigger, beds probably will fall mostly in the twin and double categories. Furnishings will be pleasant and functional, but do not look for luxury.

The biggest drawback of all prevents most budget travelers from booking a freighter cruise. The lengths of these trips often are measured in months rather than days. Even the shorter freighter cruise itineraries can require a time investment of a  month or more. That said, it is possible to book shorter segments in places like Europe or the Americas.

The Bottom Line

Freighter cruises are favored by retired travelers or those who have arranged extended leaves of absence from the workplace. Families with a traditional window of vacation time (three weeks or less in most of North America) will find freighter cruise options difficult to arrange.

But if you have that precious commodity of time on your side, these trips come with some handsome financial rewards. For those who enjoy the itinerary and the exploration more than the water slides and the organized shipboard entertainment will find freighter cruise options quite attractive. Load your mobile device with a variety of good book titles, exercise some patience, and revel in the sea air.

These trips are rare in our hurried society. If you are privileged to take one, be grateful for the money you will save and the uncommon cruising experience you will have.

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There are freighters, and there are freighters. But the fleet of ships that sail among the island groups in the South Pacific and Micronesia—copra boats, island traders, government field service ships, mission boats, and inter-island ferries—are rarely mentioned and are largely unknown to travel agents. They lie ready and willing to transport passengers into the “back of beyond.” So if in your round-the-world travels you want to go where tourists never tread, try hitching a ride on a local cargo ship. It’s easier than you might think. Let’s start in the South Pacific.

French Polynesia

The inter-island ship docks are a little beyond Papeete (on Tahiti ), where the land hooks out to form the harbor. Taxi out there and have a look at whatever ships are in port. Stroll aboard any vessel that looks interesting and ask where they’re going, for how long, the fare, and if you can see one of their cabins. (It helps if you speak a little French, but you can always make yourself understood.) If a certain ship appeals to you, go to their shipping office. This is what you’ll find:

To the Society Islands (the islands to the west of Tahiti—Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa, Bora Bora, and Maupiti): The ships of the Compagnie Francais Maritime de Tahiti make 4- to 6-day voyages to most of the islands. Most ships do not supply food, so come aboard with a relaxed attitude and plenty of rations (which are easily obtained in Papeete).

To the Tuamotus

The 69 islands of this group of jewel-like atolls lie to the east of Tahiti and cover an immense patch of the ocean. To get there, check with the Compagnie Francais Maritime de Tahiti. Their ships provide cabin class or deck passage and plenty of local color but no food. A week’s voyage will run about $180. Also, be sure to check around the docks in Papeete for a copra boat and experience the warts and all of the romance of South Sea cruising. Some ships provide a cabin and meals for voyages of 10 or so days for about $250.

To the Marquesas

These rugged, green, mysteriously beautiful and remote islands 750 miles east of Tahiti bear such magical names as Nuku Hiva, Hiva Oa, and Fatu Hiva. To get to them—and to the Tuamotus as well—you’ve got two choices: By far the most comfortable one is a cargo ship named Aranui, operated by the Compagnie Polynesienne de Transport Maritime. Travel agents in the U.S. know about her. She carries 60-100 passengers in both cabin and dormitory class.

The other option is aboard a ship a bit more authentically Polynesian. The Taporo V of the Compagnie Francais Maritime de Tahiti is a trading vessel that makes a 15-day voyage to the Tuamotus and the Marquesas. Fares, including cabin and meals, come to $750. Look at the ship in Papeete.

The Cook Islands

Rarotonga, with its forested mountains, verdant coastal plain, and fringing reef, is the principal island of the group. The beauty of the island when first seen will cause a gasp. Sea travel in the Cooks is only for the hardiest and most flexible voyagers, but the benefits make the voyage more than worthwhile.

To the Northern Group (Penryhn, Manihiki, Puka Puka, and Palmerston): The Tapi Taio Shipping Company in Avarua, Rarotonga has a ship named the Tai Moana, a small, spartan vessel that makes the 800-mile run to all the islands. Because only one of them, Penhryn, has a safe lagoon and wharf, the ship must stay at sea and use whaleboats to unload cargo and passengers.

To the Southern Group (Aitutaki, Atiu, Mitiaro, and Mauke): A somewhat larger ship, the Maungeroa of the Tapi Taio Company, visits the closer islands—150 or so miles from Rarotonga.

Western Samoa

A delightful destination even if you don’t go to sea. For one elusive but wonderful opportunity write well ahead of time to the Office for Tokelau Affairs, Apia, Western Samoa and ask about the sailing dates of their chartered ship. It carries 12 cabin and 68 deck passengers on a voyage of eight to nine days and stops at each of the three atolls—Fakaofa, Nukumonu, and Atafu. None have ports, so the ship must stand off while whale boats negotiate the openings in the reef to pick up the only export, copra. Good luck to you. I’ve come close but never been successful. I keep trying.

The Kingdom of Tonga

Polynesia’s oldest monarchy consists of three main island groups—Tongatapu, the capital, Ha’apai, and Vavau.

To Ha’apai: This archipelago scattered over a large stretch of the sea about 100 miles north of Tongatapu consists of dozens of low-lying atolls. Lifuka is the administrative center. To get there by sea, check with the Shipping Corporation of Polynesia in Tongatapu and ask about the Olovaha. This ship—more inter-island ferry than cargo ship—sails from Tongatapu every Tuesday and fetches up in Lifuka 12 hours later.

The same ship leaves Lifuka in the evening and arrives at Vavau the following afternoon. I’m sure you’ll agree with the yachters who have found Vavau. They know a good thing when they see it.

The total land mass of Fiji’s 332 islands comes to about 8,000 square miles. By South Pacific standards, it’s a big, diverse country, and there's much to see and do among her beaches, mountains, towns, and cities. The harbor at Suva always has many trading vessels, inter-island boats, and copra ships tied up at the docks. As in Tahiti, walking aboard and discussing things with the captain is easy.

In Nadi, on the other side of the island from Suva, everyone knows about the glamorous cruise boats that sail off to the dozens of idyllic islands of the Yasawas and Mamanucas. However, the better and much less expensive choice is the Kaunitoni, from Suva to the Lau Group (east of Fiji, towards Tonga). On its 10-day run, the Kaunitoni makes about 12 stops at green and volcanic islands to deliver cargo and pick up copra. While the ship provides no food, cooking facilities and utensils are available.

In Port Vila on Efate Island, the capital of Vanuatu, the harbor is right in the center of town, and the vessels tied up there are available for examination. Ask around the piers about the Konanda, the Lali, and the Onma II. These and other ships like them are on the elemental side. Still, for few dollars a day, simple meals included, someone will take you to remote outer islands—places such as Malekula, where they were killing and eating each other as late as 1930, and Pentecost island, where men tie vines to their ankles and leap out of trees. You’ll be taken ashore by canoe to other islands where you’ll be stared at, smiled at, and given the chance to buy some good carvings. The outer islands of Vanuatu will stay in your memory forever.

The Solomon Islands

Honiara, on Guad-alcanal, the capital of this independent nation, offers visitors all amenities but few tourists are seen. If this is the capital, think what the myriad outer islands are like.

Go to the Coral Sea Shipping Company and ask about the sailing of the Iuminao. This ship, carrying 50 deck passengers, also has two first-class cabins, but meals are not provided. Think of it as camping in an air-conditioned cabin with a small refrigerator and a full bath. Food is easily purchased at Honiara shops. On its 3- to 4-day voyage to Gizo in the Western Provinces it makes 11 stops—all picture-postcard quality.

For other ships to remote areas visit the local yacht club in Honiara and talk to some of the members about other destinations. Maybe, as once happened to us, you’ll be invited on short cruise.

Papua New Guinea

The eastern half of the second largest island in the world includes a cluster of islands off its north coast—New Britain, New Ireland, Bougainville, Manus, The Trobriands, and scores of smaller islands. These areas, as well as the north coast of New Guinea, offer everything an adventurer or escapist might want, and one can expect a good meal, a cold drink, and a fair bed every night.

Ships can easily be found. We’ve sailed away on several of them just by approaching the captain. Ask about trips up the Sepik River, to the Trobriands, New Britain, Samarai—almost anywhere they go. Fares are reasonable, and some of the ships are quite comfortable. So it goes in the South Pacific.

The 2,100 “tiny islands” of the Pacific, mostly north of the Equator, are scattered over three million square miles of the sea between Hawaii and the Philippines and make up four new countries: The Republic of the Marshalls, The Federated States of Micronesia. The Republic of Palau, and The Northern Marianas Islands. Accommodations and food are reasonable. People are friendly. English is spoken. There are no unusual health problems. And American currency is used.

Some seasonably comfortable Government Field Service ships sail to some of the world's most remote, often exotic, islands.The best places to find the ships are Pohnpei, Yap, Majuro, and Palau. You’ll sail away with a collection of island administrators, doctors, a judge, or maybe even a dentist on working voyages. Check with the Field Service Office in each of these places. You just have to be on hand when a ship is in port. Shipping offices rarely reply to people requesting space or information.

For those who do not wish to book directly with shipping companies, Maris Freighter and Specialty Cruises and Maris Freighter Club Int'l offers a variety of voyages to many destinations. You can go from island to island. You may cross the ocean 1-way. You may even choose from around-the-world cargo ship cruise options.

TOM BOOTH is a retired dentist who, in the process of practicing his profession, lived and worked in California for years. Then, with two grown sons, he and his wife have lived, worked, and traveled in the Congo (Zaire), Australia, the South Pacific, Europe, Guam, and Hong Kong. All of this has contributed to his enthusiasm for writing. He is a member of the North American Travel Journalists Association and lives in Eugene, O R.

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Sail from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) to Singapore, Qingdao (China), Pusan (Korea) then back to China again – calling at Shanghai, Ningbo, Nansha, Yantian, Chiwan and then to Malaysian ports of Tanjung Pelepas or Kuala Lumpur – doesn’t it sound marvelous?

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Heathrow strikes to cause 'widespread disruption': Full list of dates and which departments are walking out

Here's what you need to know about when all the strike days are and which staff are set to walk out.

Monday 29 April 2024 17:36, UK

Strikes at Heathrow Airport are taking place over the next two weeks, with the first one already under way.

Staff at the UK's biggest airport are staging a series of walkouts - and one union has warned of "widespread disruption".

Here's what you need to know about when the strikes are, what disruption is expected and which departments are taking part.

Border Force officers

They are walking out for four days from now until Thursday 2 May over changes to their working conditions, according to the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) trade union.

The union said more than 300 of its members working at terminals 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the airport are striking.

The effect of this strike is on arrivals rather than departures.

The action is taking place because around 250 Border Force staff will lose their jobs at passport control under new roster plans, the union says.

PCS general secretary Fran Heathcote said: "Our members are angry and disappointed at being forced out of their jobs.

"While not everyone will be affected, the changes will disproportionately hit those who are disabled or have caring responsibilities.

"The Home Office should be doing all it can to retain experienced, trained staff - not lose them by introducing an unworkable new roster system."

A Home Office spokesperson said it had "robust plans in place to minimise any potential disruption" during the strikes and "keeping our borders secure remains or top priority".

The spokesperson said they were "disappointed" with the union's decision but remained "open to discussing a resolution".

"The changes we are implementing will bring the working arrangements for Border Force Heathrow staff in line with the way staff work at other ports, provide them with more certainty on working patterns and improve the service to the travelling public," the spokesperson added.

Almost 800 staff in various departments

Unite members in the following departments at Heathrow are set to take part in a week of strike action in May:

• Passenger services - who assist travellers to catch connecting flights

• Trolley operations

• Campus security - the security guards who are responsible for all workers at Heathrow and vehicles being checked before entering Heathrow

• Firefighters

• Airside operations

The walkouts will take place on the following days:

• Tuesday 7 May

• Wednesday 8 May

• Thursday 9 May

• Friday 10 May

• Saturday 11 May

• Sunday 12 May

• Monday 13 May

Unite says the strike action "will inevitably cause widespread disruption across the airport, leading to delays and disruption".

It says the airport has announced the work of passenger services, trolley operations and campus security is set to be outsourced by 1 June in a "cost-cutting exercise" that Heathrow has stated will save it £40m.

"This cost reduction will lead to a substantial reduction in the number of workers, which raises serious security concerns, given the safety critical nature of much of the work undertaken," Unite says.

Its firefighters and airside operation members are also striking because they fear they "may be next in line" to have their work outsourced, the union adds.

Read more on Sky News: Train strikes in May - full list of lines affected Which countries are unsafe to travel to amid Middle East tensions?

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "Heathrow Airport's actions are deplorable, it is raking in massive profits for the bosses while trying to squeeze every last penny out of its workforce.

"Unite is fully focused on defending its members jobs, pay and conditions and our members at Heathrow will receive the union's unrelenting support during this dispute."

A Heathrow spokesperson said: "We are reorganising our operations to deliver better results for our customers. There are no job losses as a result of these changes, and we continue to discuss with Unite the implementation of these changes for the small number of colleagues impacted.

"Unite's threats of potential industrial action are unnecessary, and customers can be reassured that we will keep the airport operating smoothly, just like we have in the past."

A strike involving refuelling workers, which was set to affect more than 30 airlines from 4 May to 6 May, has been called off after they accepted a new offer on pay and conditions.

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How to find cargo ship travel australia

How to find cargo ship travel australia. There’s a reason you probably haven’t heard of cargo cruises — most travel agents don’t book them. You’ll need to go through an agent that specializes in cargo cruise travel or get in touch with a ship’s manager. Freighter voyages usually require months of advance planning, but they rarely have set schedules. Arrivals and departures can depend on how long it takes to load or unload cargo, how busy a port is, and weather conditions. Sometimes, a departure window is given instead of an exact date. Bottom line for cargo ship travel australia: flexibility is a must to How to find cargo ship travel australia The crew is there to work, not entertain, but everyone on the ship eats meals together How to find cargo ship travel australia, which gives you plenty of great opportunities to chat. There’s no wifi, and phone access is limited to a ship’s single satellite phone cargo ship travel , so make sure you come equipped with plenty of books, games, writing materials, knitting projects, or whatever will keep you occupied. There will also be gorgeous views of sunrises, sunsets, and constellations to marvel at ship travel australia.

Cargo cruises cost between $65 and $125 per day, which includes lodging and three meals a day. Voyages usually last between 40 and 50 days, but some people opt for segmented trips that last a few weeks, leaving on a boat, disembarking at a port, and returning home by plane and How to find cargo ship travel australia. For example, a round trip from the US to New Zealand lasts about 46 days. At $65 a day, that comes to just under $3,000 for a month and a half of all-inclusive, full-time travel ship travel australia. In 2016 we travelled from Asia to Australia by cargo ship . Our freighter cruise was one of the most interesting experiences of our fourteen month journey from the UK to New Zealand (read more about our cargo ship journey), but it was also one of the most intimidating parts of the trip to consider. Cargo ship travel is a bit of an oddity, and in the age of online flight booking and limitless access to travel information, not knowing quite how it worked for cargo ship travel australia, or if it would work, was kind of stressful for us. There was definitely limited information available about cargo ship travel, and what there was seemed out of date and alarmingly vague. When I first put feelers out to find suitable freighter cruise routes a year before we hoped to sail, the agents I contacted politely but firmly told me they couldn’t possibly know so far in advance cargo ship travel . In the end, it was only six weeks between us trying to book onto a cargo ship voyage, and clambering up the gangplank.

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40 Facts About Elektrostal

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 02 Mar 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy, materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes, offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development.

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy, with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

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More desperate migrants travel inside cargo trucks. Some never make it.

Telemundo News and the Latin American Center for Investigative Journalism (CLIP), together with other partners, corroborated through official records the journey of some 19,000 people who attempted to reach the U.S. border inside cargo trucks through Mexican roadways, including some 3,000 children. 

The heat inside the cargo truck was suffocating. The women were squatting against the walls holding the children on their legs; the men sat in rows, one behind the other, at the center. About 170 people were traveling in the container, in the dark and in forced silence.

Two weeks earlier, on January 4, 2019, Yanira Chávez had closed the reddish wooden door of her house in Armenia, a small town in northern Honduras. She had paid $5,000 — an amount she would have never been able to save with her salary at a banana packing house — to a local coyote (smuggler) who promised to take her to the United States along with her children, Samir, who was 9 years old, and Emely, 5. Her husband, Erling Rosales, had paid for the trip and was waiting for them in New Orleans, where he had been living for two years now.

Chávez was carrying two huge black suitcases “with little wheels” that she bought for 1,200 lempiras (about $48) in a nearby town because the coyote assured her that they were going to cross Mexico by plane and “they couldn’t look like immigrants” at the airports. Upon arriving in the United States, the family would have to pay the smugglers another $5,000.

From San Pedro Sula they traveled by bus to the Guatemalan border with Mexico, which they crossed through a river by boat. “I’m now a little closer to you,” she wrote in a text message to her husband. “We didn’t know, it didn’t cross our minds, everything we still had to go through,” Chávez recalled last October in an interview with Telemundo News. She spoke from Long Island, New York, where her family lives in uncertainty, after their asylum request was denied.

In Mexico, she said, they were taken to Villahermosa, a city in the state of Tabasco, where they expected to finally catch a plane. But there they had their phones taken and were forced to throw away their suitcases and board a trailer truck.

“We said: ‘We’re not going,’” Chávez recalled, “but by then it doesn’t matter if you want to get in or not: you have to go, because if you don’t, they threaten to turn you over the cartel.”

They hadn’t gone two miles when the truck stopped at a checkpoint and a child, around 2-years-old, began to cry. “Either you shut him up or I do,” a coyote demanded of the mother, while outside the vehicle was being inspected, according to Chávez. The smuggler, who was armed, snatched the boy from her, held him dangling by his head, and put one hand on the back of his neck and another on his face, covering his mouth: “The mother just started crying. Then the boy fell fast asleep,” she recalled.

They had barely any food or water. There were plastic buckets at each end of the trailer for those who couldn’t hold in their bodily needs: “People were fainting. A young woman told me not to let the children fall asleep,” Chávez said.

They crossed 900 miles (almost 1,500 kilometers) from Villahermosa to Reynosa, in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. In four days they got off the trailer only twice. At one of the stops, already near the border, they walked for several hours up a mountain until nightfall to go around a police checkpoint. “It was so cold it was horrible,” Chávez said, “we felt so weak, I couldn’t walk as fast since I had my daughter. We hadn’t had water in two days.”

The 36-year-old woman claims that when she arrived in Reynosa, the coyotes who greeted them kidnapped her along with her children and her sister-in-law, who was traveling with two children, and held them in a hotel for two weeks with almost no food while they extorted her husband in New Orleans. Rosales paid $14,000 to have them released, she said. Finally, on February 3rd, after traveling for almost a month, Chávez and her children crossed the Rio Grande and surrendered to the Border Patrol in McAllen, Texas.

“I think about the people who die in those containers. It’s horrible to have to beg them, because they could maybe open the door, but they don’t care. They want the money and to deliver the package, because they don’t look at you as a person. They look at us as if we were cattle or animals,” Chávez said from Long Island, New York, where her family lives in uncertainty, after their asylum request was denied.

Chávez and her children survived the harrowing journey, but many others have not.

For seven months, Telemundo News and the Latin American Center for Investigative Journalism (CLIP, in Spanish), together with Pie de Página and its allies Chiapas Paralelo, En un 2x3 Tamaulipas, and reporters in Veracruz, Plaza Pública in Guatemala, Contracorriente in Honduras, ICIJ in Dominican Republic and Bellingcat, investigated the flourishing business of smuggling migrants in tractor-trailers across Mexican highways.

We interviewed survivors, researchers and former officials, and reviewed thousands of pages of documents. Based on statements from federal institutions and press reports, we created a database with more than 170 cases of trucks that were involved in traffic accidents or were detained or abandoned between 2018 and 2023, which offer important clues about how smugglers operate.

About 19,000 migrants have traveled in these cargo trucks, including more than 3,200 minors. At least 111 migrants who were traveling in tractor-trailers in Mexico have died in the last six years, suffocated to death by the heat and lack of oxygen, or in traffic accidents, among them the trailer that overturned in December 2021 in the state of Chiapas, when 56 people died.

Due to the inconsistent quality of the data, and because Mexican authorities only began tracking cases since 2022, following the Chiapas accident, the data reveals only a small portion of this form of human trafficking.

To continue reading the special report, click here.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com

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Shipping cost calculation for the route from Ningbo to Elektrostal (08.04.2024)

Quotation reference

Date of rate indication

Gross weight and dimensions

Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China (city)

Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia (city)

Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China (city) Taicang Port, China (seaport)

Estimated transit time: 1 days

Taicang Port, China (seaport) Taicang Port, China (seaport)

Estimated transit time: less then 24 hours

Taicang Port, China (seaport) St. Petersburg, Russia (seaport)

Estimated transit time: 49 days

St. Petersburg, Russia (seaport) St. Petersburg, Russia (seaport)

St. Petersburg, Russia (seaport) Moscow, Russia (city)

Estimated transit time: 2 days

Moscow, Russia (city) Elektrostal, Moscow Oblast, Russia (city)

Update result

Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China (city) Vorsino, Moscow, Russia (station)

Estimated transit time: 25 days

Vorsino, Moscow, Russia (station) Moscow, Russia (city)

Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China (city) Electrougly, Russia (station)

Electrougly, Russia (station) Moscow, Russia (city)

Taicang Port, China (seaport) Vostochny (Nakhodka), Russia (seaport)

Estimated transit time: 20 days

Vostochny (Nakhodka), Russia (seaport) Vostochny (Nakhodka), Russia (seaport)

Nakhodka-Vostochnaya, Russia (station) Electrougly, Russia (station)

Estimated transit time: 21 days

Electrougly, Russia (station) Electrougly, Russia (station)

Suzhou, China (station) Suzhou, China (station)

Suzhou, China (station) Vorsino, Moscow, Russia (station)

Estimated transit time: 32 days

Vorsino, Moscow, Russia (station) Vorsino, Moscow, Russia (station)

Suzhou, China (station) Electrougly, Russia (station)

Estimated transit time: 34 days

Examples of quotations made recently to and from China

Shipping from china.

• How it works
• Your cargo is safe with us
• White Label
• e-Commerce Shipping Module
• Become Our Agent
• Access personal area
• Online rate calculator
• Track and trace
• Consolidation Warehouses in China
• Air Freight
• Road Freight Transportation
• Rail Freight Transportation
• Container Shipment (FCL)
• LCL Shipments
• Ocean Freight
• Freight shipping quotes from China
• Freight shipping quotes from India
• Freight shipping quotes from Turkey
• Cargo shipping from India
• Cargo shipping from Malaysia
• Cargo shipping from Indonesia
• Cargo shipping from Italy
• Cargo shipping from Germany
• Cargo shipping from the UAE
• Cargo shipping from China
• Cargo shipping from Turkey
• Cargo shipping from the USA
• Cargo shipping from Russia

Russia's Nuclear Deterrent Command Center Imperiled by Winter Freeze—Report

A Russian nuclear deterrent command center in Moscow has been imperiled by power outages that have impacted more than one-quarter of the region's cities amid freezing temperatures, a Russian Telegram channel has reported.

The VChK-OGPU outlet, which purports to have inside information from Russian security forces, reported that the 820th Main Center for Missile Attack Warnings—part of the Russian Space Forces, a branch of the country's Aerospace Forces—near Solnechnogorsk in Moscow is without power.

It serves as the space forces early warning network against potential ballistic missile attacks.

The development comes as Russians are reported to be suffering from power outages in their homes in the Moscow region caused by technical issues at plants amid subzero temperatures.

On January 4, a heating main burst at the Klimovsk Specialized Ammunition Plant in the town of Podolsk, which is about 30 miles south of central Moscow. Since then, tens of thousands of Russians are reported to have no heating in their homes.

Affected areas include the cities of Khimki, Balashikha, Lobnya, Lyubertsy, Podolsk, Chekhov and Naro-Fominsk, a map published by a Russian Telegram channel and shared on other social media sites shows.

Other Russian media outlets reported that in Moscow, residents of Balashikha, Elektrostal, Solnechnogorsk, Dmitrov, Domodedovo, Troitsk, Taldom, Orekhovo-Zuyevo, Krasnogorsk, Pushkino, Ramenskoye, Voskresensk, Losino-Petrovsky and Selyatino are also without power.

The Telegram channel said that at the 820th Main Center for Missile Attack Warnings, "the crew...is on duty around the clock."

"It is here that the decision on a retaliatory nuclear strike is executed," the channel said.

Newsweek could not independently verify the report and has reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry by email for comment.

Power outages have also been reported in Russia's second-largest city, St. Petersburg, in the country's western Voronezh region, in the southwest city of Volgograd, and in Rostov, which borders Ukraine, a country that Russia has been at war with since February 24, 2022.

On Sunday, two shopping malls in St. Petersburg were forced to close because of problems with light and heating, reported local news outlet 78.ru. Hundreds of other homes in the city have had no electricity, water or heating for days amid temperatures of -25 C (-13 F).

Russian authorities have also been forced to compensate passengers of a train that ran from Samara to St. Petersburg (a 20-hour journey) without heating during -30 C (-22 F) temperatures. Videos circulating on social media showed carriage windows frozen over. A passenger also said the toilet didn't work during the trip because of frozen pipes.

Do you have a tip on a world news story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about the Russia-Ukraine war? Let us know via [email protected].

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