YVR Cockroach

Best to go with the line directly but choices are far fewer now (up to 1/3 fewer lines).

For those conversant in French, try http://www.mer-et-voyages.info/. Nice online catalogue with pricing. They put on seminars in French if you happen to be in Paris.

YVR Cockroach

InMarSat or some other portable satellite phone and duplex coupler modem?

YVR Cockroach

Port strikes more likely

gbs1112

There is a regular passenger/freighter service out of Papeete (Tahiti) on Aranui 5 around the Marquesa Islands 1300k north of Tahiti. The ship is new, came into service this year, and carries about 250 passengers in comfortable accommodation but the itinerary is based on the cargo schedule and the amenities of the large cruise specialists are way toned down, but still interesting.

YVR Cockroach

Bit of industry news. Hopefully no further casualties otherwise there may be no lines that take passengers.

http://www.slate.com/articles/busine..._shipping.html

hedoman

Yes, and best used outside. Maybe the brat could sit on top of a container and type away. Gave away the Iridium phone after twelve years. Wish I had it today sailing between Greenland and New Foundland. The point being, you need to bring your own communication devices aboard a freighter.

I've enjoyed reading what you write on the subject.

YVR Cockroach

Some ships/lines do have internet (probably very bandwidth-limited). The ship I sailed on certainly did (all crew members had at least e-mail accounts and there were wifi points onboard) but whether the crew will let you sign up is something else. Some lines/ships/crews will assign you a temporary shipboard e-mail account (as data usage is probably low if no attachments added).

But you're right that if you want to guarantee access, you do need to bring your own device.

It would appear that some Hanjin ships (the ones that take passengers are generally German-officered so the ships may have German owners) allow passengers access. The link I posted about an artist stranded aboard the Hanjin Geneva (German flagged FWIW) off Japanese waters must have as she's posted photos.

MSPeconomist

Can you get travel insurance to cover freighter cruises?

YVR Cockroach

Never looked at it myself (coverage in my market is pretty limited) as I generally only travel with emergency medical coverage. I imagine if there's any coverage (such as being stranded onboard, schedule slips/changes, or outright route changes* resulting in trip cancellation), it'll be very limited.

Here's the coverage offered by one agency:

https://www.travelexinsurance.com/quote/?nc=1


* - try a Europe to Asia voyage as part of a North America-Europe-Asia voyage when the route changes to North America-Asia direct non-stop eliminating the Europe stop completely.

YVR Cockroach

More on the container ship industry

https://www.bloomberg.com/view/artic...ig-not-to-fail

YVR Cockroach

Stranded for 7 weeks. I'd hate to be a passenger on this ship, especially if they charge you the full daily rate.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/britis...oria-1.3313046

pseudoswede

I wonder if travel insurance would cover evacuation by helicopter due to the operator's financial default.

And if the vessel is getting a steady supply of food, why couldn't the passenger hop on board the supply ship?

YVR Cockroach

Or strikes. The market is so small that obtaining travel insurance with such coverage may be rather difficult to obtain. Certainly seems to be in my market. I wouldn't be surprised if fewer paid passengers travel on freighters in a year - worldwide on all lines than some cruise ships can carry on a single cruise. The company that I purchased my travel health insurance through would have disqualified coverage as its definition of a common carrier only applies to those who main purpose is passenger transport. A quick search into one that sells into the U.S. market defines common carrier as one licensed to carry passengers. I'm not sure if freighters are required to do so (may/probably depend on the flagging country).


A quick search doesn't seem to have come up with any information, other than referrals to "deviation insurance" which appears to be an insurance charged by some lines in case the ship has to divert so that you can be evacuated.

From a safety perspective, it's not that easy.

Listened to this news radio report of a ship anchored 26 miles from port in a pretty remote area of Canada. The ship went over 4 weeks without resupply. Finally steaming towards Vancouver.

bkkth

I am booking a freighter voyage from BsAs to NYC. The company requires medical insurance and deviation insurance. Anyone know where deviation insurance is available??
Thank you.

747FC

Trip Interruption insurance? From your CC or travel insurance agency...