I SAY…Hop on to a Freighter

By Doreen Ramus
Published: April 11, 2015

DO YOU like cruise ships? Well, actually I don’t. In my opinion, to spend a holiday and money sitting in an overcrowded “hotel” which rocks you gently to and from exotic harbours, worrying about what to where for dinner that night is not my idea of fun & relaxation.
However you may think differently and we are all entitled to our own opinions. So what would be an option?  For me, the answer always is—hop on a freighter!  When I tell people this they  look down and I know what they are thinking—“Poor dear, having to work her passage! Guess she must be pretty poor!” Well, I have traveled on five freighters in my time and loved every minute of the experience. I came to this country on a freighter, returned to Britain on the same one traveling down the west coast of the US, through the Panama Canal and the Caribbean.  My husband and I went to S. America on a freighter where my husband fell, cut his head, was ‘piloted’ to a hospital, cared for and returned to our ship where it had travelled on down to Rio de Janeiro. There was no extra charge to us and I was able to accompany him.
Our trip number four was a big decision. A freighter was going round the world, taking three months and costing $10,000.00. Wow, that’s a big chunk of money for a recently widowed person. Needless to say I had to give it much thought. I couldn’t resist it! We boarded in Dunkirk, setting off on our mammoth journey. Wherever there was freight to be delivered or picked up that is where we went, docking for at least two-three days to give time to explore and always return to our ‘hotel’. At first we were only three passengers but we picked up three other passengers later in New Zealand. Perhaps now is the time to explain our ‘hotel’. I had my own bedroom and sitting room in which was a fridge, Internet connection, and fruit placed daily. My bed was made, rooms cleaned daily by delightful stewardesses.There was a lounge where we gathered together with the officers and captain, we poured our own drinks and marked them down, paying for them at the end of the month. The same routine was applied for the dining room.  Visiting many South Pacific Islands was fascinating. Meeting the people, exploring the islands, learning their culture was unbelievable and often there would be parties which we all attended. The best ones were barbecues on deck followed by crazy dances to which the Russian crew all pitched in. We watched the cargo being lifted on or off the cargo decks, learned about how the ship ran, sat on “The Bridge” and sometimes watched and greeted our ‘pilot’ aboard who would guide the ship into or out of the harbour.
We became one big family even if we had our qualms about some of our shipmates! When we were sailing through the Indian Ocean, we were warned by the captain of pirates trying to get aboard to steal liquor or any other little thing. Jets of water spewed out from the side of the boat to deter these ‘visitors’. The Red Sea & Suez Canal were glorious and we then sailed into the Mediterranean and finally home. Being on board for three months with a room plus experience of a lifetime was worth more than money. The last trip was through the Med picking up and dropping off cars in various ports and it was again very fascinating.