North Atlantic Routes

Twice Monthly (April/November) - PZM POLISH STEAMSHIP COMPANY (mv's ISA, ISOLDA, ISADORA, IRYDA and IRMA, 35,600 dwt tons, 6 passengers each, and mv's DRAWSKO, JUNO, LUBIE, MAMRY, MIEDWIE, RESKO, SOLINA and WICKO, 30,000 dwt tons, 3-5 passengers each) - Amsterdam (IJmuiden) to Cleveland and Burns Harbor, IN (for Chicago). Tramp voyages from the Great Lakes. Round voyages also available.

Every 21 days - HAPAG-LLOYD ATLANTIC EXPRESS SHUTTLE  (mv COMMANDER, 35,770 dwt tons, 3 passengers) - From Hamburg (every third Wednesday) and Antwerp (every third Saturday) to New York, and direct return every third Friday from New York to Hamburg.

Every 25 days -  NSB - MEDITERRANEAN SHIPPING COMPANY (mv's MSC ALESSIA, MSC FLAMINIA and MSC ILONA, 85,825 dwt tons, 5 passengers) - Felixstowe, Bremerhaven, Le Havre and Charleston, Savannah, Port Everglades, Freeport, Veracruz, Altamira, Houston, New Orleans, Freeport, Savannah and Charleston, and return to Felixstowe via Antwerp.

Every 28 days -  F LAEISZ (mv HANJIN PHOENIX, 50,242 dwt tons, 4 passengers) - Antwerp, Bremerhaven, Rotterdam and Le Havre to New York, returning via Norfolk and Charleston to Antwerp.

Every 35 days -  NSB FREIGHTER CRUISES (mv HYUNDAI TIANJIN, 53,704 dwt tons, 7 passengers) - Felixstowe to New York, Charleston and Manzanillo, Panama, with return via Charleston and New York to Rotterdam, Bremerhaven and Felixstowe.

Every 35 days -  NSB FREIGHTER CRUISES (mv HANJIN PALERMO, 45,625 dwt tons, 8 passengers) - Genoa, Fos-sur-Mer, Algeciras and Lisbon to Montreal, returning via Algeciras, Valencia, Cagliari, Salerno and Livorno to Genoa.

Frequent (April/November) - INDEPENDENT CONTAINER LINE Route (mv's INDEPENDENT ACCORD and CONCEPT, 20,000 dwt tons, 2 passengers each, mv INDEPENDENT VOYAGER, 38,670 tons and JULIUS S, 33,390 tons) - Between Antwerp,  Liverpool and Philadelphia and Wilmington NC (Note: Embarkation at either Antwerp or Liverpool, disembarkation at Antwerp only, where there are fast Eurostar connections to London St Pancras).

Twice Monthly - RICKMERS LINIE - PEARL STRING ROUTE (Nine vessels, each 30,000 tons, 6 passengers) - From Houston and Philadelphia to Hamburg and Antwerp, eastbound only and subject to space availability.

Mediterranean Routes

About every 21 days - CMA CGM THE FRENCH LINE (mv CMA CGM CORAL, 50,200 tons, 6 passengers, and mv CMA CGM JAMAICA, 53.700 tons, 7 passengers) - From New York, Norfolk and Savannah and Charleston to Algeciras, Malta, Livorno and Genoa, with return via Fos-sur-Mer, Valencia and Malaga to New York.

Every 42 days - NSB FREIGHTER CRUISES (mv MSC MONTEREY, 63,638 tons, 6 passengers) - La Spezia, Valencia and (Sines) to Boston, New York, Baltimore, Norfolk, Savannah and Charleston, returning via Valencia, Gioia Tauro and Naples to La Spezia.

Every 70 days - F LAEISZ (mv HANJIN SAN DIEGO, 63,550 tons, 8 passengers) - La Spezia, Genoa, Barcelona, Valencia and Algeciras to New York, Baltimore, Norfolk and Savannah, returning via Algeciras and Valencia to Genoa.

Twice monthly - RICKMERS LINIE - PEARL STRING ROUTE (Nine vessels, each 30,000 tons, 6 passengers) - From Houston and Philadelphia via Hamburg and Antwerp to Genoa, eastbound only and subject to space availability. Ports subject to change.

Monthly to/from Egypt - CMA CGM THE FRENCH LINE (mv's CMA CGM EIFFEL and CMA CGM PUGET, each 58,540 tons, 8 passengers) - From New York, Norfolk, Savannah and Charleston to Port Said, and returning from Damietta to New York.

Caribbean Routes

Weekly -  CMA CGM THE FRENCH LINE - EUROPE/FRENCH ANTILLES ROUTE (mv's CMA CGM FORT ST GEORGES, FORT ST LOUIS, FORT ST PIERRE and FORT STE MARIE, 28,000 dwt tons, 12 passengers) - Between Dunkirk, Rouen, Le Havre and Montoir and Fort de France, Martinique, and Pointe a Pitre, Guadeloupe, and return.

Every 12 days -  CMA CGM THE FRENCH LINE - EUROPE/ST MARTIN/TRINIDAD ROUTE (mv's CMA CGM ARISTOTE, CMA CGM HERODOTE, CMA CGM HOMERE and CMA CGM PLATON, 21,250 dwt tons, 6 passengers) - Between Rotterdam, Tilbury, Rouen and Le Havre and St Martin, French West Indies, and Port of Spain, Trinidad, and return - also serving Cayenne and North Brazil ports.

Every 21 days -  NSB - CMA CGM THE FRENCH LINE  (mv CMA CGM ESPERANZA and mv CMA CGM FORTUNA, 32,100 dwt tons, 2 passengers) - Between Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, Tilbury and Le Havre and Kingston, Jamaica, and return - also serving Cartagena, Santo Tomas, Puerto Cortes and either Puerto Limon or Puerto Moin.

Note: Passage tickets are issued by shipowners, which may differ from the operator. Payments are accepted in Pounds Sterling, Euros or US Dollars.

Important: Non-US & Canadian passengers entering the USA by freighter require a Valid US Visa.

1. How much will it cost me to cross the Atlantic?  Firstly, you shouldn't think of sea travel as a way to beat an air fare - it isn't. Unlike flying, it can be a richly rewarding experience. You should expect to pay a minimum of about $1,500 per person each way, depending on the route and the cabin.  Sea travel is only cheaper than flying when you consider the many days you will spend on board (which has to be compared to a hotel stay ashore) with three full meals a day and a private cabin. And drinks on board cargo ships are not only tax and duty free, but also profit free (what is call bonded stock).

2. Can I take my pet or my vehicle with me?  Those wishing to take with them their pets can do so on board Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 between New York and Southampton. Shipment of vehicles needs to be arranged with an outside company as vehicles are not carried on Queen Mary 2 and container ships do not accept vehicles as accompanying baggage.  TransGlobal Logistics, with depots in Europe and North America, can arrange shipment of your vehicle to many destinations worldwide and at reasonable rates.  Please follow the link below to their web site:

3. Can I work on board to lower my fare?  Briefly, No. Thirty or forty years ago cargo ship crews numbered 39 to 49 people but today, with automation, crew size is more like 21, so don't even think about asking. There aren't enough jobs to go round for the real seamen.

4. What about single (and female) travellers?  Cargo ships have the great advantage of being inexpensive for single travellers, often with no single supplement for single cabins. And single women may travel without fear - the crews of these ships are accommodating and welcoming - most of them have wives and girlfriends at home. Single female travellers are among the more important groups who travel this way.

5. How quickly can I sail across the Atlantic?  Relax. You won't get there in just 5 days. Most Trans-Atlantic freighter voyages take 10 to 14 days and even Queen Mary 2 takes 6 days (7 days eastbound in 2010). The fastest Trans-Atlantic freighter passages are between 8 days and 10 days, but passages of 12 to 14 days are not uncommon.

6. How accurate are sailing schedules?  Dates for Queen Mary 2 and cruise ships are unlikely to change unless there is a realignment of schedules. Container ship sailings are usually year-round, but dates are subject to change due to cargo or weather. Take care to make flexible arrangements, eg. changeable flight tickets and allowing time for connections.  Tramp sailings depend on cargo and are less reliable than container ships.

To E-mail The Cruise People about a Transatlantic Voyage

Last Revised 12th April 2012