Freighter Travel Review presents a selection of opportunities for cargoship travel in its News Update, prepared by freighter travel specialists spread far and wide. FTR hopes readers will find this useful, and invites agents and operators to tell FTR of any new routes, changes to standing itineraries, or to send an e-mail highlighting any particular opportunities worthy of mention for any reason.

In the latest issue (47) :

FTR is a useful way of reaching potential travellers: Michael Murphy, the publisher, notes he had an interesting telephone conversation with an FTR subscriber recently. She and her husband had just returned from a fly-cruise in the Caribbean. It was her second time on a traditional cruise but she has forgotten how many freighters she had been on, “certainly well into double figures”, one involving a round the-world voyage.

She visited the Latin Caribbean (out of Barbados to Curacao,Cartagena and on to the Panama Canal and further). Weather, food, trips: all very good. But she couldn’t quite forget how she first became familiar with this part of the world: on a number of cargo ships, of varying conditions of comfort, over a period of about 20 years. She was able to recall all the details of each freighter, the Captain’s names and those of the other officers with whom she dined and the names of some of the deckhands.

At each port of call, she could name shoreline landmarks and how far away some of the ports were from the city centre. For the cruise trip, she and her husband had packed five cases between them. Evening dresses for her, four suits of varying formality for him. Blouses and shirts, formal and informal shoes; jewellery, handbags etc.

On her last freighter voyage three years ago she and her husband took one case and a small rucksack for shore trips. One pair of deck shoes and one pair of “sensible shoes” apiece; no suits or formal gear, just trousers; one windcheater each and various T-shirts and a fleece plus, of course, “miscellaneous”.
She had, she said, “trusted to the ship’s library for reading matter and was not let down”.

She finished by saying she is too old to be bothered about all the gear you need for a traditional cruise; unfortunately,at 82, she feels that now she may be beyond the freighter age limit.

Not necessarily. See your freighter agent. Subscribe and enjoy the whole issue!

In this issue of FTR

Seafarers :- Graeme Etheridge writes of the forgotten Seafarers.....
It is only in the past two years that the exploits of merchant seamen
during both World Wars were officially recognised. Even today, hardly a thought is given to the men and women at sea who spend busy and lonely lives away from social interaction with “normal” people.

When we look at consumer goods in shop windows, as long as they suit our needs, and the price is acceptable, it doesn’t matter how they got there. And, of course, the cost is reflected in how cheap it was to bring the goods to your shop window........more in Issue 47

Voyage Log :- A voyage curtailed. John Charlesworth had more than a few surprises when he headed for Scandinavia --->more

Voyage Log: Among the professionals Retired USCG Captain Frank Morgret wanted one last sea-crossing with his wife, Nancy.

"..I do not know how familiar you are with the Canada Senator. She’s about 16 years old, built in Gdansk. I now understand why the shipyard there went bust. She is one very solid lady. The finishing touches that were common in shipbuilding 20 years ago but now tend to get overlooked because they take too much labour were there. She has been meticulously maintained. I suspect she is one of the oldest vessels on the transatlantic run. It will be a sad day when she starts her long slide down the food chain to the breakers in Bangladesh.
Captain Meyer is an excellent Master and shiphandler, and the team that works with him is superb" ....the complete article in Issue 47.

Feature : Surprising Ourselves. Freighter traveller Captain Salt makes the case for travelling by cargo ship before heading off to the Mediterranean.

"..Tell your friends you have booked a passage on a cargo ship and then watch their reactions. These will range from mild surprise to wild incredulity.
Their surprise will tell you the idea of freighter travel had never crossed their minds or, if it had, then it was as something lost in the past, like a bananaboat run to the Caribbean or the slow boat to China or elsewhere, the staple of so many films and novels.
Their incredulity will have them ask why someone usually so sensible should take such a decision. They will want to know why on earth you are going on a cargo ship, where you will go, what you will do, where you will sleep, what you will eat, and more.
They will say if you want to go to sea, go on a cruise ship like everyone else. You, however, will have the answers to these questions.".......the complete article in Issue 47.

Also :

• In the Media : Green and Graceful Travel
  How Green is Caro Ship Travel for Passengers?
  
  
• Freighter Cruises Worldwide
  
  
• FTR subscriber Dr Hugh Morton from Newport-on-Tay in Fife, Scotland has written to inform us of the passing of a verteran cargoship traveller.
  “Fr Veronika Stamm, from Zurich, Switzerland, died peacefully on Novermber 30 2007 after a short illness. She was aged 88. Readers of FTR may recall an interview with Fr Stamm that was published in September 2002, in which she recounted many of her fascinating experiences...Our condolences go to her family and friends."
  
  
• Subscription Details and Contacts

From some previous FTR issues......

• Michael Murphy visits the Gazellebank at Le Havre from Issue 40 ---> Sample
  
  
• FTR’s editor Ian Cochran revisited the city of sangria, tapas and Gaudi, Barcelona from Issue 40 ----> Sample
  
  
• Voyage Log from Issue 44 --->Sample