Cargo Ship Cruises Are Unique, Fun – And Green

Feel Like a Cruise? Look at Cargo Ship Cruises Instead and Reduce Your Carbon Footprint For a More Authentic Experience

 

cruise ship not greenAround 25 million people take a cruise each year. Cruise ships are an attractive vacation option – your transport, accommodation, food and entertainment are all included and you don’t need to pack and unpack while seeing different places.

While it sounds great, the problem is that cruise ships are not very green. Some cruise ships cause more environmental damage than an airplane!

A typical cruise ship with 3,000 passengers generates this on a one-week voyage:

  • 1 million gallons of gray water (from sinks, showers, laundry machines containing detergents, oil, grease, food waste and various pathogens);
  • 210,000 gallons of sewage;
  • 25,000 gallons of oily bilge water;
  • 100 gallons of hazardous or toxic waste;
  • 50 tons of garbage and solid waste;
  • diesel exhaust emissionsequal to thousands of cars on the road.

Cruise Ship generates wasteAll that waste has to go somewhere. Generally, cruise ships treat their waste before disposing of it into the ocean, but it’s still pretty dirty, and there have been cases of irresponsible ocean dumping in the past.

And the air pollution from the ship’s engines (particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides) contributes to acid rain 1.

Many cruise lines have invested in more efficient engines, LED lighting and other energy-saving options that save them money in the long term as well as help the environment.

But they still have a huge environmental impact.

Other Downsides To Cruising

crowded cruise ship Loads of people really enjoy the over-abundant food, nightly shows and shipboard games. But what if you want a bit of peace to relax – read, write, catch up on sleep?

And you’ll pay for everything whether you use all the facilities or not.

You may be surrounded by kids screaming as they play, loud conversations right next to you, and people blaring music or TV shows.

If you think you’d enjoy cruising without all the people, and all the extras, then perhaps a cargo ship cruise is for you!

 

worried about climate change

What Are Cargo Ship Cruises?

You sail on working vessels that are transporting cargo. Instead of hundreds if not thousands of other passengers, you cruise with cargo (often containers), a handful of passengers, and a few crew members.

Cargo ship cruises have a wealth of advantages – as well as some downsides. Let’s look at them.

Pros of Cargo Ship Cruises

  • cargo ship cruises prosThere’s plenty of deck space
  • You share your meals with the officers (including the Captain) and crew.
  • The food is generally of a high standard – the crew work hard and good-tasting food is a priority.
  • The cabins or staterooms are generally larger than a typical cruise ship. Although not necessarily luxurious, they are well-fitted, modern and comfortable.
  • cargo ship cruises cabin interiorThere is normally a gym and a library on board
  • You’ll have the full run of the ship, including the Navigation Bridge which can be a great place to view arriving or leaving port. (Imagine going through the Suez or Panama Canal while on the Bridge!)
  • Staff have more time to chat and explain the workings of the ship
  • You often meet interesting people, who may become lifelong friends
  • You’ll stop at ports that are not congested with tourists.
  • You’ll often get to see fascinating places that others have not seen.
  • cargo ship cruises captainBecause there’s no organized entertainment, you’ll have time to sleep, read, play a musical instrument, look at the ever-changing ocean, watch flying fish or dolphins, chat, or just watch the world go by. It’s “slow travel” and very relaxing, with a high degree of privacy if you wish.
  • You’ll probably stay fairly fit if you’re on a container ship without an elevator – depending on the ship, you may need to climb lots of stairs to go between decks!
  • You’ll generally have more time in port, as the ship will need to load / offload cargo.
  • You’ll be able to explore interesting places – exotic, unspoiled attractions sometimes exist a short distance from an ordinary port city – and others won’t have seen them
  • Some cargo ships have nice facilities such as a swimming pool.

Why Cargo Cruises Are Green

cargo ship cruises deck spaceOf course, cargo cruise ships are far more green and eco-friendly than passenger cruises. You don’t have acres of food (much of which is wasted), nor vast numbers of staff to look after you – fewer people mean less human waste.

And the ship is travelling anyway, you’re just along for the ride, rather than travelling especially to entertain paying customers.

Cons of Cargo Cruise Ships

  • Cargo ships travel slowly, so you’ll probably need to spend longer on board. This makes this type of travel more suited to retirees than employees on a quick work break.
  • Not all cargo ships have stabilizers (although many do) so if you get sea-sick easily, check this first
  • There may not be a doctor on board.
  • Delays may occur. As a passenger, you are secondary to the cargo, so you may need to be flexible.
  • If you want a lot of attention from staff, cargo cruise ships are not for you.
  • There are few or no facilities for mobility-impaired passengers.

What About the Costs of Cargo Cruise Ships?

The good news is that the per-day cost is generally lower than on a passenger cruise line. The bad news is that, because the voyages are often longer, the total bill may exceed that of a shorter trip. But you’re getting a longer – and more unique – journey.

But at least you’re not paying for facilities you won’t use.

And you won’t find your bill filled with unexpected “extra” charges.

My Experience With Cargo Ship Cruises

St Helena cargo ship cruisesI first heard of the concept about 35 years ago. The Royal Mail Ship, the St. Helena, travelled regularly from Cape Town in South Africa to the remote island of St. Helena, in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean between Africa and Brazil. At that time, it was the only way that residents of St. Helena could get their mail and all their supplies.

To me, it seemed like a tremendously romantic way to travel – a throwback to the golden age where travel was slow and relaxing. I never did manage to do that voyage!

The closest I came to a Cargo Cruise ship was on my trip to the Arctic a few years ago. As part of the trip I travelled on one of the wonderful Hurtigruten ships which transport cargo and passengers around the coast, and up and down the beautiful fjords of Norway. Again, they used to be the only way residents could get supplies (now the roads are better and there are flights too).

 Hurtigruten cargo cruise shipsHurtigruten run a sort of combination cargo and passenger cruise ship – great facilities but still a fascinating trip. I was careful to choose a beautiful cabin which would be on the dock side at most of the ports. I was endlessly fascinated by the cargo being loaded and off-loaded into the deep snow every day. A new car was carefully delivered to an excited owner, cattle and chickens were off-loaded, fridges and washing machines were skimmed over the ice and placed safely in a warehouse. Passengers stood shivering in the freezing wind, waiting to board. It was all done with remarkable efficiency and good cheer.

And then was the incredible beauty of the fjords – the ships are small enough to go where many cruise ships can’t, and the scenery was simply spectacular. For me, it was the best of both worlds.

But enough of me. If you think cargo ship cruises are for you, where can you go, and how do you book? Luckily, it’s very easy thanks to the Internet.

How To Choose The Right Cargo Ship Cruise For You

CGA cargo ship cruisesYou’ll be surprised at how many voyages you can join! But do your research. Look at the length of the trips as well as the price and the on-board facilities. Here are some good places to start:

Maris offer trans-pacific cruises (amongst others) – travel from Los Angeles to China, for example.

As mentioned above, the very eco-friendly Royal Mail Ship to St. Helena has a nice website.

Take a look at Hurtigruten’s website – they travel more than just Norway.

And of course, just google “cargo cruises” and see what you find!

Even On a Passenger Cruise….

Remember that whatever type of cruise you take, there are things that you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. For example, take public transit to port, turn lights out while not in your room and don’t waste food as you graze through their mile-long buffets.

Conclusion

Cargo ship cruises won’t suit everyone. But as the editor of Messy Nessy Chic writes, “If you’re a self-reliant soul that likes to explore, a cargo ship could be your own giant 2,000 foot private yacht.”

I like that!

These types of trips are rare in our hectic, rushed society. If you’re privileged to take one, appreciate “slow travel” for its uniqueness, and all the benefits it brings to you – as well as the environment.

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1 Curbing these emissions could prevent 14,000 premature, air-pollution-related deaths and save the US $110bn by 2020.

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What do you think about cargo ship cruises? Let me know in the comments below.

Warm regards,

signature Clare

 

 

 

 

P.S.  Don’t forget to download your free green living handbook “Live Well, Live Green” here.

 


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