Comments on: Flightfree Transatlantic Blog Entries http://onthelevelblog.wordpress.com the reality of transport and climate damage happening right now in the 21st Century, and what the hell we’re going to do about it Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:40:33 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: onthelevelblog http://onthelevelblog.wordpress.com/about/#comment-3784 onthelevelblog Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:10:59 +0000 #comment-3784 Hi Mikey- Some of the expectations we have about international travel- for example that you can just call up and book a trip whenever you want, have to be slightly readjusted when it comes to sea travel, as you're discovering. You could try dealing with the Cruise Line- they helped me book my recent cruise ship repositioning from UK to the US. A lot of the cargo ships won't even take passengers over the winter because the sea is so rough. You might try to book a cabin on the Queen Mary 2 also but it's cheaper if you share a cabin w/ someone. Yeah some of those cargo ship travel companies have a real attitude! Sounds like you may have to delay your trip to the spring. I never had to deal with the visa thing as I have dual citizenship- that sounds like a pain! Good luck with everything. Hi Mikey- Some of the expectations we have about international travel- for example that you can just call up and book a trip whenever you want, have to be slightly readjusted when it comes to sea travel, as you’re discovering. You could try dealing with the Cruise Line- they helped me book my recent cruise ship repositioning from UK to the US. A lot of the cargo ships won’t even take passengers over the winter because the sea is so rough. You might try to book a cabin on the Queen Mary 2 also but it’s cheaper if you share a cabin w/ someone. Yeah some of those cargo ship travel companies have a real attitude! Sounds like you may have to delay your trip to the spring. I never had to deal with the visa thing as I have dual citizenship- that sounds like a pain! Good luck with everything.

]]> By: Mikey http://onthelevelblog.wordpress.com/about/#comment-3783 Mikey Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:23:30 +0000 #comment-3783 The first two suggestions would be wonderful if the people responsible didn't hate customers. I wrote to the freighter people (and I presume there are others, but I can't find them) and they said that the first space they've got available is in May. I need to go in January. And the cruises just don't start until April or something, so I didn't bother writing to them. I've followed the links from Seat 61 as well, but I have a suspicion that he's never got the boat because there's no mention of getting a visa or anything. I looked on the US embassy website and it doesn't tell you anything about how long it'll take for your visa to be processed and if you want to talk to a (semi-)human, you have to call a number which charges you £1,500 a minute and probably puts you on hold for the first half an hour (I haven't tried it, for obvious reasons). As for the sailboat idea - I think that's a great one, but it's not totally reliable, specially since I have no experience. But I was seriously thinking about becoming a sailor just so I could get across the stupid Atlantic when I wanted to. Is that really my only option? I shall now breathe out. Aaaaaah. The first two suggestions would be wonderful if the people responsible didn’t hate customers. I wrote to the freighter people (and I presume there are others, but I can’t find them) and they said that the first space they’ve got available is in May. I need to go in January. And the cruises just don’t start until April or something, so I didn’t bother writing to them. I’ve followed the links from Seat 61 as well, but I have a suspicion that he’s never got the boat because there’s no mention of getting a visa or anything. I looked on the US embassy website and it doesn’t tell you anything about how long it’ll take for your visa to be processed and if you want to talk to a (semi-)human, you have to call a number which charges you £1,500 a minute and probably puts you on hold for the first half an hour (I haven’t tried it, for obvious reasons). As for the sailboat idea – I think that’s a great one, but it’s not totally reliable, specially since I have no experience. But I was seriously thinking about becoming a sailor just so I could get across the stupid Atlantic when I wanted to. Is that really my only option?
I shall now breathe out. Aaaaaah.

]]> By: onthelevelblog http://onthelevelblog.wordpress.com/about/#comment-3765 onthelevelblog Tue, 08 Dec 2009 17:22:47 +0000 #comment-3765 Hi Mikey- Sorry to hear you are having such problems finding passage across the ocean. Slow and responsible travel should not be so difficult in this day and age. Basically, you have three options for getting across the pond by boat: 1) Hop on a freighter or cargo ship. As the global economy is in recession, there are fewer goods being moved about. Good news for the climate. Bad news if you want a wide choice of vessels to sail on. It's still possible however- I know there is a regular service between Liverpool and Chester PA. Expect to pay $90-$130 per day. It's about a nine day crossing so that works out to $800- $1200 but that does include room and board. More info <a href="http://www.freightercruises.com/frames.php" rel="nofollow">here</a>. 2) Take a cruise ship repositioning. This is pretty nauseating (I mean the overconsumption not the ocean swells). You can read about my recent trip <a href="http://onthelevelblog.wordpress.com/2009/10/03/the-not-so-shiny-jewel-an-investigation-into-the-environmental-impacts-of-the-cruise-industry/" rel="nofollow">here</a> Generally, there is a mass migration of cruise ships from US- Europe in the Spring and back to the US in the Autumn. But if you are on a budget this might be your best bet. We got an inside cabin (which I believe you could technically split with 3 people, for £1200. 3) Try and find a sailboat going your way. I've always wanted to just go down to the local marina and stick my thumb out. You never know you might get lucky. There are also a number of websites like crewseekers who match boats with willing crew. Good luck with your quest- let us know how it goes. You might also want to check <a href="http://seat61.com" rel="nofollow">Seat 61</a> Hi Mikey- Sorry to hear you are having such problems finding passage across the ocean. Slow and responsible travel should not be so difficult in this day and age. Basically, you have three options for getting across the pond by boat:

1) Hop on a freighter or cargo ship. As the global economy is in recession, there are fewer goods being moved about. Good news for the climate. Bad news if you want a wide choice of vessels to sail on. It’s still possible however- I know there is a regular service between Liverpool and Chester PA. Expect to pay $90-$130 per day. It’s about a nine day crossing so that works out to $800- $1200 but that does include room and board. More info here.

2) Take a cruise ship repositioning. This is pretty nauseating (I mean the overconsumption not the ocean swells). You can read about my recent trip here Generally, there is a mass migration of cruise ships from US- Europe in the Spring and back to the US in the Autumn. But if you are on a budget this might be your best bet. We got an inside cabin (which I believe you could technically split with 3 people, for £1200.

3) Try and find a sailboat going your way. I’ve always wanted to just go down to the local marina and stick my thumb out. You never know you might get lucky. There are also a number of websites like crewseekers who match boats with willing crew.

Good luck with your quest- let us know how it goes. You might also want to check Seat 61

]]> By: Mikey http://onthelevelblog.wordpress.com/about/#comment-3764 Mikey Tue, 08 Dec 2009 12:57:03 +0000 #comment-3764 I want to go to America from England by boat and it makes me want to kill myself. Do you know or have a good web page with all the relevant information? I'm looking for details about visas, where to get on freighters, how much it costs, how far in advance you need to plan it, if you can avoid the visa thing by going to Canada first (I'm British), if there's a possibility of sailing in a private yacht, that sort of thing. Please help! I want to go to America from England by boat and it makes me want to kill myself. Do you know or have a good web page with all the relevant information? I’m looking for details about visas, where to get on freighters, how much it costs, how far in advance you need to plan it, if you can avoid the visa thing by going to Canada first (I’m British), if there’s a possibility of sailing in a private yacht, that sort of thing. Please help!

]]> By: my blog » 2 user questions skirting the edges of my remit… http://onthelevelblog.wordpress.com/about/#comment-3073 my blog » 2 user questions skirting the edges of my remit… Sat, 14 Mar 2009 08:07:53 +0000 #comment-3073 [...] on his DIY website. The cruise people will give you a good run down of the Atlantic crossings. Bloggers and writers will also give you some idea of what’s [...] [...] on his DIY website. The cruise people will give you a good run down of the Atlantic crossings. Bloggers and writers will also give you some idea of what’s [...]

]]> By: Keith Ralph http://onthelevelblog.wordpress.com/about/#comment-2937 Keith Ralph Thu, 22 Jan 2009 03:52:31 +0000 #comment-2937 I read your story in a book (incredible Journeys) and you have inspired me to make my way around Australia using only Trains and public transport, and cycle. Great work Keith I read your story in a book (incredible Journeys) and you have inspired me to make my way around Australia using only Trains and public transport,
and cycle.
Great work
Keith

]]> By: Flightless: Incredible Journeys Without Leaving the Ground « On the Level: Car Free Blog http://onthelevelblog.wordpress.com/about/#comment-2590 Flightless: Incredible Journeys Without Leaving the Ground « On the Level: Car Free Blog Fri, 01 Aug 2008 10:53:23 +0000 #comment-2590 [...] Flightfree Transatlantic Blog Entries [...] [...] Flightfree Transatlantic Blog Entries [...]

]]> By: bibomedia.com http://onthelevelblog.wordpress.com/about/#comment-2505 bibomedia.com Sat, 08 Mar 2008 06:42:13 +0000 #comment-2505 :) :)

]]> By: fran osborne http://onthelevelblog.wordpress.com/about/#comment-2323 fran osborne Tue, 08 Jan 2008 19:28:47 +0000 #comment-2323 Bravo - Love what you did. I'm going in the opposite direction - London to San Francisco for a hopefully long stay in the US. I've been trying to find a freighter that goes to SF from the UK but so far haven't found a very direct route. Amtrak is the obvious solution. Many thanks. PS - Are there any groovy/important things you can tell me about SF and CA. that I should know? Planning to live in Berkeley and doing MA at SFSU. Taking my 3 teenagers and having an adventure. Regards, Fran Bravo – Love what you did. I’m going in the opposite direction – London to San Francisco for a hopefully long stay in the US. I’ve been trying to find a freighter that goes to SF from the UK but so far haven’t found a very direct route. Amtrak is the obvious solution. Many thanks. PS – Are there any groovy/important things you can tell me about SF and CA. that I should know? Planning to live in Berkeley and doing MA at SFSU. Taking my 3 teenagers and having an adventure. Regards, Fran

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