Does anyone have any experience with freighter travel? I like small ships and getting to know their operations so figure that such a trip might be fun. Thanks

American President Lines years ago offered space for 12 passengers on their ships years ago, but I don't know if they still do. From what I have heard, freighters have no schedule, per se. They leave when they leave and arrive when they arrive. They are obviously very slow and you have to make your own entertainment. Back when I was little, I had a friend whose widowed mother took a freighter cruise, took her sewing machine and fabric and made curtains for her home. I recall she ended up making curtains for the crew's rooms as well.

if you scan down a bit, "how to get from brazil to oz by boat" has some links & info....good luck...

Yeah, that was me.

Only experience was around 10 years ago when my wife and I (only pax, ship could have taken 8) went from Auckland to SF via Fiji on a 30K DWT container boat (Hamburg S�d line). 21 days, had a great time. Learned a lot about the shipping business. We had the run of the ship (within reason) - bridge, decks, engine room with prior notification... Ate with officers; our cabin was huge by cruise ship standards, and very comfortable.

We had a VCR, jigsaw puzzles, books, and a shortwave for entertainment. Recreational facilities comprised a stationary bike and a seawater plunge pool that sloshed so much a quick dip would bash your brains out on the steel pool sides. There was also a ping pong table, but the balls all too easily went flying out to sea, so skip that. Had a big barbecue picnic on deck when we crossed the equator. The Pacific is one honkin' big lake, seen from water level.

The websites of the two major freighter cruise TAs are on the other thread.

A big thank you to all of you. I have some research ahead!