What if we took a cruise?
Hell No ! I have absolutely no attraction to these enormous floating buildings, as bloated as an aircraft carrier on which an ultramodern city center, an amusement park, and dozens of restaurants have been grafted, all combined with tiny rooms ! Being stuck with an excited and noisy crowd for several days in this environment would drive me crazy, and the few stopovers arranged in “hurried tourist” mode would not help things. So thanks, I’ll pass.
However, I have a furious desire to see the sea, to sail, to change horizons every day, to live at a different pace, in peace, alone (or almost).
Being absolutely not a sailor and unable to handle a boat, what is the solution?
The Cargo !
Yes, cargo cruises do exist. Several companies offer a few cabins (sometimes up to 6, sometimes just one) on their ships (container ships for the most part) on multiple destinations, from Europe to Africa and even Asia, for trips of a few days to several weeks, one way (for long distances) or round trip. These cabins are generally reserved for temporary “passengers” and are quite comfortable. An opportunity to discover the world differently, to learn how these giants of the seas work, and to immerse yourself in the very specific (and ultimately little known to us earthlings) world of the merchant navy (and incidentally to practice your English!).
So, here I am, scouring specialized travel sites to find my first “seatrip” …
In addition to this research, I am looking for blogs of travelers who have tried the adventure, just to see what I should expect, and I must say that the experiences are not only very positive overall, but also seem to correspond perfectly to my aspirations. This therefore confirms my approach and I am therefore studying the current proposals.
Not wanting to commit to a long crossing for the first time, and after having dreamed a little about distant lands, I finally decide on a round trip between the port of Antwerp in Belgium, and the south of Finland. A trip of about 9 days, with stopovers in the Finnish ports of Hanko and Roma then back to Antwerp.
There are few conditions to meet as long as you are able to move easily without assistance. You just need a valid passport, and you have to accept a certain flexibility on the schedule to face the unforeseen events of the merchant navy, mainly with the weather or the commercial requirements of the moment. The file is therefore quickly closed with the agency “Grand Nord Grand Large” which offers this type of trip, and here I am launching into the preparation of the trainee sailor’s suitcase, … And my photo equipment!
If you’re interested : Grand Nord Grand Large
To be continued …
(Header pic credit : Chandlervid85 on Freepik)